A Match Cut can be improved by changing the distance and angle for each cut to avoid “jitters” in a scene.
Match Cut
IMPACT CUT,
IMPACT MOVE
What does it look like?
An Impact Cut is a cut from one frame to another that specifically emphasizes contrast, opposites, or even violence. This is often used to excite an audience, surprise them, or confuse them with unusual transitions in time and space.
An Impact Move can achieve the same purpose by moving the camera from image A to image B. With a noticeable contrast between the two images, impact is created. In other words, the audience takes notice and the director’s intent is achieved.
Where can I see it?
In The Virgin Spring, a young boy runs into a sudden closeup. This sudden movement and abrupt change in composition is an Impact Move. In North by Northwest, an Impact Move can be seen. When Cary Grant summons a page, a quick dolly right occurs to the two men watching.
In Punch Drunk Love, the scene is very still and quiet as Adam Sandler looks at a harmonium parked on the curb. It is only when he finally decides to take the instrument that an Impact Cut is used. A large truck drives by just at that instant.
Impact Cut
THEMATIC CUT,
THEMATIC MOVE
What does it look like?
A Thematic Cut is a cut from one frame to another that specifically emphasizes harmony, continuation of a theme, or concepts linked by images that have similar properties between them. This is often used to make transitions that lead us logically through a story.
A Thematic Move is similar. By moving the camera from the first image to a similar image with shared thematic properties, a smooth transition between the two images is achieved. Additionally, the second image may add more details, or reveal supporting information for the first.
Where can I see it?
In The Departed, we first see Matt Damon’s character as a young boy. A Thematic Cut is used to reveal that same character as an adult years later, now at the police academy. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, an ape first throws a bone into the air. The image then cuts to a ship in outer space. The thematic concept here is that the discovery of tools (the bone) over thousand of years led to the eventuality of space flight.
In North by Northwest, Cary Grant starts by pulling a woman to safety. The image then cuts to Cary Grant pulling her into his bed. In Apollo 13, the scene cuts from an astronaut’s excited yell (on the mission) to another astronaut’s frustrated face (off the mission). Thematic Cuts are used in In Cold Blood. Leading up to a crime, the criminals perform action A, then the homeowner does a similar action A2. This repeats: B, B2, C, C2. The analogous behavior between both the criminal and the victim creates an interesting link between the two parties.
The camera moves from a woman praying about her dead daughter to the empty cradle in Cries and Whispers.
Thematic Cut
SUBLIMINAL CUT
What does it look like?
A Subliminal Cut is a cut that happens very quickly. The film cuts from the first image to a new, impact image, and then cuts back again. The new image lasts only a few frames, and the audience gets only a very brief glimpse of it.
This technique works like a subliminal message, activating something in the viewer’s subconscious, but not necessarily registering at a conscious level.
Where can I see it?
In Fight Club, Subliminal Cuts are used to subvert the story or to make us uncomfortable.
In The Exorcist, Father Karras sees the face of death as a Subliminal Cut after his mother’s death. In From Dusk Till Dawn, Subliminal Cuts are used to show but not reveal a bloody murder scene. In The Bride Wore Black, the camera Subliminal Cuts to Julie as she arrives at the doorway of her second victim’s apartment.
In The Graduate, Subliminal Cuts are used as Mrs. Robinson attempts to seduce Benjamin with her body. In Easy Rider, many Subliminal Cuts are used as the riders are attacked in their sleep.
Subliminal Cut
CROSS CUT
What does it look like?
A Cross Cut cuts back and forth between separate scenes that are occurring in different places, usually at the same time. The camera alternates between multiple perspectives to show us the relationship between the scenes, increasing the drama of the events. Cross Cuts are often used to build tension and suspense.
An interesting way of stylizing Cross Cuts is to vary the camera speed in one of the scenes. One can be shot in slow motion while the other scene is filmed in real time. This makes the Cross Cuts more dramatic and interesting.
Where can I see it?
In A Better Tomorrow, John Woo cuts back and forth between the image of an assassin approaching his victims in slow motion and the victims sitting obliviously at a table in real time. Many gunfight sequences cut back and forth between the warring factions as they fight.
In Rocky, Cross Cuts contrast the training styles of Rocky and Apollo Creed. In Batman, the camera cuts between the Joker dancing and Batman fighting. In The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the camera Cross Cuts between soldiers marching, Clint Eastwood assembling his gun, and assassins approaching.
CROSS CUT
Cross Cuts
CUTAWAY
What does it look like?
A Cutaway is used in the film editing process to hide mistakes or to focus on interesting objects. This technique is simply a cut away from the main scene to an object within the scene — a prop for example. This object can be used as a “glue” to cut together two sequences that don’t splice together smoothly.
