Film Editing Glossary

Cut

A visual transition created in editing in which one shot is replaced on screen by another.

Continuity editing

Editing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring visual inconsistencies. Establishes a sense of story for the viewer.

Cross cutting

Cutting back and forth between two or more lines of action, indicating they are happening simultaneously

Dissolve

A gradual scene transition. The editor overlaps the end of one shot with the beginning of the next one

Editing

The work of selecting and joining together shots to create a finished film

Errors of continuity

Disruptions in the flow of a scene such as a failure to match action or the placement of props across shots

Establishing shot

A shot, normally taken from a great distance or from a “bird’s eye view”, that establishes where the action is about to occur

Eyeline match

The matching of eyelines between two or more characters.  For example if Rafael looks to the right in shot A, Marselo will look to the left in shot B. This establishes a relationship of proximity and continuity

Fade

A visual transition between shots or scenes that appears on screen as a brief interval with no pictures. The editor fades one shot to black and then fades in the next. Often used to indicate a change in time and place

Final cut

The finished edit of a film, approved by the director and the producer. This is what the audience sees

Iris

Visible on screen as a circle closing down or opening up a shot. Seldom used in contemporary film, but common during the silent era of Hollywood films

Jump cut

A cut that creates a lack of continuity by leaving out parts of the action

Matched cut

A cut joining two shots whose compositional elements match, helping to establish strong continuity of action

Montage

Scenes whose emotional impact and visual design are achieved through the editing together of many brief shots.

Rough cut

The editor’s first pass at assembling the shots into a film, before tightening and polishing occurs

Sequence shot

A long take that extends for an entire scene or sequence. It is composed of only one shot with no editing

Shot reverse shot cutting

Usually used for conversations scenes, this technique alternates between over-the-shoulder shots showing each character speaking