Cross Cutting & Parallel Editing

What is Cross Cutting and Parallel Editing?

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

Cross-cutting is often used to build suspense, this is by cutting away at a point of high tension in action so this then leaves the audience in suspense to wonder what will happen next.

However, with Parallel editing this is an editing technique which allows two or more simultaneous sets of action to then unfold within a single sequence in film. 

What does Parallel editing create:
- It creates tension.
- Can show multiple points of view.
- Can create dramatic irony when the characters are unaware of events unfolding away from the main action.

Cross Cutting and Parallel Editing are both used to imply a relationship between different sets of action taking place.

What distinguishes cross-cutting from parallel editing is time.
An editor can cross-cut to shots from different time periods, but the term parallel editing is used to show two separate events scenes happening simultaneously.

An example of parallel editing;

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQgtu2rEGvM)

An example of cross-cutting;

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuRBZNECaFU)