Cutting On Action

 What is cutting on action? How does it seamlessly blend two shots together? What are two things that you must keep in mind when cutting on action in your films?

A cut on action is a useful way to transition between shots. The second cut should include a level of action that's equivalent to the first! Cutting on action helps your cuts seem "invisible". You don't need to wait for a pause in action to cut. You can cut in the middle of one action, for example a character reaching and grabbing a doorknob, then cut and change the angle, placing the camera on the other side of the door. and film the character opening the door from the other side. Pretty much any action can be used to do a cut on action. A character sitting down, throwing something, etcetera. 

It's important to pick a spot in the action to connect the two shots. You shouldn't just cut randomly in the action. It should be coherent and make sense to the viewer. For example, don't cut while the character is walking through the door. A better cut would be when the character is just starting to push the door open. 

Also, don't wait for a pause before you cut. Waiting for a pause might slow down the pace of the film. Cutting on action is an easy way to not slow down the pace. A way to think about it, would be to cut in the first third of the snap or pass. Then, the rest of the action (the other two-thirds) will happen in the second shot. Don't forget to match the shots up! If you don't, the cut will be obvious and it'll take the viwer out of the action.