jump cut
Jarring film transition
A jump cut is a film editing technique where two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly, creating an abrupt, jarring transition.
The effect makes the subject appear to suddenly shift or "jump" within the frame.
Jump cuts deliberately violate the continuity editing conventions that create smooth, invisible transitions.
Once considered an error, they became an artistic choice after the French New Wave: The interview used jump cuts to compress time while keeping the speaker in frame.
Oval-shaped or indirect
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- pacingRate of movement
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- passage of timeForward march of moments
flashback · flash-forward · non-linear · episodic · story beat · scene transition · dramatic tension · suspense
French for emerging trend
- French New Wave1960s cinematic revolution
- experimentalTesting new methods
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
Godard · modernist · auteur · art film · stylized · deliberate · lo-fi · raw
Modify written material
- spliceJoin end to end
- transitionChange from one state
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- shotQuick liquor serving
clip · scene · discontinuity · continuity error · axis · post-production · timeline · editing
Disturbingly incongruous
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
- choppyBroken into waves
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
unexpected · disorienting · unsettling · discontinuous · fragmented · startling · whiplash · disconcerting
elliptical
Oval-shaped or indirect
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- pacingRate of movement
- montageAssembled sequence of images
passage of time · flashback · flash-forward · non-linear · episodic · story beat · scene transition · dramatic tension · suspense · urgency
nouvelle vague
French for emerging trend
- French New Wave1960s cinematic revolution
- experimentalTesting new methods
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
Godard · unconventional · modernist · auteur · art film · stylized · deliberate · lo-fi · raw · handheld
edit
Modify written material
- spliceJoin end to end
- transitionChange from one state
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
shot · clip · scene · discontinuity · continuity error · axis · post-production · timeline · editing · footage
jarring
Disturbingly incongruous
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
- choppyBroken into waves
sudden · unexpected · disorienting · unsettling · discontinuous · fragmented · startling · whiplash · disconcerting · sharp
- Filmmakingcamera, film director, camcorder, directing, script
- film termsfilm, auteur, genre, celluloid, mise-en-scene
- shortcutsshortcut, shorthand, hotkey, keyboard shortcut, hack
- film editingediting, film editing, editor, splice, splicing
- film techniquesdolly zoom, closeup, close-up, fade, wide shot
- screenwriting techniquesdialogue, exposition, flashback, montage, voice-over