Match on action

Match on action refers to film and video editing techniques where the editor cuts from one shot to another view that matches the first shot's action. A common example is a women walking up to a door and reaching for the door knob.

This creates a sense of continuity as the action continuing through the scene creating a visual bridge drawing the viewers’ attention away from cutting and continuity issues.

A variant of match on action is a cut in which the subject exits the frame in the first shot and then enters the frame in the subsequent shot. The entrance in the second shot must match the screen direction and motive rhythm of the exit in the first shot.

An example of match on action: