CUTTING EDGE: THE MAGIC OF MOVIE EDITING

I always call myself a filmmaker, and by that I mean I write, direct and edit, but editing is probably the part I enjoy most as that's when the story really begins to form. Filmmaking is really the art of editing, and I think understanding editing is one of the most important skills of being a good filmmaker.

This documentary is a must watch for anyone with even a small interest in editing. It covers the history of editing from the earliest days of cinema right through to modern digital tools. It features interviews with such legends as Michael Kahn, Walter Murch, Sally Menke, Thelma Schoonmaker, Dede Allen, Conrad Buff, Pietro Scalia, Stephen Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, James Cameron, Anthony Minghella, Quentin Tarantino, amongst many others.

Essential viewing for all editors.

STANLEY KUBRICK: A LIFE IN PICTURES

If you enjoy Kubrick's films as much as I do you'll love this documentary, made by his brother-in-law, Jan Harlan. It features rare footage and interviews with such people as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Tom Cruise, Arthur C. Clarke, Malcolm McDowell and Jack Nicholson to name a few.

A particular highlight is his daughter talking about the fifteen page document he gave to her explaining how to look after their pet cats whilst he was away shooting Barry Lyndon. "If a fight should develop between the cats, the only way you can do anything about it is to dump water on them. Alternatively, open a door and let them out, but if you can't separate them just keep dumping water, shouting, screaming, jumping up and down and distracting them, wave shirts and towels, just get them apart."

It's the definitive look at his life and work. Well worth a watch.