A Comparative Analysis of the Narrative Functions of Cross-Cutting and Parallel Editing in Modern Film Markets

Abstract

The widely spreading use of film editing which consists of Cross-Cutting and Parallel Editing has played an increasingly important role in filming industry. These core narrative means have been created with development of film narrative forms and are key techniques to advance plots and enhance expression of various emotions in a film. The study paid attention to the narrative functions of cross-cutting and parallel editing in modern films, analyzing how they can intensify narrative effects with alteration of time and space, strengthening emotional tension and presentation of multidimensional perspectives. The combination of case-analysis method and theories of narratology and editing was used in the study to explore specific application and effect of the two techniques in representative modern films. The study shows it is more appropriate to take advantage of crosscutting for narrative structures with multiple parallel story lines because it functions in enhancing emotional resonance and creating tense atmosphere by alternatively presenting multiple plots. Parallel editing, on the other hand, is dramatically helpful for non-linear narrative structure with appearance of multiple-layered temporal-and-spatial relationships enriching narrative dimensions of films. The main feature of crossing-cutting lies in stronger adaptation on multiple-linear narratives, improving story compactness and emotional impact, while providing a film with a more complex temporal structure and perspective is the major characteristic of parallel editing. Further exploration and research should concentrate on their development and innovation in the digital age and multicultural context, adventuring in deep application of these two editing techniques in different kinds of films.