A shot that cuts away from the main action to show something else: a detail, a reaction, or a related image.
Cutaways are essential for editors. They hide jump cuts, break up repetition, and add layers of meaning to a scene. They are a form of B-rollSupplementary footage that cuts away from the main performan…, but typically more specifically motivated by narrative or emotional context.
Cutaway in the real world
In Eminem’s Stan (2000), directed by Dr. Luke and Philip Atwell, the editorThe person who assembles all the footage into the finished v… cuts away from the obsessive fan (played by Devon Sawa) writing letters in his basement to shots of Eminem backstage at a show. These cutaways allow the two storylines to exist simultaneously and add dramatic irony: the viewer knows what Stan does not, which is that his letters are not being read.
Related terms
B-rollSupplementary footage that cuts away from the main performan…, CoverageThe range of angles and shots captured for any given scene o…, EditorThe person who assembles all the footage into the finished v…, A-rollThe primary footage of the video, typically the main perform…, Wide shotA shot that captures a large area of the scene, showing the …