01 Identify your need
Choose a dialogue scene and count shots. Note who remains visible when the other speaks: a reaction can become the scene’s centre. Describe image order before attributing intent. In 12 Angry Men, look for a position change between speakers and what the cut makes clear.
02 Check in practice
A cut may preserve direction, extend a gesture or create a break. Sound can precede or outlast an image change. In Touki bouki, ask whether a recurring sound connects places, desire or memory. Faster editing is not automatically more intense: consider shot length and content together.
03 Take action
After viewing, compare two sequences. Record an image change and a sound change and describe their effect. Compare gestures in Modern Times and Safety Last!: continuous, shown from another angle, or interrupted by reaction? Build a checkable observation rather than a universal rule.
Frequently asked questions
Do more cuts mean more action?
Compare length, scale and movement within shots. A long shot may concentrate action; a cut may simply redirect attention.