“Complete creative and technical guide” for editing digital video seems like an overly

ambitious concept. It is surprising how well the authors manage to accomplish it. The

goal of the book, stated in the 2nd paragraph is “to teach anyone, amateurs or

professionals, how to edit on any digital video editing system and achieve results.

Beginnings, Middles and Ends” is my favorite chapter. Not only does it start with

teaching editing, but it makes a very good introductory effort to communicate the

aesthetic concepts involved with the craft of editing. It starts appropriately with the

tradition of storytelling and goes on to discuss different editing workflows (bricklayer vs.

sculptor), the concept of the montage, techniques for continuity editing, Pace and

Rhythm, and offers “Five Guidelines of Editing.”