Editors have a wide array of weapons in their arsenal when putting together a film. Different cuts and transitions make audiences’ brains react differently and filmmakers exploit that reaction when deciding how to blend shots and scenes. But what are each of those cuts and transitions? What do people mean when they say “smash cut” or “wipe” in describing how shots are compiled? Now there’s a video, exclusively debuted by The A.V. Club, that will explain all of the differences by using examples from classic and current cinema.
As put together by RocketJump Film School, this excellent video methodically works through all of the various options that filmmakers have when putting together a movie. Whether it’s jump cutting, cutting on the action, or other cuts and transitions, the video expertly showcases clips from films that demonstrate exactly how each editing move works in a familiar way. Previously, RocketJump has looked at editing to elicit “Oh fuck” moments and also how to integrate CGI seamlessly into shots.
This new video is a terrific resource for film students, or even just those casually interested in movies, that will help viewers better understand the purpose behind every cut their favorite filmmakers uses in classic films.