The authors recognize how projects today are not edited the traditional way anymore. But

he understands how valuable it is to understand the conventional film editing since some

of the methods and equipment are still used. He relies on DW Griffith’s work. They

covers the extreme long shots which Griffith uses and how they are meant for dramatic

effect. He then uses the example of The Birth of a Nation and the timing of the shots

which controls the impact of a scene. He explains how the cutting increases towards the

climax to create tension. He also covers “Griffith’s last minute rescue” which covers the

final chase of an action film. The only negative aspect about this reading is that it is hard

to follow what he is saying without watching the films and the videos he mentions.