The editor can compose the film in this order: Sequence 1, Cutaway, Sequence 2. Because the camera cuts away to an intermediate object, we don’t notice the awkward transition between the two sequences.
A Cutaway can also emphasize images, objects, and characters within a scene.
Cutaway
FREEZE FRAME
What does it look like?
Quite simply, a Freeze Frame is a single frame of film played continuously to create the effect of a frozen image. The most frequent use of this technique is to end films on an enigmatic or emotional note.
Where can I see it?
The passage of time in The Yakuza Papers is often expressed by still frames with voiceover narration. Freeze Frames are also used when certain Yakuza are shot and killed.
Freeze Frames are used to end Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 400 Blows, Child’s Play, The Wild Bunch and Rocky. La Jetée is a film that is composed almost entirely of photographic Freeze Frames. In Goodfellas, Strictly Ballroom, and Out of Sight, Freeze Frames are occasionally mixed in for effect.
Freeze Frame
LOOK AT
What does it look like?
Look At starts with an actor looking towards something offscreen. The camera then cuts to the object that is being looked at. The camera may then cut back to the actor for a reaction shot.
Look At illustrates an interesting aspect of film montage. While the actor and the object being looked at may be filmed hundreds of miles away from each other, the audience perceives the two elements as existing within the same physical space.
The order of the elements for this technique is very significant. By switching the reaction shot and the look shot, the emotional meaning of the scene is changed.
For example: we first see a man driving along, and he looks happily out his window. The camera cuts to a devastating wreck on the side of the road and then cuts back to the driver to show his sympathetic reaction.
If we reverse the order of the sequence, we end up with a man who is very sad until he sees a brutal car crash, and that makes him happy. This kind of association might give the audience the idea that the driver enjoys other peoples’ pain. This is interesting because the footage didn’t change — just the order in which it was presented.
Look At
MULTI-TAKE
What does it look like?
A Multi-Take refers to a si
ngle action that is repeated several times, from different angles and distances. The audience sees the same action occur, usually about two to three times. This adds dramatic impact to the scene.
A Multi-Take is used when an important or decisive action occurs in a film. Without this technique, the action might happen so quickly that the audience doesn’t even notice. One solution would be to film it in slow motion, but the Multi-Take provides an effective alternative.
Where can I see it?
In The Usual Suspects, a coffee cup falls to the ground and shatters several times. In The Killer, John Woo Multi-Takes as an assassin pulls out his rifle to kill. In The Color of Money, the action of the cue hitting the pool ball is repeated from a few different angles for emphasis.
Many martial arts movies use this technique to emphasize the punches and kicks in fight scenes. Multi-Takes appear at the end of The Fury, when Cassavetes’ body explodes; in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, when the Terminator shatters the evil terminator’s frozen body; and in The Graduate, when Ben spins around to look at Mrs. Robinson.
Multi-Take
CUT ZOOM IN
What does it look like?
Cut Zoom In is a technique that adds emphasis to an otherwise static shot. This technique usually has three stages: a very wide shot, a wide shot, and a medium shot. The distances for each shot can vary, but the basic idea is that, for each cut, the camera suddenly “jumps” forward towards the subject being viewed. To soften the effect, the camera can slowly zoom forward during the technique.
The two-shot version of this technique is often used, but is not as distinct. A two-shot Cut Zoom In consists of cutting from a wide shot to a close-up.
Where can I see it?
In Die Hard 2, Renny Harlin Cut Zooms In on the satellite dish just before it explodes. In The Fifth Element, Luc Besson performs a Cut Zoom In toward the headquarters of Zorg as Zorg speaks out his first, middle, and last names.
In La Femme Nikita, there is a two-shot Cut Zoom In when Nikita breaks open a bathroom window to prepare for an assassination. This two-shot cut emphasizes the action. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, the camera Cut Zooms In towards Hal’s eye.
Cut Zoom In
CUT ZOOM OUT
What does it look like?
Cut Zoom Out is the opposite of Cut Zoom In. Instead of jumping closer to the subject, the camera moves farther away with each cut.
An example of a Cut Zoom Out sequence would be: close-up to wide shot to extremely long shot (establishing shot). The distance covered by a Cut Zoom Out is usually much farther than its counterpart.
The most common use of this technique is to show how far away something can be seen or heard. If something incredibly loud happens, the camera first shows where the sound originated. Then the camera zooms back to a location farther away where the audience still hears the sound. Finally, the camera moves to a location blocks or miles away where the sound can still be heard.
Where can I see it?
