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HomeEditingEditing Technique
Editing Technique


WHAT ARE MATCH CUTS AND HOW ARE THEY USED?



By Nicole LaJeunesse
Image courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures


IN A NUTSHELL

 * A match cut is a direct transition between two or more similar shots
 * Types of match cuts include match on action, graphic matches and sound
   bridges
 * A match cut leverages similarities between two adjacent shots to create
   connection and meaning

As you learn more about the art of video editing, you’ll likely encounter the
concept of the match cut. It’s an essential tool in any editor’s toolbox. Let’s
explore what a match cut is, the different types of these cuts and how the match
cut has been used throughout cinema history.


WHAT IS A MATCH CUT?

A match cut is a direct transition between two or more similar shots. This links
the two shots together to either maintain continuity, establish a connection or
create meaning. The shots on either side of a match cut might share graphic or
sound elements, or they may show the continuation of an action from one angle to
the next. What matters is that the shots are connected through the match cut.


MATCH CUT VARIATIONS

Now that we have a better idea of what a match cut is, let’s get to know the
different types of match cuts you might encounter. We’ll also look at a few
examples so we can see the match cut at work.




MATCH ON ACTION

First, let’s look at the most common type of match cut: match on action. This
type of cut appears in nearly every film or TV show since the invention of
editing.

A match on action occurs when the action in one shot flows smoothly into the
next. It’s the basic tool of continuity editing. A great example of this is
Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 classic, “Seven Samurai.” In this sparring scene, we can
see how the movements of each fighter continue from shot to shot so that there
is no interruption to the action. Even though the camera frequently changes
angle, cutting on the action maintains the illusion that we are witnessing a
continuous event. In this case, the ideal cut is one that’s invisible to the
audience.

However, an invisible cut is not always the goal, even for an action match.
Matching the action of two different characters in two separate locations is a
great way to link those characters together. You can also match camera movement
instead of character movement for a slightly different effect.




GRAPHIC MATCHES

Unlike a match on action, which mostly stays hidden, the graphic match cut is
more obvious. It invites contemplation. A graphic match cut juxtaposes two or
more shots with similar graphic elements, like shape, line or color.

Perhaps the most famous graphic match occurs near the beginning of “2001: A
Space Odyssey” (1968). We see two groups of apes engaged in a fight. One ape
takes a discarded bone and uses it to attack another ape. The victorious ape
tosses the bone into the air, but before it falls back, we cut to a satellite in
space. The two shots share an almost identical composition, forming a strong
visual and metaphorical connection between the two objects.



Going further back in cinema history, this graphic match in “2001” draws
inspiration from Powell and Pressburger’s “A Canterbury Tale” (1944), which
juxtaposes a medieval pilgrim’s falcon with a Hurricane fighter plane.





SOUND BRIDGE

Next up is the sound bridge. This type of match cut relies on audio elements
rather than visual elements to connect two shots. A sound bridge can go in
either direction. You can let the sound effects or music bed from one scene
bleed into the next shot. Or you can bring in a sound effect early before
cutting to reveal its source.

A great example of this comes from “The Matrix” (1999). In one scene, Neo and
Trinity meet in a crowded nightclub. It’s a loud environment, so when the clock
radio alarm starts blaring, it’s all but drowned out by the intense music of the
scene. The alarm sound grows louder until a cut brings us back to Neo’s
apartment. The alarm continues after the cut, becoming the dominant sound.




WHY ARE THEY USED?

There are a number of different reasons filmmakers may employ a match cut. The
technique can emphasize an object or location that’s important to the story, or
it can create connections between different characters. But before we get to
that, let’s take a look at the most common use for the match cut: continuity.




CONTINUITY

As we discussed above, a match on action is a fundamental technique of
continuity editing, which is the art of constructing a believable environment
and sense of action from a collection of clips. For most productions, scenes are
filmed non-sequentially, and the same action is often captured from different
angles over multiple takes. Then, the editor takes that footage and rearranges
it so that the narrative space of the film feels consistent and logical and the
action appears fluid.

To do this, you’ll often use a match cut — in this case, a match on action.
Matching motion between two different shots of the same action will ensure the
flow of the action is smooth and logical.

Without a match on action, we’ll see a jump-cut effect, which can be used to its
own advantage. See Goddard’s “Breathless” (1960).




MONTAGE, MEANING AND METAPHOR

In the early days of cinema, Sergei Eisenstein and Lev Kuleshov and other Soviet
filmmakers formulated the Montage Theory of cinema. The theory says that shots
juxtaposed against each other forge a relationship that creates an entirely new
meaning. These filmmakers believed this clash of visual ideas could be leveraged
to convey deeper concepts and messaging.

In this context, the match cut can be used to compare and contrast characters,
scenes and other story elements, evoking new meanings and metaphors along the
way.


TIME/TRAVEL

Another use for the match cut is to create connections across time and space.
This type of cut might use a match on action, a graphic match or even a sound
bridge to link shots together.



We can see an example of this in “The Lion King” (1994). During the “Hakuna
Matata” interlude, a series of match cuts show how Simba, Timon and Pumba have
stuck together over the years.



Match cuts are great for showing progression forward through time. However, they
can also be the perfect way to trigger a flashback. For instance, in the
“Titanic” (1997), as Rose begins her tale, we start with a shot of the sunken
RMS Titanic. The bleak underwater scene slowly fades to a matching shot of the
ship still in the harbor as it prepares for its maiden voyage, taking us back to
the setting of Rose’s story.



But this type of match cut can be used to communicate even more complex ideas.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) uses a series of quick cuts to
squeeze an infinite multiverse into a single sequence.





PUTTING THE CUT TO USE

As you can see, the match cut can take a variety of forms and serve a variety of
functions. The next time you plan a shoot or edit a video, think about how to
use this cut to build connections and create meaning.


Nicole LaJeunesse
Nicole LaJeunesse is a professional writer and a curious person who loves to
unpack stories on anything from music, to movies, to gaming and beyond.


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