An abrupt, jarring cut between two contrasting shots or moods.
A smash cut jumps hard from one shot to a very different one — loud to quiet, calm to chaos — for shock, comedy or emphasis. The contrast is the point. It is the opposite of a smooth, motivated transition.
A practical guide to every cut and transition a video editor needs to know, with clear rules for when each one earns its place in a timeline.
Tension is not found in the footage — it is constructed in the edit.
Studio432 edits concert footage, music videos, gaming content, vlogs and short-form for creators worldwide. Send the footage, get a quote by email.
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