In Seconds, the frame Cut Zooms Out from a man at a table, contemplating. The frame Cut Zooms Out in Blow Out, as John Travolta searches for the source of a sound.
At the end of The Matrix, the frame Cut Zooms Out from the city.
Cut Zoom Out
MONTAGE SEQUENCE
What does it look like?
A Montage Sequence is a specific subset of montage. Many films contain these sequences that are often set to music. A Montage Sequence is used to conveniently express the passage of time or a sequence of events without dialogue. This technique involves the collection of many different visual images spliced together. The transitions between these images (fades, cuts, dissolves) can greatly affect the emotional impact of the sequence.
Where can I see it?
In Gangs of New York, a Montage Sequence at the end shows us the progression of New York City over the years. Each jump in time is linked by a dissolve to the next image. Flashdance is composed of a sizeable number of Montage Sequences. The Electric Horseman opens with a Montage Sequence that reveals the main character’s gradual career decline.
In Rocky, a Montage Sequence shows Rocky training for his big fight. NYPD Blue had an opening credits Montage Sequence that showed establishing shots of New York. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has a bicycle-riding Montage Sequence. In the beginning of Mimic, a Montage Sequence presents the images that fade in and out to present an ominous, chilling introduction. In Easy Rider, several Montage Sequences show the characters driving across the country.
Montage Sequence
JUMP CUT SEQUENCE
What does it look like?
A Jump Cut Sequence is a specific type of Montage Sequence in which jump cuts are used to show similar actions occurring over a short period of time. What makes this technique different from other Montage Sequences is that the camera focuses on one particular scene or character, using jump cuts to create a sequence. The camera alternates between close-ups and wide shots, changing the angle slightly for each take. Jump cuts add energy to a character’s actions.
Where can I see it?
In Kiss the Girls, a Jump Cut Sequence shows Ashley Judd practicing her kickboxing techniques. In Sex, Lies, and Videotape, a Jump Cut Sequence shows Graham destroying his collection of video tapes.
Jump Cut Sequence
SPLIT SCREEN
What does it look like?
A Split Screen shows two separate sequences on the screen at the same time. For example: the image can be split down the middle, allowing one scene to occur on the left side and another to occur on the right.
The frame may be split into halves, quarters, whatever, depending on what the director needs.
Where can I see it?
Both When Harry Met Sally and Indiscreet use a Split Screen as two lovers talk on the phone. At the end of Carrie, Split Screen showcases the hellish prom disaster.
Split Screen
SUB-CLIP
What does it look like?
A Sub-Clip is similar to the picture-in-picture effect that high-end television owners have experienced. Sub-Clips help to show a new camera shot without cutting away.
Instead of cutting to a new shot, the Sub-Clip opens on top of the main scene and plays through. This technique often illustrates some relevant information, such as what a character is looking at.
Where can I see it?
In The Andromeda Strain, when research scientists come into the town, they go door to door, looking for survivors. Instead of cutting to the inside of each house as they look in, Sub-Clips open on the screen to show the ravaged bodies inside.
In Knock Off, a Sub-Clip opens as Van Damme looks into a box of knock-off goods. Sub-Clips open in Buffalo ‘66, as Billy thinks about his childhood.
Sub-Clip
SUPERIMPOSE
What does it look like?
Superimpose adds supporting imagery to a scene. This technique is accomplished by overlaying a scene with a secondary image that is semi-transparent.
The secondary image adds to the atmosphere. For example: if a director wants to show that a character is thinking about a long-lost loved one, the image of the loved one’s close-up can be Superimposed over the scene.
Where can I see it?
In The Lady from Shanghai, a pane of shattered glass is Superimposed over the scene to indicate a car wreck. The audience’s reactions are Superimposed over an intense pool competition in The Hustler.
The image of a crescent flag is Superimposed over a sad princess in The Hidden Fortress.
As the characters travel and sing in a van in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, a map of their progress is Superimposed over the scene. In The Seven Year Itch, the main character gives a monologue to his wife, who is Superimposed over her chair outside, knitting. This technique is used again to Superimpose Marilyn Monroe as she arrives behind a door.
In The Tin Drum, the image of a young boy banging on his drum is Superimposed over a scene in which he is born.
Superimpose
; FILL, REVEAL FRAME
What does it look like?
Fill, Reveal Frame allows the director to cut without the audience knowing it. This technique can be used to create jumps in space and time within a film.
If the camera is moving, it may move in front of a wall or some other object that obscures the camera’s view. If the object is dark enough, the director can fool the audience by cutting to another shot where the camera is moving away from a different dark object. The cut happens so transparently that the audience may not notice unless they are paying very close attention.
Setting Up Your Shots Page 7