Being a great editor isn’t just about mastering the tools, it’s also about understanding the psychology of film editing. Even films with a great story, strong performances, and all the other right elements can lose a viewer – even if just temporarily – with a single bad edit. I believe every decision you make while editing should first take into account the psychological impact on the viewer.
This is why it’s a bad idea to keep an unnecessary shot just because you think it looks good, or let a scene run on because you find something funny that no one else does. Hopefully this has been a helpful entry point for those of you looking to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological aspects of film editing. When I refer to symmetry, I mean it in the context of narrative flow and….