MATCH CUTTING
What is a match cut transition?
A match cut transition is a cut of which can be used to quickly and fluidly swap the scene to something similar, it is used to retain the audiences attention, directors may use them to emphasis a bond or similarity between 2 characters or places, an example of this could be a tap running heavily to a waterfall, as they both contain a core idea, as in water.
Possibly one of the most well known and recognised match cuts would be the one used in the film “Space Odyssey 2001” It depicts a bone being thrown up into the air by an ape/gorilla, and becoming a shuttle in space of similar proportions relative to the camera, this could symbolise many things such as the clash in technology between the two groups, as one is throwing bones and one is in space.
Another famous example of a match cut would be the one used in the film Schindler’s List, where a candle is lit, the shot would immediately change to another similar candle being extinguished, but in a different room at a different time, the candle scene itself also holds significance, as the Jewish population hold the candle as the relationship between them and god, which ties into the plot of the movie.
A more recent example of match cuts would be in the 2016 film “Moonlight” where they are used countless times throughout the film, such as the chair scene.
As is seen the camera changes to another scene of a chair being smashed, this can be used to create implication, as it is implied the boy hit the other boy with the chair, of which is later revealed to be the truth in scenes afterwords.
Match cuts can even be as simple as a ball rolling off of a table, and a man picking up a different item instead of the ball, in a different scene, with a similar table, it can be subtly used to imply things and or let the audience know certain things.
There are 3 different types of match cuts, Graphic match cuts, match on action cuts and sound bridge cuts.
A graphic match cut is a cut which transitions from a theme to a similar theme, such as most of the examples shown above, it is used to convey a sense of similarity and familiarity, and can be used to link or connect 2 scenes or characters.
A match on action cut would be a cut where once an action is established to be happening, the camera would swap to a separate position to better capture the motion of the action, such as a door knob being turned or a gun being fired, they do this as it can be used to keep the viewer engaged and establish an action is happening.
Sound bridge cuts are cuts which can transition scenes using sound, such as a song being played on a radio now being played in the scene itself, or a ball being dropped and the bouncing swapping the scene, it is used in many different typed of cinema as it is an easy and useful tool for swapping scenes, or even creating tension.
I was tasked with making an example of a cross cut, so i made a simple example with a door opening from one scene to another, with another separate character exiting the door.The video was just a simple door opening and closing with a new person exiting, a very simple example of a match cut.