Slow cutting
Created on : December 11, 2023 11:52
Denotation
Slow cutting is a film editing method that employs long-duration shots. Though it depends on the context, it is predicted that any shot longer than roughly fifteen seconds would appear sluggish to many modern-day viewers, particularly those accustomed to popular Western films, where slow cuts are unusual. A Clockwork Orange (1971) by Stanley Kubrick is a well-known example of slow cutting. The main character (Alex de Large) is followed as he crosses the length of a future record store, meets two young females, and brings them back to his house for sex in a three-minute and fifteen-second section with only three shots.
Description
Slow cutting is a film editing technique which uses shots of long duration. Though it depends on context, it is estimated that any shot longer than about fifteen seconds will seem rather slow to many modern-day viewers, especially those who are accustomed to mainstream western movies, where slow cuts are uncommon.
Although, it is an arguable fact but most believe that any shot that lasts nearly or beyond the duration of about 15 seconds is considered a slow cut, it often depends on the context behind the scene. People today are accustomed to normal cuts or fast cuts they will most probably lose interest in the scene if the slow cuts are frequented in a scene. If any shot of a longer duration is being used then it is a slow cut. On the contrary, using different footages to develop any action or event is certainly a fast cut.
Few people have drawn a line of 15 seconds to define it, as per them if a cut is placed at the 15-second mark or more then it is known as a slow cut and if it is less than that, it is a fast cut. Albeit it is arguable, slow cutting and fast cutting simply the pace of the sequence. In many instances, an editor tries to provide variations in every sequence to keep the audience’s attention intact. Pacing in any shot depends on different factors like movement in the picture, camera movement, audio track, changing the speed of the footage, etc.
However, the topic being discussed here is “Cut”, just how frequently are the shots being changed, that makes the cut either slow or fast. There is no particular timer to make any cut slow or fast. It is in fact, about the overall feel from the sequence. If the director has put a lot of effort into the art of the film, then there is a possibility that they might not like to see the rapid cuts given that they want the audience to see their effort in building the environment.
It's important to note that the effectiveness of slow cutting depends on the context and the filmmaker's intentions. While it can enhance certain aspects of a film, it may not be suitable for all genres or scenes. Filmmakers often carefully choose their editing styles to align with the overall tone and narrative of their projects.