Cross-cutting and parallel editing

Cross cutting refers to the editorial technique of cutting between different sets of action that can be occurring simultaneously or at different times.

Cross cutting is often used to build suspense, by cutting away at a point of tension the audience will be wondering what is going to happen next.

Parallel editing is an editing technique that allows two or more simultaneous sets of action to unfold within a single film sequence. It creates tension an can show different point of views. It creates something that the audience knows that the characters don't which makes it more engaging. Both cross cutting and parallel editing are used to imply a relationship between different sets of action. An example of parallel editing would be a Scene from "American Sniper" where it is showing different moments of action at the same time.







The difference between cross cutting and parallel editing is time. The term parallel editing is used to show separate events happening simultaneously.

An example of cross cutting would be a scene from inception where they are about to exit the dream. Cross cutting is used when the van drives off the bridge because we wonder if they will have enough time to proceed in the dream without drowning. Also it uses parallel editing because it shows the action in the scene and then cuts to whats happening outside of the dream.