What is Cross-Cutting Technique in Film Editing?

Cross-Cutting Technique

The cross-cutting technique is a production technique that is used for film editing or video, where two scenes are intercut to establish continuity. In theatre, the term is used to describe two or more scenes which are performed on the same stage at the same time. This makes it possible to juxtapose scenes or snippets of scenes that occur in different places at the same time, using separate areas of the performance space. The technique is used to highlight or contrast a particular aspect or theme of the story. Using different groupings way, so that both scenes could happen at the same time, or one could be frozen while the other comes alive. That can have a similar effect to spotlighting particular places of the stage or using a split-screen in a film. This Cross-Cutting Technique also called split-screen.

Click on Below Link: Film Techniques - Cross-Cutting/Parallel Editing

Cross-Cutting Technique is invaluable for analysing the themes in the performance of production by directly comparing or contrasting elements of the story.

Additional Cut Techniques Use in Filmmaking

Here are the different types of film editing cut techniques use in filmmaking you should know.

1. Cross Dissolve

A cross-dissolve can serve several purposes and motivations within the story. It can signify the passage of time, or it can use the overlapping “layers” or dissolves to show multiple scenes happening at the same time, but shot at different times.

A famous example of Cross Dissolve is probably Apocalypse Now, but my favourite is from Spaceballs.

Click on Below Link: Spaceballs - "Nice Dissolve."

2. Cross Cut, aka Parallel Editing

This type of Cross Cut editing is when you cut between two different scenes that are happening in different places at the same time. It can be great for adding tension. The typically cross-cut example these days is Inception since there are four levels of consciousness all the happening at once but this scene from Lord of the Rings is a good example as well.

3. Cutaway Shots

Cutaways shots that take viewers away from main action or characters. They give additional context in the scene and can create more foreshadowing and tension.

If you view that scene from the last step again, you will see the cutaway shots that bring the entire thing together, and the essential cutaway at the end of the scene, which is the pop tarts popping out of the toaster. Tarantino cuts away to the cabinet to show the pop tarts, then to the bathroom door, then to the gun, all to give us context and tell us that ‘there’s a dude in there!’ Then we forget about the pop tarts until the BAM they pop out, and the shots are fired.

Click on Below Link: Cutaway Shots

4. Wipe

A wipe is a transition that uses an animation that “wipes” the first scene away into the next scene. There are basic wipes and that are more difficult ones, but they can be seen as cheesy or corny, depending on whether you are a snob or not.

5. Cutting on Action

You cut at the point of action because that’s what our brains and eyes are naturally expecting. When someone kicks the door or gate to open it, we expect to see the change in its angle when the door is kicked, not after it’s flown open and swaying for a moment.

Click on Below Link: Pulp Fiction Bathroom Killing Scene