---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's a cutaway, you need to get it…"
description: "\"If there's a cutaway, you need to get it then because it's only going to last [a few moments]. You have to edit the movie as you're shooting it in your..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/george-ratliff-46704_actors_if-there-s-a-cutaway-you-need-to-get-it_2445556.jpg"
---

#  If there's a cutaway, you need to get it then because it's…

![“If there's a cutaway, you need to get it then because it's only going to last &#91;a few moments&#93;. You have to edit the movie as you're shooting it in your head and communicate with your crew about how it's going to work. While making a movie, you have the luxury of storyboards and a script and a…” quote by George Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/george-ratliff-46704_actors_if-there-s-a-cutaway-you-need-to-get-it_2445556.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/george-ratliff-46704_actors_if-there-s-a-cutaway-you-need-to-get-it_2445556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/590/george-ratliff-46704_actors_if-there-s-a-cutaway-you-need-to-get-it_2445556.jpg)

> “If there's a cutaway, you need to get it then because it's only going to last \[a few moments\]. You have to edit the movie as you're shooting it in your head and communicate with your crew about how it's going to work. While making a movie, you have the luxury of storyboards and a script and a bigger crew and actors. I mean, it's so much easier.”

[George Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ratliff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Filmmakers must anticipate editing while shooting, visualizing cuts instantly and guiding crew in real time.

**In simple terms:** Think about editing while filming.

Key Takeaway

Plan shots with edit in mind.

Themes

filmmaking visualization collaboration

Mood

focused practical

Type

instructional professional

When to use this quote

- on‑set shooting
- live directing
- quick decision making

Key Concepts

real‑time editing storyboarding crew communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you train intuition for on‑the‑fly editing?
- What tools help visualize cuts during filming?

A Different Perspective

Requires experienced crew and clear vision; not all productions can improvise.

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