A Complete Breakdown of Different Video Edits and Transitions, with Examples from Popular Movies

Any resource that explores the art of film and video editing I find utterly fascinating, and this video is a fantastic example of just that. Director/Editor Joey Scoma of Rocketjump Film School created this video that explores many of the different ways that editors can go from one shot to the next.

The subtleties of using leading or trailing audio, matching visual elements in a cut, and all other forms of editing trickery are explained and then broken down in this great example. You might even recall a few of the scenes that are used, and now you'll know why it was that a certain edit just "felt" like it worked so well.

If you enjoyed this, I'd also recommend the book, "In the Blink of an Eye," by Academy Award winning film editor Walter Murch. It too dives into why some edits work better than others, and how the human experience can guide you to make more natural edits in your films.

For more resources on video editing, have a look at articles I've previously written for freelance editing from home, 5 tricks for better edits, and 5 more tips for better edits.

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Mike Wilkinson is an award-winning video director with his company Wilkinson Visual, currently based out of Lexington, Kentucky. Mike has been working in production for over 10 years as a shooter, editor, and producer. His passion lies in outdoor adventures, documentary filmmaking, photography, and locally-sourced food and beer.

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4 Comments

Great video! Further reading: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0240812093

Thanks for the informative article. This is one of the best resources I have found in quite some time. Nicely written and great info. I really cannot thank you enough for sharing.
Regards,
Ridhima

http://www.thinkittraining.in/informatica

Superb,great content.

I like this video. Good info. I learned what the official names and how they work now.