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Quote by Frederick Wiseman

“My job as a film editor is to construct a dramatic narrative because otherwise it's just a chaotic arrangement of sequences.”

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Frederick Wiseman

Frederick Wiseman, born on January 1, 1930, is an American documentary filmmaker known for his in-depth exploration of public institutions and social issues through his distinctive narrative style. more

“There's the internal rhythm within a sequence, and then there's the rhythm between the sequences, and that's extremely important in constructing the narrative. For example, you don't put two big dramatic scenes right next to each other. But you can use the rhythm of the transition shots; they can often serve a double purpose.”

Two Important Use Bigs Purpose Next Example Scene Shots Rhythm Narrative Dramatic Internals Transition Sequence

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“There's a literal track: who says what to whom, what are people wearing, etcetera. And there's the abstract track: what ideas are suggested by the literal. And the real movie takes place in the relationship between the literal and the abstract.”

People Ideas Real Track Abstract Literal Etcetera

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“This whole business of documentary being a second-class citizen is bullshit. A documentary can be as interesting, as dramatic, as sad, as funny, blah, blah, blah, as a fiction movie. Or it can be as awful as a fiction movie!”

Whole Interesting Fiction Class Citizens Awful Dramatic Bullshit Documentaries Blah Second Class Citizens

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“One fan sent me one tooth, so I made a necklace out of it. But then I found a bunch of my baby teeth, and started realizing I would love to wear a piece of my fans' bodies on me.”

Made Body Found Realizing Pieces Fans Baby Bunch Teeth My Baby Necklaces Baby Teeth

Author:Kesha

“It's rare in a documentary film that you have a repetitive act. So when you do, you can shoot it in different ways so that you have more choices when you're sitting down to edit that sequence six months later.”

Way Different Film Choices Months Six Sitting Different Ways Documentaries Six Months Sequence Edits Sitting Down Repetitive Documentary Films

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“A lot of the issues of rhythm in film are found in the editing because it's very rare that any sequence is the sequence that is shot.”

Film Found Issues Shots Rhythm Editing Sequence

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“Paris is a beautiful city to walk around in. And, you know, all the obvious things: I like the museums, I like the theater, I like the dance. And it's manageable. The food's good. I know a lot of interesting people here. I lived in Boston for 50 years or more. Wherever I am, I'm usually holed up most of the time in the editing room, and so, when I leave the editing room, even if I just take a walk, it's gorgeous. And I walk everywhere. I'm a victim of the seduction of Paris.”

People Ifs Knows Years Beautiful Walks Interesting Rooms Cities Theater Victim Obvious Paris Museums Editing Seduction Boston Gorgeous Manageable Obvious Things Beautiful City

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“If I worked in my apartment, I'd never leave my apartment.”

Ifs Apartment

Author:Frederick Wiseman

“Unfortunately, I never played an instrument. I can't blame my parents, but I wish I had had music lessons. It's odd because I think I have a good sense of rhythm, as they say in some fields. But I don't know anything about music.”

Thinking Knows I Can Wish Parent Fields Lessons Blame Instruments Rhythm Odd Good Sense Music Lessons

Author:Frederick Wiseman

Quote by Frederick Wiseman

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