Film Editing Terms

Front 1

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

Back 1

dissolve

Front 2

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

Back 2

rough cut

Front 3

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

Back 3

errors of continuity

Front 4

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

Back 4

eyeline match

Front 5

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

Back 5

fade

Front 6

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

Back 6

editing

Front 7

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

Back 7

matched cut

Front 8

Scenes whose emotional impact and visual design are achieved through the editing together of many brief shots. The shower scene from Psycho is an example of montage editing.

Back 8

montage

Front 9

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

Back 9

jump cut

Front 10

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

Back 10

final cut

Front 11

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

Back 11

iris

Front 12

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

Back 12

shot reverse shot cutting

Front 13

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

Back 13

sequence shot

Front 14

A shot, normally taken from a great distance or from a "bird's eye view," that establishes where the action is about to occur.

Back 14

establishing shot

Front 15

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

Back 15

cut

Front 16

Visible on screen as a bar travelling across the frame pushing one shot off and pulling the next shot into place. Rarely used in contemporary film, but common in films from the 1930s and 1940s.

Back 16

wipe

Front 17

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

Back 17

continuity editing

Front 18

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

Back 18

cross cutting