The Pro Editor's Trick To Build Massive Tension

If you’ve ever struggled to create real tension in your edits, I’ve got a simple pro trick for you: cross-cutting. This is one of the most effective ways to make your scenes feel more intense and keep your audience locked in.

Here’s the idea. Imagine a forest fire—flames spreading, smoke filling the air, danger everywhere. That’s intense on its own. Now imagine a traffic jam—cars stuck, horns blaring, frustration rising. Also intense on its own. But now put them together: a fire is closing in while you’re trapped in gridlock. Suddenly, the suspense skyrockets. That’s the power of cross-cutting.

Cross-cutting works best when you build it around three ingredients:

• Two scenes with their own stakes. If the individual pieces aren’t intense, the cut won’t magically fix it.

• Visual contrast. Mix static vs. handheld shots, light vs. dark imagery, or fast vs. slow pacing. The differences make the intercutting more impactful.

• Audio contrast. Play with sound design—loud vs. quiet, scored vs. raw, realistic vs. subjective. The sharper the contrast, the more the cuts pop.

It might feel counterintuitive, but leaning into those differences is what makes cross-cutting so powerful. You’re not blending the scenes—you’re colliding them.

I’ve linked the Artlist (referral link) stock footage I used so you can try this out yourself. Build two tense moments, play with visual and audio contrast, then intercut them. You’ll instantly feel how much more energy and suspense your scene has. 

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.