Unit 16 Editing Techniques

Invisible editing
Definition: "A highly standardised system of editing, now virtually universal in commercial film and television but originally associated with Hollywood cinema, that matches spatial and temporal relations from shot to shot in order to maintain continuous and clear narrative action."
Example: (X)
Why and how: A seamless way of editing where you can't see the cuts. This method of editing is more immersive.

Jump cuts
Definition: "A jump cut is a cut in film editing in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly."
Example: (X)
Why and how: Different angles in the same scene cutting back and forth for example in an argument or conversation scene.

Cutting on action 
Definition: "Cutting on action or matching on action refers to film editing and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action."
Example: (X)
Why and how: Cutting to another scene as soon as an action in a scene happens. It can create tension or leave the scene on a cliffhanger.

Cross cutting
Definition: "Cross-cutting is an editing technique most often used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations."
Example: (X)
Why and how: They're used a lot in action sequences to create dramatic tension, two different things can be happening in two different scenes and it cuts to both as the action is heating up.

Matched cut
Definition: "Is a cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which objects in the two shots graphically match, often helping to establish a strong continuity of action and linking the two shots metaphorically"
Example: (X)
Why and how: They can be used as a trick to make it seem like the scene is continuing but it's actually cut to another scene.

Montage
Definition: "A technique in film editing in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information."
Example: (X)
Why and how: A variation of one or more scenes that are one after each other. They're used to show two or more things  happening at the same time.