Graphic Match.

GRAPHIC MATCH

A match cut, also called a graphic match, is a cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in the two shots graphically match, often helping to establish a strong continuity of action and linking the two shots metaphorically.

A graphic match occurs when the shapes, colours or movement of two shots match in composition, either within a scene or, across a transition between two scenes. A match cut often involves a graphic match, a smooth transition between scenes and an element of metaphorical comparison between elements in both shots.

Example:

For this example it shows that someone has placed a cone on a ledge and then when they have kicked it, it seamlessly turns into a person therefore there is a clear connection between the movements that the two objects are making. 

Examples in Film:

Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey has a example of a match cut. After an ape discovers the use of bones as a tool and a weapon, he throws one into the air. As the bone spins in the air, there is a match cut to another weapon: a nuclear weapons satellite. The match cut helps draw a connection between the two objects as examples of original and advanced tools of destruction and pain, and is a neat summary of a technological advancement up to that point. It is also nice as it shows a very early example of a match cut between two objects and although it may not be completely seamless it does present the taking a object and then replacing it with something similar and I can take inspiration from it. 

Psycho

2:00-2:20

Another Hitchcock film to employ the use of a match cut is Psycho. After Marion Crane is murdered in the  "shower scene", the camera shows blood flowing down the drain of the tub, then cuts to a shot of Marion's eye. What is really nice about this match cut is the way in which the water swirls around the plug hole, which mirrors that of the make up of an eye. With the way in which the colour wraps around the pupil and then disappears off into a oblivion. It also indicates the death and makes us looks into her dead eyes. It really is an interesting graphic match in that it really does take two different objects and put them together through symbolism. The inspiration that I will take from this is the perhaps using different elements that match parts of the scene in order to create a line which the viewer can follow. It would make it more interesting and take the eye across the screen rather than just leave it central each time. 

The Fall

0:50 - 0:52

Tarsem Singh's The Fall, has an amazing match cut, where the costume, hairstyle and facial expression of a priest was matched almost perfectly to the background of the next scene, without the use of digital enhancement. What also makes this match cut so amazing is that it appears so seamlessly that you can still see the man standing there looking at you. This is one that I am definitely going to take inspiration from as from watching the film you really get the full effect of the match cut. I like how the whole entirety, such as what he is wearing even matches the texture of the mountain that it matches into. I really want to create the same seamlessness with our graphic match that will need a lot of planning possibly.