In the post-production

Post-production

Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...

 process of film editing

Film editing

Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...

 and video editing

Video editing

The term video editing can refer to:* Linear video editing, using video tape* Non-linear editing system , using computers with video editing software* Offline editing* Online editing...

, a cut is an abrupt, but usually trivial film transition from one sequence to another. It is synonymous with the term edit, though "edit" can imply any number of transitions or effects. The cut, dissolve

Dissolve (film)

In the post-production process of film editing and video editing, a dissolve is a gradual transition from one image to another. The terms fade-out and fade-in and are used to describe a transition to and from a blank image. This is in contrast to a cut where there is no such transition. A dissolve...

 and wipe serve as the three primary transitions. The term refers to the physical action of cutting film or videotape, but also refers to a similar edit performed in software; it has also become associated with the resulting visual "break".

History

Due to the short length of early film stock

Film stock

Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...

, splicing

Film splicer

A film splicer is a device which can be used to physically join together lengths of photographic film. It is mostly used in motion pictures...

 was necessary to join together segments into long-form. Actuality directors spliced together reels prior to shooting

Shot (film)

In film, a shot is a continuous strip of motion picture film, created of a series of frames, that runs for an uninterrupted period of time. Shots are generally filmed with a single camera and can be of any duration. A shot in production, defined by the beginning and end of a capturing process, is...

 in order to record for longer periods of time. Narrative

Narrative

A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...

 directors, on the other hand, preferred shooting for shorter lengths, editing together shot footage. In either case, film was cut (and subsequently joining the cut segments) in order to remove excess footage, focusing attention on significant elements.

The cut has retained its purpose to this day, with alternative uses arising to achieve special effects.

"Cut!"

To signal the end of media capture, this command is issued primarily by the director, to cast and crew. (It is bad form for others to yell "Cut!" without an exceptional reason; mistakes are reshot during the same take, if possible.) In contrast, a "Roll (media)!" command signals the beginning of shooting.

In between these commands and the actual footage to be captured, various marking elements (the slate

Clapperboard

A clapperboard is a device used in filmmaking and video production to assist in the synchronizing of picture and sound, and to designate and mark particular scenes and takes recorded during a production...

), preparatory actions (extra

Extra (actor)

A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...

s, effects, or other costly elements), and the director's "Action!" command are also recorded. These are edited out in order to effect a seamless presentation.

The proper cut

In practice, the cut does not break the suspension of disbelief

Suspension of disbelief

Suspension of disbelief or "willing suspension of disbelief" is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literary works of fiction...

 necessary to keep an audience engaged to a narrative or program. The cut represents a continuous transition in setting

Setting (fiction)

In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...

 and time

Time

Time is a part of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify rates of change such as the motions of objects....

—in turn, the dissolve and wipe respectively identify changes in time and setting. In many cases, cuts are also used in place of dissolves or wipes for minor changes, or to edit away insignificant details in order to maintain pace

Pace (speed)

Pace, also called rhythm or tempo, is a term used to describe the rate of activity or movement, such as in running or the flow of events in an entertainment piece.-Entertainment:...

. Usage of the cut in this manner conforms to the goals of continuity editing

Continuity editing

Continuity editing is the predominant style of film editing and video editing in the post-production process of filmmaking of narrative films and television programs...

, which deemphasizes the presence of the film crew.

Cuts serve as transitions between camera angles, such a wide establishing shot

Establishing shot

An establishing shot in filmmaking and television production sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects...

 and a medium shot

Medium shot

In film, a medium shot is a camera shot from a medium distance. The dividing line between "long shot" and "medium shot" is fuzzy, as is the line between "medium shot" and "close-up"...

. Footage of a moving character may be captured from multiple angles rather than a tracking shot

Tracking shot

In motion picture terminology, a tracking shot is a segment in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly, a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken...

, either for aesthetic reasons or to lessen the risk of damaging a camera while in motion.

Cuts are often used in sections of dialogue

Dialogue

Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....

 so that the director may employ close-up

Close-up

In filmmaking, television production, still photography and the comic strip medium a close-up tightly frames a person or an object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium shots and long shots . Close-ups display the most detail, but they do not include the broader scene...

s without unnecessary (and visually disturbing) movement of the camera. Such cuts usually follow the 180 degree rule

180 degree rule

In filmmaking, the 180° rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line...

, where the camera angles are kept on the same side of an imaginary border drawn between the subjects.

On a broadcast television multiple-camera setup

Multiple-camera setup

The multiple-camera setup, multiple-camera mode of production, or multicam is a method of filmmaking and video production. Several cameras—either film or professional video cameras—are employed on the set and simultaneously record or broadcast a scene...

, cuts are performed at the vision mixer

Vision mixer

A vision mixer is a device used to select between several different video sources and in some cases Compositing video sources together to create special effects...

 by the technical director by simply selecting a different source. On single camera or film setups, cuts are performed by the editor using either a linear

Linear video editing

Linear video editing is a video editing post-production process of selecting, arranging and modifying images and sound in a predetermined, ordered sequence. Regardless whether captured by a video camera, tapeless camcorder, recorded in a television studio on a video tape recorder the content must...

 or non-linear editing system

Non-linear editing system

In video, a non-linear editing system is a video editing or audio editing digital audio workstation system which can perform random access non-destructive editing on the source material...

. Film may still be cut and spliced, but today's editing systems have made such "destructive" edits unnecessary. Instead, edit points identify where the system duplicates source footage onto the master reel

Master recording

A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...

.

Variations

• An L-cut is when video and audio are edited asynchronously. For example, the sound of approaching cars in an interior shot alerts the viewer that the next scene will most likely involve traffic or take place outside.
• A jump cut
  Jump cut
  A jump cut is a cut in film editing and vloging in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly. This type of edit causes the subject of the shots to appear to "jump" position in a discontinuous way...
  
  is a cut, within the setting and time frame of a scene, where continuity is visibly broken. Though a mistake in many cases, it can also be used for dramatic effect. It is not to be confused with a cut used where a dissolve
  Dissolve (film)
  In the post-production process of film editing and video editing, a dissolve is a gradual transition from one image to another. The terms fade-out and fade-in and are used to describe a transition to and from a blank image. This is in contrast to a cut where there is no such transition. A dissolve...
  
   or wipe would be (perhaps more) appropriate.
• A cutaway is when footage extraneous to a scene is overlaid, visually interrupting the narrative but perhaps displaying some important action taking place simultaneously, or an action referenced in dialogue. Audio cutaways are much less common, as they do not achieve the same effect.
• A cross cut
  Cross-cutting
  Cross-cutting is an editing technique most often used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one action to another action, which can suggest the simultaneity of these two actions but this is not always the...
  
  is similar to a cut used in dialogue, but where the subjects are not necessarily in the same setting (or even time frame). It establishes the same intimate relation as a dialogue cut.
• A match cut
  Match cut
  A match cut, also called a graphic match, is a cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in the two shots graphically match, often helping to establish a strong continuity of action and linking the two shots...
  
  , like the cross cut, links together two scenes that visually or otherwise resemble each other.
• Cutting on action
  Cutting on action
  Cutting on action or matching on action refers to film editing and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. Although the two shots may have actually been shot hours apart from each other, cutting on action gives the...
  
  refers to a cut that links together two compositionally similar scenes. For example, the imminent pulling of a gun trigger may, prior to the gunshot, cut to a champagne cork firing off.