A Match Cut is a transitional directive within a screenplay that indicates the succession of an image, action or object at the end of one scene to the beginning of the next scene.

Usage

The Match Cut is primarily used as "cool" effect to denote a correlation between two successive scenes. It is a directive, and unless it is absolutely necessary to the storyline of a screenplay, should only be used in a shooting script.

Format

A Match Cut appears at the end of one scene and the beginning of the next, and appears much like other scene transitions. The last Action line will be followed by "MATCH CUT" in the scene transition position. Next, the slug line for the following scene and an immediate Action line directly correlated to the last Action line in the previous scene.

Example

A young boy's hand holds a wooden toy gun.

                                                                                                       MATCH CUT

EXT CANON CITY MAIN STREET (1865) - AFTERNOON

A man's hand hold a six-shooter.