Parallel Editing vs Cross Cutting: What’s the Difference? 

Throughout post-production many different editing techniques are used to improve the visual quality of the finished project. This is the result of many different inputs and styles of editing being worked together to produce a film that amazes your audience. Of the various styles and techniques of film editing that are commonly used in film production, parallel editing and cross cutting are frequently encountered. But what’s the difference in parallel editing vs cross cutting, and what does it all mean?

What is Parallel Editing in Film?

Parallel editing represents a particular style of cross cutting in which the editors create a narrative parallel that the audience can compare and contrast.

For example, the editor will use parallel editing to produce defining moments in the narrative of the film, such as showing action that takes place across multiple locations and which are occurring simultaneously with one another.

The purpose is to compare and contrast the actions against one another, creating a parallel.

What is Cross Cutting in Film?

When examining the primary differences between parallel editing vs cross cutting, we look at the illustrated moments in filmmaking in which cross cutting techniques are used to individually separate the actions taking place at simultaneous moments within the story.

For example, cross cutting is typically used to show major events of the story that are taking place across multiple locations, typically in the same timeframe or general period. 

The actual distance between events geographically could be room to room within a building, or across the entire planet or planets away.

The purpose of cross cutting is to produce a main theme or idea in which the viewer will see actions taking place across various locations within a common theme. 

Parallel Editing vs Cross Cutting

Filmmakers use both techniques to edit a scene and produce climatic moments on film, but how? Where cross cutting is used to create a common main idea in the actions taking place, parallel editing can be used to create a parallel, in which the viewer will compare and contrast the events that are taking place. 

As we further examine the difference in parallel editing vs cross cutting, it’s important to note that cross cutting is primarily used to create a sense of audience anticipation while producing an understanding of the overall large scale of the operation that is at work within the narrative.

The idea is to build up momentum, and a sense of the main idea that is occurring from scene to scene and location to location in which it will all come together. 

Likewise, in comparing parallel editing vs cross cutting, it’s equally important to understand that parallel editing is also sometimes used to build suspense and momentum.

However, the editors uses parallel editing to illustrate the various similarities and the many differences that are present in the various situations that are taking place in the narrative at that point in time.

There’s less of a look at the main idea, and more of a parallel view of how the events, though similar, are equally contrasting.