Editing Flashcards
The Hard Cut
The most basic and common type of editing used widely in film and television. A simple, blunt transition is made between Shot A and Shot B. The shots immediately follow each other in sequence. Hard cuts are usually used within a scene and not to transition between completely different scenes as this could potentially be confusing for an audience.
The Jump Cut
Transitions are made from a shot to one later on the same scene. Effectively ‘missing’ some action. Jump cuts usually indicate the passing of time or repetition.
The L cut
L-cut means you’re still hearing the audio from a shot but you’re seeing a new shot. The viewer is looking at clip B while still hearing audio from clip A.
The J cut
J-cut means you hear the audio before you see the video that matches with that audio. It doesn’t mean you’re starting at a black screen. It just means you’re looking at clip A while hearing the audio from clip B.
The Parallel Cut/Cross-Cut
The technique of the cross-Cut, also known as parallel editing, is where you cut between two different scenes that are happening at the same time in different spaces. When done effectively you can tell two simultaneous stories at once and the information being given to the audience will make complete sense.
Montage
Montage is another technique that has been around for a long time, but isn’t used as much as the previous cuts. The idea behind the montage is to use rapid cuts of imagery to help convey the passing of time or to help aid the context of the narrative.
Fade Editing
A visual effect used to indicate a change in place and time. The involves a gradual brightening as a shot opens or a gradual darkening as the shot goes black or to another colour. Sound also fades in and out to convey the change.
Dissolve
When the end of one shot overlaps the start of the next one to create gradual scene transition.
Additional: Continuity editing
Visual editing where shots are cut together in a clear and linear flow of uninterrupted action. Thus type of cutting seeks to maintain a continuous sense of time and space.
Additional: Continuity error
When the action or elements of a scene don’t match across shots. For example, when a character breaks a glass window but in a later shot the window is shown undamaged.
