Montage editing refers to a film editing style that rapidly cuts between different shots to create a sense of montage (a French word meaning "to put together"). The fast-paced editing creates a dynamic and often disorienting effect, used to convey a lot of information or emotion in a short amount of time.
Here are some common uses of montage editing:
Show the passage of time: A montage can be used to condense a long period of time like the changing seasons or a character's development over years.
Convey a feeling or mood: The rapid cuts and contrasting visuals can create a sense of urgency, excitement, chaos, or confusion.
Juxtapose ideas: Editors can use montage to show relationships or contrasts between different ideas or events.
Some famous examples of montage editing include the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" and the training montage in Rocky.