5 commonly used techniques in film editing

There are several forms of film editing used to craft the final film and create a cohesive and effective story.
The five common forms of film editing are:

1. Montage

Montage is a film editing technique in which a series of short shots are edited together to create a single unified image or idea. This technique is often used to communicate the passage of time, to have an emotional impact, or to set a mood.

For example, you can use a montage to cut together a series of scenes where characters go about their daily lives to show the passage of time.
Editors can convey days or weeks in a short amount of time by using a sequence of scenes where a character wakes up, gets dressed, eats breakfast, and so on.

Montages can also be used to create emotional impact by cutting together a series of shots that have strong emotional resonance.

For example, a movie might use a montage of shots of characters recalling happy memories to create nostalgia or nostalgia.

Overall, montage is a powerful film editing technique that allows the editor to convey a wide range of ideas and emotions using carefully chosen short shots.

2. Cross-cutting

Crosscutting is a film editing technique in which an editor cuts back and forth between two or more different actions or events occurring simultaneously.

This technique can be used to create tension, show a relationship between two different stories or characters, or set a location or setting.

For example, if a movie shows a character being chased by a group of bad guys, the editor might cross-cut between the character running and the bad guy chasing them.
This is immediate and creates tension, as the viewer can see both the character’s point of view and the villain’s point of view.

Cross-cutting can also be used to show the relationship between two different stories or characters. For example, a movie might cross-cut the story of a group of soldiers fighting at war with the story of a family back home.
This technique helps establish a connection between the two stories and shows how they are affected by the events of the film.

3. Parallel editing

Parallel editing is a film editing technique in which an editor cuts between two or more different actions or events that occur simultaneously but in different locations.
This technique is often used to show a relationship or create tension between two different stories or characters.

For example, in a movie, parallel editing can be used to show the relationship between two characters in different locations.
An editor can switch back and forth between shots of one character talking on the phone and another listening, establishing a connection between the two.

Parallel editing can also be used to create tension by cutting between two different actions or events occurring simultaneously.
For example, a movie can create a sense of desperation and tension between a character being chased by villains and a character trying to escape a dangerous situation.

Overall, parallel editing is a film editing technique that allows editors to show the relationship between two different stories or characters and build suspense using carefully chosen shots.

4. Voiceover

Voice-over is a film editing technique in which a narrator speaks about footage in a film. This technique is often used to provide background information, reveal the thoughts or feelings of a character, or guide the viewer through a story.

For example, a film may use voice-over to provide narration that explains the events of a story or to provide insight into a character’s thoughts or feelings.

A voice-over may be spoken by a character in the film or by a separate narrator.

Voice-overs can be used at any point in a film, but are often used at the beginning or end of a scene to provide context or set the stage for what is to happen.
It can also provide continuity between different scenes or help viewers understand a character’s motivations and actions.

Overall, voice-overs are a useful film editing technique that allow editors to provide information and context to viewers and add depth and complexity to a film’s narrative.

5. Flashback

A flashback is a film editing technique in which an editor includes a scene or series of scenes that occurred in the past to provide context or background information for the current story.
This technique is often used to reveal key information or add depth and complexity to a narrative.

For example, a movie may use flashbacks to show the events that led to the current story.
This can be used to provide context for a character’s actions or to reveal information important to understanding a story.

Flashbacks can be used at any point in a film, but are often used at the beginning or end of a scene to provide context or set the stage for what is to happen.
It can also be used to provide continuity between different scenes or to help viewers understand a character’s motivations and actions.

Overall, flashbacks are a useful film editing technique that allow editors to provide information and context to viewers and add depth and complexity to a film’s narrative.