A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away: My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits—Star Wars, Carrie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mission: Impossible, and More

**"For its sheer excellence, diversity, and cultural impact, Paul Hirsch's filmography speaks for itself. They say a film is made in the editing room, and this book is easily the most comprehensive, revelatory, and illuminating account of this essential cinematic art. A must-read for both the casual moviegoer and the serious cinephile alike."** -Mark Hamill *A Long Time Ago in a Cutting Room Far, Far Away* provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most influential films of the last fifty years as seen through the eyes of Paul Hirsch, the Oscar-winning film editor who worked on such classics as George Lucas's *Star Wars* and *The Empire Strikes Back*, Brian De Palma's *Carrie* and *Mission: Impossible*, Herbert Ross's *Footloose* and *Steel Magnolias*, John Hughes's *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* and *Planes, Trains & Automobiles*, Joel Schumacher's *Falling Down*, and Taylor Hackford's *Ray*. Hirsch breaks down his career movie by movie, offering a riveting look at the decisions that went into creating some of cinema's most iconic scenes. He also provides behind-the-scenes insight into casting, directing, and scoring and intimate portraits of directors, producers, composers, and stars. **Part film school primer, part paean to legendary filmmakers and professionals, this funny and insightful book will entertain and inform aficionados and casual moviegoers alike.**