Loading...

The Art of the Cut

Walter Murch's Rule of Six

Oscar-winning editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The English Patient) proposed six priorities for every cut, in order of importance: (1) Emotion—does the cut feel right emotionally? (51% weight). (2) Story—does it advance the narrative? (23%). (3) Rhythm—does it occur at a rhythmically interesting point? (10%). (4) Eye trace—does the audience's eye focus smoothly to the next shot? (7%). (5) Two-dimensional plane—does the new shot maintain screen direction? (5%). (6) Three-dimensional space—does it maintain spatial continuity? (4%). The revolutionary insight is that emotion trumps all technical rules. If a cut that violates the 180-degree rule feels emotionally perfect, make the cut.

The Art of the Cut

Walter Murch's Rule of Six

Oscar-winning editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The English Patient) proposed six priorities for every cut, in order of importance: (1) Emotion—does the cut feel right emotionally? (51% weight). (2) Story—does it advance the narrative? (23%). (3) Rhythm—does it occur at a rhythmically interesting point? (10%). (4) Eye trace—does the audience's eye focus smoothly to the next shot? (7%). (5) Two-dimensional plane—does the new shot maintain screen direction? (5%). (6) Three-dimensional space—does it maintain spatial continuity? (4%). The revolutionary insight is that emotion trumps all technical rules. If a cut that violates the 180-degree rule feels emotionally perfect, make the cut.