A Long Time Ago, in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away

I’ve read a lot of books on the movies, but I can’t recall reading one as enjoyable of Paul Hirsch’s memoir of his life as a film editor. Hirsch worked as the principal editor on a number of great–Star Wars, Mission Impossible–and not so great–The Adventures of Pluto Nash–films over a career that has lasted 50 years and counting.

The book is filled with anecdotes about some of Hollywood’s greatest stars (get on Tom Cruise’s good side and you’ll receive a cocoanut cake every Christmas) and directors (George Lucas seems like a good guy; Francis Ford Coppola, not so much). You also get a quick education in how films used to be edited in pre-digital days and how they are edited today.

Hirsch writes very well and the book zips along. He seems like a modest guy and is careful to relate his gratitude to the many people who helped him or treated him well along the way. The backstabbing and credit-hogging that dominate Hollywood in some accounts are mostly absent here.

If you have an interest in the movie business or in how movies are assembled into finished products, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this book.

Paul Hirsch is one of Hollywood’s unsung heroes (as most editors typically are). While producers, writers, and directors are typically the members of the production team that get the most glory, it’s the editor that truly makes it all come together.

As a Star Wars fan I picked up this book for Paul’s work on both the first Star Wars film and its sequel, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’. As a filmmaker (and fellow editor) I was enthralled by his overall experience in the film industry over the years and his work on some of my other favorite films, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’, and ‘Falling Down’. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Paul’s book is both insightful, informative, entertaining, and chock full of stories that any cinephile will enjoy. It is a well written book and hard to put down once you get going.

I can’t recommend this book enough – if you know anyone in your life who loves movies (and/or Star Wars) buy them this book as a gift! You (and they) won’t be disappointed!

There are a few books on editing that really describe what its like to be a working feature film editor, and this is one of them. Hirsch starts with a brilliant introduction on what the invisible art of editing actually is, then describes his steady rise in post production from film to film. He recounts behind-the-scenes stories about cutting and re-cutting some of our most beloved popular films (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Trains Plains and Automobiles) and shares the equally important story of his close collaboration with directors and composers, providing frame-accurate details of key decisions made inside the cutting room. There are many thrilling examples of a story honed and saved in editing, sometimes by restructuring, other times through diligent and patient hard work.
As we travel the timeline of his career, he also explains what editing on film was like before the days of computers, where the technical limitations required great craft and ingenuity. He also presents the challenging political environment of the editing room: where the editors intellectual, intuitive and creative ideas must be presented with great diplomacy. Hirsch is also well-versed in music and gives specific examples of his early choices to show how editors use temporary music to support the film in progress and to influence the composer. Reading the scope of his life story also shows a realistic portrait of the unstable and challenging freelance life, and the dedication required to travel on location with a family.
Editing is a constant process of trial and error- screening and listening to your audience, then re-cutting- and Hirsch shows you this challenging process throughout the brilliant triumphs and failures (Pluto Nash!) of his long and amazing career.

Paul HIrsch, who has, in his long and stellar career, edited Star Wars, Carrie, Footloose, Ferris Buellers Day Off, MIssion Impossible and Ray among other films has a lot to write about. Written in a breezy and fluid style, it is laid out chronologically as a memoir, but you cant help but learn a lot about how movies are edited. Im a movie fan and I just loved how you get exposed to the nuts and bolts of movie-making at the top. Along the way you will learn who are the good guys and the bad guys among the A-listers, and how one gets and maintains a Hollywood career. Although its not a tell-all, he pulls no punches and HIrsch is an open enough person to be self-critical as well. Chapters are really written as complete stories and were like eating candy- when I finished one I couldnt resist going to another. Totally recommend this book.

As a professional video editor, I love the craft and the art. But to hear all of the front-line stories from the businesses best? A gift.

Tons of great stories and behind the scenes anecdotes.

I love the inside look at the making of some of my favorite movies. But to then hear about the heartbreak of a bomb-in-the-making. No one wanted “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” to bomb… especially the people behind the scenes. To hear what happened is so interesting and fascinating.

Seriously… a great read.