"The typical convention is to make the cut occur 1/3 to 1/2 the way through an action..."

One of the most effective ways to create a smooth cut is to cut on the action. Use an action where the motion will bridge between two cuts and create a flow over the cut. The typical convention is to make the cut occur 1/3 to 1/2 the way through an action, then continuing the action in the next cut.

Make copies of your clips and experiment with the timing. Just be careful you don't accidentally create a stuttered movement.

View some examples below.
In one of my shots there is a continuity flaw. See if you can spot it.

Download Quicktime Player

I’ve given nicknames to some of the typical actions that can be used to create a smooth cut.

• The Head Turn - related - The Direction Change
• The Hand Off - related - The Reach or the The Pick Up
• The Stand Up
• The Sit Down

The Head Turn - This is when a person turns their head or body to look at something or to say something to another character.

The Direction Change - Related to the head turn, this is when someone who is walking changes their direction. For example a person may turn the corner of a hallway. A person may also be standing still, then turn to walk away, this turn can be used as the direction change.

The Hand Off - This is when someone is handing something to someone else.

The Reach - Similar to the Handoff the motion of reaching is used as the action to cut on. Similar motions are picking something up from a table or putting something down on a table.

The Stand Up - This is when a person is sitting down, or is crouching down, and stands up.

The Sit Down - The opposite of the stand up.

[Continued on next page]