Whether writing a screenplay or cutting in the editing booth, you're always looking to connect two scenes. Those connections are visually linked since film and TV are visual mediums. When they match or have similar shapes or colors in common, we call those cuts a 'match on action' cut or a 'match cut.' Today, we're going to define that term, look at some examples, and explain why filmmakers use them. Let's dive in. Match on Action Cut DefinitionA match-on action cut is an editing technique where from one shot to another view matches the first shot's action.For example, you could have one character lifting a cup for a sip in one scene and cut to another character drinking out of a cup in the next. Why Use a Match Cut on ActionFilmmakers and writers use these kinds of cuts to help provide a sense of editing continuity and consistency. It can also emphasize an action or tie two characters together thematically. Everything depends on how fast the cut is and what's happening in each scene. It can speed things up, moving the narrative forward. Or it can slow them down, and allow us to drift into someone else's life for a bit. A final reason we use these cuts is to just completely hide that an edit was made. Our eyes follow movement, so by cutting on action within a scene, filmmakers can join two shots together without the cut being jarring or noticeable. This allows them to change camera...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 17 December, 2024