Walter Murch is an extraordinary film editor and author of a book I like called In the Blink of an Eye.
On Friday (8/30/2024), I watched his new movie, Her Name Was Moviola.
It shows us how movies used to be made, before digital editing replaced the original process of using a blade to physically cut strips of film and using tape to put separate shots together.
I was surprised to learn just how difficult this process used to be! I recommend Her Name Was Moviola for that reason alone.
I also recommend the movie for another reason. It shows us that while the tools used to create art matter, they don’t matter as much as our desire to create.
An artist is going to use whatever tools are available. Heck, James Cameron and George Lucas have helped create new tools to bring their visions to life.
You might be tempted to think that because editing is so much easier today, there would be many more great editors. While it’s true that more people are able to edit, the tools are never the real barrier that prevent art from being made.
As Steven Pressfield has realized, our own internal RESISTANCE is what kills many creative projects.
Another reason I like Her Name Was Moviola is that it celebrates our journey from the past to the future. I am tempted to talk about the tools that I used in my early days of programming and how much the C++ language has evolved since I first learned it.
The scene that Walter Murch puts together in the movie may be the last scene ever to be edited using a Moviola!
Of course, the best part of the screening was listening to Walter Murch introduce Her Name Was Moviola to the audience.
Leave a Reply