Tv Video

Cut On Action

Cutting from one shot to another while the subject is still in motion.

Cut Away

Cutting to an insert shot of something and then back. It can exist in the same space or can be used to get inside the head of a character.

Cross Cut

When the editor cuts back and forth between two locations. This cut can amp up the tension and suspense of the sequence. It can also be used to show what's going on in the character's head.

Jump Cut

When the editor cuts between the same shot, often used to show the passing of time. Found in montages. Sometimes used to add urgency.

Match Cut

Cuts from one shot to a different one by copying the action or composition, used for transitions.

Fade In / Fade Out

Dissolving to or from black.

Dissolve

Blending one shot into the next.

Smash Cut

Abrupt transitions; someone waking up from an intense dream or nightmare. Intense to quiet, or quiet to intense.

Invisible Cut

Cuts are hidden in blackness, used to give the impression that it's one single take. Hidden in the camera motion, when an object enters or leaves the frame.

L Cut

Audio based transition, audio from the current shot carriers over to the next shot.

J Cut

Audio in the next scene starts before you get to it; hear what's going on before you see what's going on.

Iris

Used as a stylistic choice now, used to be an in camera effect when you could manually close your iris to black.

Wipe

Transition between shots where the next one pushes the other off the screen.