When editing a video of any kind, I learned that usually, two main things are involved: types of cuts and transitions, and using music and sound effects. Those are the things that make a video interesting and are what create the feel of the video, setting the mood and creating different atmospheres. We focused specifically on the choice of shot types, pacing and positioning of an edit first, and proceeded to go through some of the most commonly used and popular cuts and transitions. I can now confidently say that I understand the difference between a cut and a transition, the former being the principle of cutting, clipping, and trimming clips to bring them together, and the latter being the additional effects added to blend and combine clips together. For example, transitions like fades, wipes and slides are just some of the few. But we focused primarily on cuts and the different types that we can incorporate into future work. We were asked to work in groups and research one type of cut per group, and then share what we found out.

 

– Jump Cuts –

 

A cut in which a single continuous shot is broken into two parts, with some of the footage being removed to render the effect of jumping forward in time. The camera positions of the subject should vary only slightly to achieve the effect. This fracturing of the duration moves the audience ahead, and so is often used to cut away dead pauses or awkward silences, keeping the audience interested and sometimes speeding up the action.

 

– J/L Cut –

 

J and L cuts are used with audio. J-cuts are where the audio of the next scene precedes the picture change, whilst L-cuts are the opposite, the audio carries over from the previous scene to the following one, despite visual changes. They both get their respective names from the shapes they make in an editing program’s timeline, the “J” and “L” shape forming depending on where the audio is placed. J-cuts are generally used to create a sense of intrigue, for example, if it is going to rain in the following scene, bringing in the sound early piques the interest of the viewers. L-cuts on the other hand, are used a lot when dialogue is involved. They are said to be a voiceover’s best friend but can be used with music and other sounds just as effectively and for several different purposes. But, the cuts actually work best when used together, creating a natural flow and instilling a sense of order in inherently jumpy clips.

 

– Match Cut –

 

A match cut is a cut from one shot to another, where the composition of the two shots is matched by the action or subject. In other words, it can bring together two contrasting clips as long as there is consistency with the logic of the action. It can create a sense of juxtaposition as well as a seamless-reality effect. Match cuts can help establish symbolism, help to not jar the audience, show a passing of time, and many other creative uses and are not only limited to video as they can also be used with audio.

-example

– Cutting to the Beat – 

 

This one is very straightforward – music is used as a guide. It is a technique where editors change shot on the beat of a song, which helps create rhythm and pace. When used creatively, this cut can completely transform the feel of the shot, and often this is seen in the comedy genre, where abrupt actions and surprises can be coupled with music to exaggerate the effect. I’ve also seen this cut quite a lot in horror and thriller movies, where the music in the background isn’t usually noticed by the audience until the gradual build-up and a sudden snap-on beat when the scene changes jolts and sometimes shocks the viewership, acting as a jump-scare.

 

– Invisible Cut – 

 

These cuts are very much like match cut, joining two different/contrasting scenes together (similar ones also), but done seamlessly so that the audience shouldn’t notice. By almost blending the two scenes together, a perception of one long, single-take is created, which provides consistency and believability, the building blocks to creating an emotional connection with the viewer. Often, the greatest challenge is aligning the camera and trying to make sense of the perspective. The angles need to be executed perfectly in order to present that cohesive manner which strengthens the connection of the two scenes in the eyes of the viewer.

 

– Cutting on Action –

 

My group was chosen to research this type of cut during the class, and here is what I found:

We then took the knowledge we had gained on the different types of cuts and applied it, by choosing a trailer or a film and rearranging it to create a different mood/atmosphere/narrative as well as trying to include some of the cuts we had recently learned of. I chose Wonder Woman 1984 as my trailer and used mostly jump cuts but also included on or two match cuts and cutting on action. I realised that I struggle with the arranging of clips because I feel that the trailer already has them in perfect order. Creating new ideas from already polished ones is difficult, so I focused more on the visual aspects of my video, not trying to change the story, but mixing up the order of clips so that the trailer is presented in a new and interesting format. The trailer that I had picked out, luckily had quite a lot of action, which gave me a lot to work with. I wanted to create a different balance between ‘normal’ and fighting scenes than one that was already in the trailer, so I experimented with bunching up different clips of similar speeds and spacing out action throughout. I decided to almost entirely remove the love interest and romantic scenes of the trailer and focus on the fighting and my favourite part was the way my trailer began, straight into Wonder Woman swinging through the clouds and easing into an overhead shot of a helicopter flying towards a city. I was proud of how authentic it felt to real trailers, at least visually. If I had more time, I would have gone back and tried to incorporate sound so that I could try J and L cuts as well.