Smash cut
Created on : December 11, 2023 12:41
Denotation
A smash cut is a film and other moving image media technique in which one scene rapidly cuts to another for aesthetic, narrative, or emotional reasons. To that aim, the smash cut is typically used at a vital point in a scene where a cut would be unexpected. A difference in the sort of scene on either side of the cut is typically included to heighten the effect of the cut, such as going from a fast-paced frenetic scene to a serene one, or from a happy scene to a stressful one. In a murder scenario, for example, a smash cut might be used: the perpetrator takes a knife crashing down into his victim, and just before the blade pierces the flesh, the scene is abruptly replaced with a nonviolent application of a cutting edge, such as vegetable chopping. When a character awakens from a nightmare, smash cuts are sometimes utilized to portray the jarring nature of the experience.
Description
A smash cut is a film edit that cut abruptly from one scene to another, meant to highlight the difference between the two. It's also known as a gilligan cut, named after the show “gilligan's island” that routinely featured a character refusing to do something, and the next scene would be them doing that exact thing. A smash cut is an abrupt and/or jarring edit that cuts from one scene to another without pause or warning.
Smash Cut Characteristics Include: a character saying, they will not do a thing but then immediately cut to them doing the thing. someone in danger (e.g. about to get stabbed) but then cutting to something safe and not at all dangerous. A character saying something nice about someone and then cutting to that someone being not nice. A hero celebrating a victory and then cutting to someone else being sad because of that victory.
A smash cut, whether for comedy, horror, or drama, relies on a setup and a punchline each and every time. While this makes them great for comedies, this type of cut is very versatile. The clip below presents, in just forty seconds, a few examples of smash cuts from different movies as well as streaming sensation stranger things. In screenwriting and film editing a smash cut is a sharp, abrupt cut from one scene to another. Smash cuts occur at a crucial moment in a scene where a cut would not be expected, for instance cutting off a character's dialogue mid-sentence.
To heighten the cut's impact a disparity in the type of scene on either side of the cut is often present going from a fast-paced frenzied scene to a tranquil one or going from a pleasant scene to a tense one, for example. Screenwriters indicate a smash cut in a screenplay by writing "SMASH CUT TO" between the scenes on either side of the cut. Ultimately, though, the decision to use a smash cut lies with the director.
A smash cut is a technique in film and other motion picture media in which one scene suddenly switches to another for aesthetic, narrative or emotional purposes. As such, smash cuts usually occur at key moments in scenes where cuts are not expected. To increase the impact of a cut, there is often a difference in scene type on both sides of the cut, such as fast-paced frenetic scenes to quiet scenes or fun scenes to tense scenes. Smash cuts are often used when a character wakes up from a nightmare to simulate the unpleasant nature of that experience. Smash cutting can also be used for comedic effect. For example, right after a prediction is made, cut into the future to show that it was humorously, and often outrageously, wrong.
The goal of smash cut is to engage the audience's attention and evoke a particular reaction.