Cutaway
Definition
A Cutaway is a shot that interrupts the main action of a scene to show something else — a reaction, a related detail, or an entirely different location — before returning to the main action. Cutaways serve multiple purposes: they can provide context or information, show a character's reaction to an event, cover an edit, or create tension by cutting away from the main action at a critical moment. In documentary filmmaking, cutaways (often in the form of B-Roll) are essential for covering edits in interview footage.
Contextual Usage
The editor explains a creative decision to the director: "I used a cutaway to the ticking clock during the negotiation scene to build tension. Every time we cut to the clock, the audience is reminded that time is running out, which makes the dialogue feel more urgent."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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