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Film & Television vocabulary · Editing and Post-Production

Smash cut

Meaning in film & television, with examples

nounCommon term

In film & television, smash cut means: A sudden edit between strongly contrasting images or sounds, used to surprise the viewer.

In Turkish: sert karşıt kesme

How it is used

Used for shock or humor; the contrast matters more than a special transition effect.

Example sentences

  1. A smash cut takes us from the loud party to a silent hospital room.

    The sudden sound contrast makes the new setting striking.

  2. The smash cut to the burnt cake makes his confident speech funny.

    The next image immediately contradicts his confidence.

Common collocations

  • use a smash cut
  • smash cut to black
  • editingThe work of choosing, ordering and joining shots so that they tell the story with the right rhythm, emotion and meaning.
  • post-productionAll the work done on a film after the shoot ends, including editing, visual effects, color grading, sound design, music and the final mix.

More terms: Editing and Post-Production

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