Cuts & transitions
Cutaway: definition and examples
What is Cutaway?
A cutaway is a shot inserted into the main footage that briefly shows something other than the primary action, after which the edit returns to the original shot. In short-form video it is used to add context, cover a jump cut, or illustrate what a speaker is describing without interrupting the narrative thread.
When you'd use it
- 1When the main talking-head shot has an edit or jump cut that needs covering.
- 2When the speaker references something specific and showing it would add immediate context.
- 3When a continuous wide shot is losing visual interest and needs a break.
- 4When you want to show a reaction or supporting detail without stopping the main narrative.
- 5When the script references a product, place, or action that footage can illustrate.
Example
A skincare creator describing a moisturizer's texture cuts to a close-up of product being applied to skin, then returns to the talking head. The three-second cutaway covers a retake splice and adds proof at the moment of the product claim.
Use cases
- 1Inserting a close-up of a product label while the voiceover describes an ingredient.
- 2Covering a jump cut in a founder interview with a shot of the team working.
- 3Showing hands completing a task while the speaker explains the process in audio.
FAQ
What's the difference between a cutaway and b-roll?
B-roll is any supplemental footage. A cutaway is a specific structural move: it interrupts the main shot, shows something else, and then returns to the original shot. All cutaways use b-roll, but b-roll that runs under a voiceover without returning to the primary shot is not a cutaway.
Make on-brand short-form video from the footage you already have.