Karen Pearlman is a film scholar, known for her pioneering work in articulating underlying principles concerning what rhythm in film is and the purpose it serves in modulating cycles of tension and release for viewers.[1] Currently Associate Professor in Screen Production and Practice at Macquarie University, she is the author of Cutting Rhythms, Shaping the Film Edit (Focal Press, 2009) and its second edition Cutting Rhythms, Intuitive Film Editing (Focal Press, 2016).
The focus of Pearlman's research, first developed when Head of Screen Studies at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, is on the connection of film theory and practice by making conceptual thinking accessible and useful to practitioners.[2] She co-directs The Physical TV Company with Richard James Allen.[3] In 2009 Dr Pearlman was elected President of The Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE).