This was partly because, in the years after 1917 when the soviet union was encouraging a nascent film industry. Eisenstein was the second of the key russian filmmakers. Vsevolod pudovkins major contribution to the cinema is as a theorist. Stock footage is often images of cities and landmarks, historical events of importance or images of the natural landscape and wildlife. Pudovkin kindle edition by pudovkin, vsevolod illarionovich. This volume contains a comprehensive exposition of the cinema writings of v. Vsevolod pudovkin author of film technique and film acting. Peter thompson course information columbia college address 1104 s. Joe told me that every time he saw stanley in his chair, there was a copy of v. The foundation of film art is editing, pudovkin wrote.
The original english version of the book has been reprinted thirteen times without a word being changed. Pudovkin on editing the end legacy to show something as everyone else sees it is to have accomplished nothing. Vsevolod illarionovich pudovkin was a russian and soviet film director, screenwriter and actor who developed influential theories of montage. Pudovkins film differs slightly by concentrating on several characters and their experiences through the years leading. Documentary editing gives us clearheaded and insightful strategies for a range of filmmakerly approaches to a variety of nonfiction subjects. Syllabus revised 20110831 department filmvideo course number and title 24440301, 24540301 class time and day tuesday, 6.
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, but the role of editor is regarded by many filmmakers as among the most indespensible when it comes to getting the intention and atmosphere of the film to the screen. Pudovkin states that through editing, every object goes from photographic to cinematographic, meaning that it is the construction and placement of shots that make images come alive and form a story. A brief look at some of vsevolod pudovkins theories on editing as well as some examples from more recent movies. He also wrote extensively about film ideas and eventually taught a generation of russian directors. This concise yet detailed exposition will be of considerable utility to the film student or anyone with a keen interest in film theory. In the 1920s vsevold pudovkin set down five editing techniques that remain the foundation of modern day cutting. His father illarion epifanovich pudovkin came from peasants of the penza governorate, the village of shuksha and worked in several companies as a manager and a doortodoor salesman. Film technique and film acting the cinema writings of v. Both were exceptional, and eisenstein is seen as the father of modern montage theory. Eisenstein and pudovkin are two names that stand out. Pudovkins film adheres to the formalistic conventions of soviet cinema, particularly the use of montage. How to edit and structure your documentary videouniversity. Wabash avenue, chicago, il 60605 document datesemester fall, 2011.
How eisenstein and vertov used montage to create soviet history by douglas michael priest fall2008 a thesis submitted to the department ofhistory ofthe state university ofnew york college at brockport in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts. This year,the very first award for animated feature will be presented. Essential editing methods editing techniques developed. Ive been studying editing recently and reading a lot of older books on film theory. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading film technique and film acting the cinema writings of v. Find out how editing a documentary can greatly improve your storytelling skills. If you want to learn how to tell a story, edit a documentary. Technique of film editing, reissue of 2nd edition karel reisz. Vsevolod pudovkins soviet montage theory the motley view.
Pudovkin by pudovkin, vsevolod illarionovich, 18931953. In the 1920s when the great russian theorists scoped out what the new elastic medium could do, they focused on the storytelling potentiai of editing. This reaction to editing is called the kuleshov effect. Even when you start with an outline, that outline is likely to change as you get to know the footage, the subjects and events. Five editing principies fu the 1920s vsevold pudovkin set down five editing techniques tbat remain the foundation of modern day cutting.
Look for and collect those magic moments of truth and beauty. Vsevolod pudovkin, the silent revolutionary film the. It not only had a strong immediate impact, but has remained the standard introduction to its subject ever since and wherever young. Schaefer this study describes the editing techniques used in four renowned television news documentaries that aired between 1954 and 1982. Publication date 1954 topics motion pictures publisher. Vsevolod pudovkin, in full vsevolod illarionovich pudovkin, born february 28 february 16, old style, 1893, penza, russiadied june 30, 1953, moscow, russia, u. If you are just showing it online, i usually export a high quality h264 file. Such a use of editing was typical of the film throughout. Contents film technique a separate table of contents for film acting appears at the beginning of that volume. Vsevolod pudovkin, the silent revolutionary film the guardian. A brief look at some of vsevolod pudovkin s theories on editing as well as some examples from more recent movies. Some of it is a little rough going, but a lot of it ive found very useful. Sergei eisenstein the theory of montage film editing.
Soviet montage theory is an approach to understanding and creating cinema that relies heavily upon editing montage is french for assembly or editing. In the early 1920s, however, he was a young, committed filmmaker. A brief look at some of vsevolod pudovkins theories on editing as well as some examples from more. Filled with useful references and possible scenarios, the book will be of enormous help to those of us who have sat in. Pudovkin was the student of lev kuleshov, who, for one, was arguably the very first film theorist ever, and two, was the one who demonstrated that editing meant more than splicing bits of film together to form a coherent story. In both the silent and early sound eras, pudovkin showed just as much of a flair for associative montage as eisenstein but, unlike his more theoreticallyminded countryman, pudovkin was more interested in wedding his radical editing techniques with traditional approaches to. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The single most comprehensive and engaging volume on. The theory that was the basis for this method can be found in his manual.
