Sometimes, your story requires two things to be happening at the same time in different locations,. Maybe even more things. So, how do you track them all, and how do you get them on screen? The answer is parallel editing. Today, I want to go over this technique and talk about why filmmakers use it. We'll even look at some great examples of its use in film and TV. Let's dive in. Parallel Editing DefinitionParallel editing is alternating between two or more scenes that are happening simultaneously in different locations to build a narrative. Sometimes you could call this 'intercutting' or 'crosscutting'. Why Filmmakers Use Parallel EditingWhen I think about parallel editing, I always think about romantic comedies where we see two people getting ready at the same time. And the other thing I think about is The Godfather. Filmmakers use parallel editing not just to tell us what's happening in two different places at the same time, it;s to get us to feel two emotions simultaneously. In the case of a rom-com, we're building anticipation of two people headed to one location to finally meet. Or maybe we see them having typical days and know they will eventually lead to one another. In the cast of The Godfather, parallel editing is used to build tension. In the baptism scene, we see Michael Corleone becoming a godfather to his nephew and then also see all the hits he has performed on the five families. So, we have a ton of...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 2 days ago