The Blink Of An Eye By Walter Murch Exclusive: In

A master editor can look at raw footage, watch a character’s eyes, and find the precise frame where the character blinks. That blink is the biological signature of a completed idea, making it the perfect aesthetic window for a cut. The Digital Transition

The most practical takeaway from In the Blink of an Eye is Murch’s "Rule of Six." When deciding where to make a cut, an editor faces an overwhelming number of variables. Murch prioritized them in a specific order. In order of importance (most to least):

Walter Murch's seminal book, "In the Blink of an Eye," is a comprehensive guide to film editing that has become a bible for editors, filmmakers, and film enthusiasts alike. First published in 1995, the book has undergone several revisions, with the most recent edition being published in 2016. Murch's magnum opus is a culmination of his decades-long experience as a film editor, sound designer, and mixer, having worked on iconic films such as "The Godfather," "The Conversation," and "Apocalypse Now."

The cut must preserve and enhance the emotional truth of the scene. Story 23% The cut must directly advance the narrative. 3 Rhythm 10% in the blink of an eye by walter murch

The edit must possess a rhythmic flow that feels naturally interesting. Eye Trace 7%

Murch argues that a perfect film cut mimics this biological rhythm. When you cut from one shot to another at the exact moment an actor blinks—or when you cut at the natural interval where a blink would occur—the audience does not feel disoriented. Instead, they feel the cut is organic. The film is "blinking" for them.

The "Rule of Six" applies to prose. The emotion of a sentence is more important than its grammatical "continuity." The rhythm of a paragraph (short staccato sentences vs. long flowing ones) is the literary equivalent of a cut. A master editor can look at raw footage,

For those interested in learning more about Walter Murch's approach to film editing, there are several additional resources available:

Walter Murch's "In the Blink of an Eye" outlines a foundational philosophy of film editing, arguing that effective cuts align with the natural, subconscious rhythm of human thought and blinking

“The blink is an involuntary edit,” Murch writes. “Editing is the deliberate version of that.” Murch prioritized them in a specific order

Murch's book is not just a technical guide to film editing; it's a philosophical exploration of the art of storytelling through film. He argues that editing is not just about assembling a sequence of shots, but about creating a narrative that engages and emotionally resonates with the audience. Murch's approach to editing is rooted in his understanding of the human experience and the way we perceive the world around us.

A pause is a cut. Murch argues that silence in a speech acts like a blink—it allows the audience to process the previous idea before moving to the next. A speaker who never pauses is an editor who never cuts.

The book takes about 90 minutes to read. But it will change every film you watch afterward. You’ll start noticing cuts not as transitions, but as breaths. You’ll blink at the movies. And you’ll know exactly why.

In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing, 2nd Edition