Smoother, more powerful, and more transportive techniques to take your viewer from one shot, character, location, or idea to the next.
J + L Cuts
You’ve seen this one everywhere, but maybe never even noticed: J and L cuts. Most commonly used during dialogue scenes, these go far beyond breaking up the monotony of shot-reverse shot dialogue – they allow more flexibility in showing action and reaction, and more control over the pace of your edit (via Fandor):
Pre- and Post-Lap
These are like J + L cuts, but between scenes. Pentex Productions looks at examples from a wide range of well-known films, which use this tool to “emphasise characters, themes, or story, and to give the film a sense of cohesion“:
Further Viewing
Here are more simple editing tips:
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