he Rule of Six: Prioritizing Emotion in Film Editing

In "In the Blink of an Eye," Walter Murch introduces the "Rule of Six," a hierarchy of criteria for evaluating a cut in film editing. He argues that the most important factor is emotion: Does the cut convey the right feeling? Only after addressing this should editors consider story, rhythm, eye trace, two-dimensional plane of the screen, and three-dimensional space. By prioritizing emotion, editors can create a more engaging and impactful viewing experience.