Introduction to documentary filmmaking course instructor. Gavin millar enhanced version of the seminal text on editing includes a new foreword, a new afterword, a revamped cover and layout, as well as a lower price. Pudovkins five editing techniques posted on december 7, 2012 by digi finally got the book cinematic storytelling which ive wanted to read for quite some time, and wanted to share this particular page that listed the techniques of film editing from a. How you export depends on how you will be distributing your documentary. It is the principal contribution of soviet film theorists to global cinema, and brought formalism to bear on filmmaking although soviet filmmakers in the 1920s disagreed about how exactly to view montage, sergei eisenstein marked a note. Its not just about sitting down with a writing utensil and a sheet of paper or a computer and keyboard and letting one come to life on the page. Petersburg 1927 vsevolod pudovkins film the end of st. Pudovkins film technique and film acting in the side pocket, and that it wasnt unusual to see stanley reading it on a set. If youre interested in reading some of pudovkins writings, his book film technique and film acting. Vsevolod pudovkin was born in penza into a russian family, the third of six children. For those who dont know the name of every important russian filmmaker out there, this video about pudovkin s 5 editing techniques will provide.
Firstly, it will aim to provide students with skills and different approaches to reading documentary films that deal with social issues. Documentary influence district 9 2009 reading tba 12week 15 final exam. Petersburg was written for the tenth anniversary of the 1917 revolution. For that reason alone, i ordered and read it, finding the observations from the infancy in film both fascinating and instructive. Lets look at what we can do with just three shots 1. Stanley kubrick was a fan the most instructive book on film aesthetics i came across was pudovkins film technique, which simply explained that editing was the aspect of film art form which was completely unique, and which separated it from all other art forms. Pudovkin, being a detailed treatise on film technique and film acting.
Ive been studying editing recently and reading a lot of older books on film. Based on maxim gorkys novel, it exemplifies pudovkins use of elaborate crosscutting of images montage to represent complex ideas. Form and style documentary techniques the partridge nest. He was fascinated by the efforts of his teacher, the filmmaker lev kuleshov, in exploring the effects of montage. When it comes to russian filmmakers, the first names that come to nearly everyones mind are andrei tarkovsky and sergei eisenstein. Some short videos analyzing pudovkins editing and showing 1920s footage of st. However, a lesserknown filmmaker, vsevolod pudovkin, proves just how integral russian film was to cinema at the beginning of the 20th century by providing his own montage.
It is informed by peirces theories of signs, and realist and symbolic film theory, as well as some of the understandings common to. Pudovkins book, film technique and film acting, which is available to read for free online. The critical reception of pudovkins films and theory has swung from one of adulation to near. It also meant that cineromans tampered with the film, reediting and shortening it. Editing strategies in television news documentaries. How to edit a documentary phil ebiners process youtube. Kuleshovs most outstanding student was vsevolod pudovkin, who went on to promote the workshops techniques in influential writings. For those who dont know the name of every important russian filmmaker out there, this video about pudovkins 5 editing techniques will provide. From film theory and criticismby vsevold pudovkinas included on pages 46 and 47 of cinematic storytellingby jennifer van sijll. The film is loosely based on maxim gorkys novel, and, while the mother symbolizes the ideology of the revolution and the prospects of an untried utopian state, she also possesses the traditional patriarchal ideologies of the crumbled regime, which creates a unique commentary on.
Now richard taylors rewritings and retranslations of evgeni filippovs earlier translations from the 1970s are available for the. Film technique and film acting the cinema writings of vi pudovkin. However, if you reverse the order, the first man is watching a shooting. If youre interested in reading some of pudovkin s writings, his book film technique and film acting. In this order it appears that the first man was shot. Pudovkins masterpieces are often contrasted with those of his contemporary sergei eisenstein, but whereas eisenstein utilized montage to glorify the power of the masses, pudovkin preferred to concentrate.
Film technique and film acting by vsevolod pudovkin. Leitmotif for pudovkin the purposefui use of editing could guide the audiences emotionai response. As pudovkin eventually did in his own work, kuleshov often created highly emotional moments by. In the words of pudovkin, to show something as everyone sees it is to have accomplished nothing pudovkin 63. Editing is a lot about patience and discipline and just banging away at something, turning o. Day 1 on teresa palmers documentary about the north philly neighborhood kensington. This video is about vsevolod pudovkin, a soviet filmmaker whose theories on editing technique are used in virtually every movie you see today. In an age when awards shows are commonplace,the academy awards. A good place to start is to look at all the footage while suspending judgement. Vsevolod pudovkins mat mother, 1926 was one of these films. Introduction by lewis jacobs iii introduction to the german edition. When editing, the selecting process for docs is usually very. Theres more than one way to learn how to tell a story.
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