Film Production Glossary: Cutaways in Filmmaking

Cutaways in filmmaking are the shots we take which seem to be incidental to the main subject of the film, but which actually improve the scene in the final film production because they help to adjust pace, break continuity or conceal deleted frames. They are also used to illustrate interview clips, adding visual explanation to the speaker’s words.

In a corporate video for example, during a scene where the CEO is sitting in a chair talking about the new company headquarters, possible cutaways might be a shot of the exterior of the building, or someone welcoming a visitor in reception, before cutting back to the CEO.

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