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J-Cuts & L-Cuts
Like many editing tricks, you've probably seen J-cuts and L-cuts before without actually realizing that you were seeing a J-cut or an L-cut. Let's begin by explaining. In a J-cut, the sound of the next scene precedes the picture, and in an L-cut, the picture changes but the audio continues.
To understand how these cuts got their names, visualize the timeline in an editing program that is comprised of two consecutive clips. If your audio cuts from the first clip to the second clip, but the video from the first clip continues, it forms an J shape in the timeline. However, If the video from the second clip comes in before the audio for that clip does, this forms a L shape in the timeline. In ancient times, before "timelines" or digital editing even existed, these cuts were known as "video advance" and "audio advance." Here's a helpful graphic that illustrates these cuts:
Image courtesy of VideoMaker.com
Now let's discuss why you might want to use a J-cut or an L-cut in your project. Imagine you have a scene of dialogue between Person A and Person B where the clips cut back and forth every time each person speaks. In other words, you have a clip of Person A talking, then you cut to a clip of Person B talking, then you cut back to Person A when they begin talking again, and so on and so forth. This is referred to as a "ping-pong" editing, which can be disorienting and kind of stylistically boring. By using a J-cut, you could stay focused on Person A's face when Person B begins talking. Conversely, you might want to focus on Person B's face before Person A is finished speaking. In this case you would use an L-cut. In either scenario you allow yourself the opportunity to show the reaction of the person who is not speaking, which is a powerful tool provided by your actors that you should take advantage of.
Here are a couple examples of J-cuts and L-cuts:
Check out INTELLECTUAL PROPOGANDA's video, Waltz for One:
Notice the J-cut at 0:22 when the audio from inside the capsule starts before you see the astronaut. This lets you know where the story is about to go and creates a smoother transition from one clip to the next.
Etsy's "Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles" starts with a short J-cut as a smoother transition and an introduction to the speaker, but uses an L-cut right after to show the shop as the audio continues.
Lesson Summary
You've probably seen J-Cuts and L-Cuts in all sorts of videos and movies. Learn how to identify them and when to consider using them in your videos.
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9 Comments
James AJ
Awesome! I've always wondered what J-cuts and L-cuts were!
And I totally agree with you that you sometimes watch a J-cut or L-cut without noticing it xD
Harold Seifert
This helped me a lot. Thanks man!
Martin Battellini
Buena peli , es necesario mostrar mas de esto!
3 Ring Video PRO
Great advice. Especially helpful as I'm about to edit an interview :)
Aungaung Phyo
Kkawsoethu291@gmail.com
antonio mezzina
Very interesting. I had noticed these two effects in some movies at cinema , but I had'nt focused clearly the purpose of them, which you explained so well here. Now I 'll be able to use J-cut and L-
cut in my movies, when the scene requires it, of course. Thank you.
Jame Gray
I need to watch it again and pay attention to the J cuts and L cuts. I was drooling over the motorcycles too much to notice.
KITYO BOBBIE
i wht to very clear
Alex P Smith Shotcall Production
Very helpful editing my first Tropfest Film, my teacher advised me to use these cuts.
Cheers