Cutaway
An edit to a shot of something other than the current subject, then returning to the main action. Cutaways provide context, compress time, build tension, or cover continuity issues in the main footage. These brief departures from primary action serve practical editing purposes while adding visual variety, information, or emotional emphasis to scenes.
When to Use
- Covering dialogue edits or continuity problems
- Showing reactions or important details during conversations
- Compressing time during long actions or speeches
- Building tension by cutting to clocks, threats, or ominous details
Famous Examples
The Godfather (1972)
Cutting to hands during tense negotiations
Goodfellas (1990)
Cutaways to Henry's paranoid perspective details
Dunkirk (2017)
Cutting to approaching threats during dialogue
Related Techniques
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