2 min read

#027 - In Praise of Not Cutting

There is something to be said for the complexity that comes from constructing a scene with a lot of cuts in it, when they are justified stylistically and support the purpose of the scene.

But there is definitely something to be said for not cutting.

For staying in the master shot and letting the scene unfold.

When I first saw the opening of David Lynch's The Straight Story, I almost applauded in the cinema, something British people never do except maybe at the end and then even then they feel funny about it.

The shot just kept going and going and the final punchline is just too good. The whole thing lasts only 1 minute 28 seconds but it establishes the pace and world of the film perfectly.

This could easily have been told in several shots but it works far better in a single unfolding master.

The rest of this post is for paying subscribers only. When you're ready to learn more, sign up to read this and every other issue of Cut/daily!