6 Ways to Edit Any Scene — Essential Film & Video Editing Techniques Explained [Shot List Ep. 10]

Ultimate guide to film and video editing techniques, including eyeline match, cross cutting, eye trace, j cut and l cut, intellectual montage, and cut on action.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — Editing: Creative Uses of the Cut
01:32 - Walter Murch & The Rule of Six
02:46 - Eyeline Match
05:55 - Cross Cutting
07:57 - Eye Trace
10:13 - Split Edit
13:14 - Intellectual Montage
15:40 - Cut on Action
17:54 - Honorable Mentions and FREE Reference Shot List

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Film editing is a language that started with the simple cut over a century ago. Since then, film and video editing techniques have turned that language into poetry. In this episode of The Shot List, we’re looking at the major film editing and video editing techniques that can be used when editing a scene. These techniques include eyeline match, cross cutting, eye trace, split edits, intellectual montage, and cut on action. We’ll explain how to edit video using these techniques and what they bring to the storytelling process.

First up is the eyeline match — where a character’s eyes guide the edit. If we see a character notice something off-screen, our immediate response is “What are they looking at?” Most of the time, the editor complies and cuts to match the character’s eyeline (not only what they see but from their literal or general perspective).

In film editing, cross cutting (or intercutting) is essentially weaving two or more scenes into one. The classic example of cross cutting is the baptism scene in The Godfather as we watch Michael become “The Godfather” twice over — to his sister’s child and to the Corleone family as we watch his men assassinate his rivals.

One bit of film theory from legendary editor Walter Murch is called eye trace. To help the viewer along, eye trace suggests to cut between shots when the area of focus is in the same spot. That way, the viewer can stay focused on the moment, especially when rapidly cutting through action scenes.

A hard cut is when both the sound and image are switch simultaneously to the next shot. But a split edit allows for the sound or image to switch before the other. These are known as either the J cut or the L cut — based on the way they look in a film editing timeline. These techniques are useful in dialogue scenes to help pace out the conversation and allow for reaction shots.

Intellectual montage is a fascinating bit of editing theory that suggests that when presented with two images back-to-back, the viewer will search for a connection between them. When deployed strategically, filmmakers can create meaning through juxtaposition that wouldn’t otherwise be there.

And, finally, much of movie editing is built around the cut on action — when a cut is made within a character or object’s movement in the frame. Rather than creating a chaotic onslaught of fragmented punches and kicks, the cut on action creates a more seamless flow.

These are the essential film editing and video editing techniques that editors use all the time. And as soon as you master these video editing tips and tricks, you’ll be able to speak that language fluently.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

"Spicy Boi" - Falls
"Origin" - David A Molina
"Mining The Data" - Fairlight
"Phife Theory" - Falls
"Square Escape" - Hans Zimmer / No Time to Die OST
"Triboro" - Falls
"The Agoge" - Tyler Bates / 300 OST
"War Paint" - Rhythm Scott
"The Radiogram" - Bernard Herrmann
"War Banner" - Cody Martin
"Mercury" - Alon Ohana
"Spikey Cars" - Junkie XL / Mad Max: Fury Road OST
"Bang Bang" - Joe Cuba
"The Plan" - Joe Kraemer / Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation OST
"Crimin' & Dealin'" - Clint Mansell / Requiem for a Dream OST
"Tense" - Clint Mansell / Requiem for a Dream OST
"Nightmare" - Lost Ghosts
"Discovery" - Nicholas Britell / Don't Look Up OST
"Main Title Theme" - Nicholas Britell / Don't Look Up OST
"Memento Mori" - Nicholas Britell / Don't Look Up OST
"Love the Glove" - Michael Giacchino / Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol OST
"Drumming Free" - Airstream
"I Know Kung Fu" - Don Davis / The Matrix OST
"Battle Dance" - Rhythm Scott
"Midnight Daydream" - Cinerama
"We Belong to the Night" - Hill

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro — Editing: Creative Uses of the Cut
01:32 - Walter Murch & The Rule of Six
02:46 - Eyeline Match
05:55 - Cross Cutting
07:57 - Eye Trace
10:13 - Split Edit
13:14 - Intellectual Montage
15:40 - Cut on Action
17:54 - Honorable Mentions and FREE Reference Shot List

[RichieVichie]

Just wanted to Thank You for making such good quality informative content.

[AhaskarKarde]

Wow! Studiobinder, your content quality and depth never drops, It just keeps getting better and so does my knowledge. Thank you for always making such videos.

[batmenn]

HUGE thank you to you, studiobinder! I go to an arts school and in it I am taking a film class, but I don’t understand what my teacher is trying to teach us so I thought I would just learn on my own and it was really hard until I found your videos! I’ve seen so many already, and it’s made a huge difference. An upcoming project is writing, casting, filming and editing our own movies all on our own and I think I am going to crush it 💪

[OlgaKuznetsova]

OMG, every time I watch these videos, I want to get my camera out and shoot some scenes! I love using the j and l cuts in dialogue, they have made those scenes ridiculously smoother!

[gielaah]

My love for film and creating is being fuelled by your videos. So interesting to see the process and perspective. Love your videos so well-planned and well-thought of. Thanks for the knowledge and passion. I hope someday I can create a relatable and inspiring film.

[howardron]

Editing is such a painstaking thing to do... But when you see the final result and it is what you pictured... It sure is worth it

[rayancedrichaddad]

Amazing! A True Masterclass on the Creative Process of a Movie Editing. Thousand Thanks.

[ULTRAYOLET]

Watching your videos is like literally visiting Arts school!

[nikkierodrigues]

One of the best channels out here at YouTube. Thank you so much for sharing.

[emadvip]

my favorite youtube channel ever, the amount of effort in this content to make it simple to understand is amazing

[MS-gkqx]

The voiceover on these videos is amazing

[OffscreenkillVA]

I cant get over how well made these videos are. Incredible, thank you so much!

[WiLDeveD]

Between your Artworks in StudioBinder, this part was useful and handy the most... Thanks and God bless you guys

[generisstar]

🎯 Key points for quick navigation:

00:44 *Basic editing choices*
01:36 *Pacing affects scene*
02:34 *Eyeline match importance*
05:55 *Cross cutting technique*
07:58 *Eye trace technique*
10:14 *Split edits explained*

Made with HARPA AI

[LongtowerNyc]

Mind blowing to how this information is free!

[lookintok]

The j and L split is a awesome technique to learn thank you for this!

[.pr]

I’m absolutely loving this channel! Thank you so much!

I was just thinking that it’d be sick to see an explanation of what a lack of editing or the ‘reverse’ of these techniques can bring (if they exist). For example, I’m pretty sure in some of Jackie Chan’s work reducing or even removing cuts adds to the fluidity of his fight scenes and emphasises how realistic they are.

[OscarThe]

Perfect timing, this is exactly what I needed! Thank you so much!

[nicolasnelson]

The other day I was learning about digital vs film. I would love if this would be next shotlist video.