From the course: Foundations of Video: The Art of Editing

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Understanding when to cut and when not to cut

Understanding when to cut and when not to cut

From the course: Foundations of Video: The Art of Editing

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Understanding when to cut and when not to cut

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Norman: The art of editing is often confused with the art of making an edit, that is when to cut. But editing is also about when not to cut. Sometimes, holding on to a shot makes its own dramatic character or story point, and you need to be sensitive to that. In the edit that we've made from Magellan there are a few areas of the scene where we hold on Magellan for a long time compared to the surrounding shots. That has a certain effect and I'd like to examine one of these in detail. Let's look at the area around the lean forward moment, after Magellan has heard Tiana tell him that she wouldn't be caught dead going to the dance with him. Tiana: I never said that freak. I wouldn't be caught dead going to the dance with you. Norman: Now that's what the extra silent shot of Tiana staring at Magellan. Notice how that feels in regard to Magellan's discomfort and growing anger which is the entire point of the scene. Now let's try something more, if we cut back to Tiana in that moment, let's…

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