79 Quotes by Thelma Schoonmaker

To receive footage that has been shot with editing in mind, it is a blessing.

I remember, at the Oscars in 1991, 'Dances with Wolves' won that year, and we were nominated for 'Goodfellas.' One of my peers said to me, 'Why'd you make that bad jump cut?' I said, 'Which one? We had about 20 in the film!' He was really upset about it.

Editing is a lot about patience and discipline and just banging away at something, turning off the machine and going home at night because you're frustrated and depressed, and then coming back in the morning to try again.

An actor's performance can be improved or shaped - or ruined - by what takes you use, how long you are on the actor's face, what line you put on the other actor's face, and when do you use close-ups or wide shots or two shots.

I started in documentaries, and that was a great help to me with improvisation, because with documentaries, you're handed a big lump of footage, and you have to shape it and make it into a story - which I love doing.

I don't think you can be a great director without knowing a lot about editing.

'Raging Bull' was badly received at first. It took 10 years for it to be recognised.

It's part of your job always as an editor: you always have to drop stuff.

When you're a film-maker, sometimes you have to be a slave to continuity.