ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses editors speaking passionately about how attuned they are to the subtlest temperature variation, nuances and creative alterations in performance. Sometimes actors give almost identical performances throughout repeated takes of a scene. Sometimes wide differences exist between takes as the actor and director explore character and story. The only way to do a good job is to have a deep connection with the actors. In addition to simply finding the right performance for a particular story moment of a character's arc, the editor also has the chance to mold and shape the actor's performance by altering pacing, emphasizing moments of character development by revealing, hiding and even constructing moments. This is not to take away from the actor's importance as a storyteller, but only the editor is able to view and construct these performances in the context of the final story.
