Cutaway Questions

Reporter cutaway questions (inserts or reverses) are recorded in case the picture editor needs to bridge chosen sections of an interview shot on a single camera. It is a cinematic editing device, the intention being to avoid the ugly, on-screen ‘jump cut’.

For the reporter, the technique relies on an ability to repeat the original questions for the camera as naturally as in the interview, even though the interviewee is probably no longer with you. Consult your original list or replay the interview to ensure keeping to the questions as closely as possible. Some sticklers for accuracy record their interviews on personal cassette-machines and play them back before asking the cutaways. While it is probably just about acceptable ...

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