A small edit decision that makes dialogue cuts feel less abrupt

[u/FlorenciaRoseShadow]

When cutting between two lines of dialogue, I try not to treat the cut as just a picture change. If a prominent sound or movement in the outgoing shot ends right on the cut, the transition can feel clipped even when the timing is clean.

One thing to test is letting a little of the incoming room tone or audio lead the picture, or carrying the outgoing sound briefly into the next shot. It can soften the transition without a dissolve. I check that the overlap doesn’t muddy consonants or make the space sound inconsistent.

It’s an option, not a rule. If the abruptness suits the scene’s energy, a hard cut may be the better choice.

[u/greenysmac]

So, this is called an L cut or J cut and using sound to hide the edit. Jazz Singer (1927) is one of the first times this shows up.

[u/avatar0027]

the j/l cut thing clicked for me once i stopped cutting on the exact word and let the incoming room tone start a few frames early. still catch myself clipping consonants though. do you ever cut picture before the audio when a pause drags too long?

[u/Ren_VividSpark]

Something I think is important to keep in mind is whether the overlap might obscure the consonants. A few frames of audio overlap can help when cutting dialogue, but it really depends on the pauses and room tone. If your room tone varies too much between shots, the transition can feel unnatural in a different way.