Invisible Art/Visible Artists Seminar

The day before the Oscar telecast, the American Cinema Editors presented the second annual "Invisible Art/Visible Artists" panel discussion with the academy nominees for best film editing. Last year's event was a tremendous success, and this year the crowd at the Egyptian Theater was even bigger -- so big that some people had to be turned away. The audience proved to be even more enthusiastic, demonstrating once again the viewing public's growing fascination with our work.

The "Invisible Art/Visible Artists" seminar at the Egyptian Theater. (L to R) Mike Hill, Dan Hanley,
Jill Bilcock, Donn Cambern, Dody Dorn, Pietro Scalia and John Gilbert.

The nominees were introduced by ACE president Tina Hirsch. Former Guild president Donn Cambern moderated, skillfully guiding the panelists with questions peppered with his own thoughts about the art and craft of editing. The panelists talked about their diverse backgrounds and how they led to picture editing -- some grew up in post-production, but others were headed for very different careers before settling in the editing room.

The wide-ranging discussion moved from the problems and pleasures of non-linear editing to the panelists' involvement with sound and music. Everyone expressed satisfaction with digital tools, but some felt that picture quality can be deceptive because it doesn't reflect the depth and resonance of film. And there was concern that while the capacity for unlimited versions can offer tremendous creative freedom, it can also lead to confusion and lack of focus, both for editors and for directors and producers as well.

But the principal focus of the seminar was on the panelists and their work. Each screened and analyzed a scene from his or her nominated film and talked in detail about the problems and the creative opportunities it presented. And all experienced the special pleasure of hearing a knowledgeable crowd respond enthusiastically to their work.

The event was co-sponsored by the Editors Guild and the American Cinematheque with the generous help of Absorb Media, Runway, Inc., and Variety. A videotape of last year's seminar is available for loan from the ACE office, for educational purposes only. A tape of this year's event, without clips from the nominated films, will be available for purchase this summer.