Cross cutting

Cross cutting is cutting back and forth between two or more lines of action, suggesting they are happening at the same time. It’s a technique most often used in films to establish the actions happening at the same time but in two different locations. This editing can also be called parallel editing; it is effectively used at the start of TV shows to introduce us to the characters and their lives quicker.

I chose this example because it clearly shows two different scenarios that seem unrelated but in reality are. For example in the video it shows a guy waiting, then cuts to a girl getting chased, this switches back and forth through the clip. Alone they seem unrelated but put into cross cutting you piece together the fact he is sat waiting for her while she is in trouble. The music in the scene adds a comedy factor as it shows the contrast of the two scenes, between normality and chaos. The normality’s the calm patiently sat waiting with uplifting music in the background switching to a scene of chaos being chased and insults being shouted.
The movies Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve which both contain examples of cutting as there are many different story lines throughout which all seem unrelated. However as the movies go on switching continuously between different people/scenarios we learn that they are all linked together in a small way.

The clip shows cross cutting used to tell a story in a movie, it shows three different scenarios however only two are happening at the same time. The cross cutting is showing a very emotional scene as it switches from the three continuous shots. Cross cutting is a good way of slowly revealing to the audience what is going on. For example in the clip, it is as though we find out at the same time as the man reading the letter, because we get both sides to the story, it allows us to develop more emotions throughout the scene.