Parallel editing, also known as cross-cutting, involves alternating between two or more interrelated scenes in a film. It builds suspense and pacing. Examples given include its use in The Godfather to increase tension during a baptism scene and in The Silence of the Lambs during an FBI raid. Christopher Nolan also uses extensive parallel editing in Inception to depict multiple dream levels.

1. PARALLEL EDITING

2. Parallel editing (cross cutting) is the technique of alternating two or m
IM NOW GOING TO SHOW YOU
SOME HISTORY OF PARALLEL EDITING

3. ilm, director Edwin S. Porter and his editor utilize the technique of parallel e

4. In 1915’s Birth of a Nation, director D.W. Griffith uses parallel editing to bui
Obviously, Griffith isn’t the
only filmmaker to use parallel
editing. Filmmakers such as
John Ford, Steven Spielberg,
Stanley Kubrick, Martin
Scorsese, and Christopher
Nolan utilize parallel editing
almost routinely today.

5. The value in using parallel editing is that the technique adds
another layer of suspense or pacing to the narrative. A great
example of this value can be seen in the The Godfather. Here,
director Francis Ford Coppola knew that a scene where
Michael Corleone stands watch at a baptism could bring the
pacing of the film to a halt.
In order to showcase the
contrast between Michael’s
declaration and what he has
asked his henchmen to do,
Coppola utilizes parallel
editing. This increases the
pacing and tempo of the
scene and, in turn, makes
the baptism portion of the
scene so much more
powerful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CDlB
Lvc3YE&feature=emb_title

6. A great example of when to use parallel editing comes from The
Silence of the Lambs. In this scene, director Jonathan
Demme utilizes the technique to perfection as we watch the FBI raid
a house they believe belongs to Buffalo Bill. We even see Buffalo Bill
react to the bell in his dungeon, which correlates to the FBI agent
ringing the bell in the secondary scene. However, when Buffalo Bill
answers the door, we realize that agents aren’t on his front step —
but Clarice Starling is.
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=Ts1x6
uADFtM&feature=em
b_title

7. One of the most famous recent uses of the
technique is found in Inception. Director
Christopher Nolan uses the technique
specifically to help convey multiple dream
states within the narrative. Because of this
specific narrative, nearly the entire film is
one long series of parallel edits.
https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?time_
continue=2&v=3A1
pIRXPCL8&feature
=emb_title