Which statement about early film editing terms is true?

• A. Parallel Action describes cutting between multiple events.
• B. Cross-cutting is the same as First Close-Up Shot.
• C. Painted film frames were created by Cecil B. DeMille.
• D. The Hollywoodland sign is a film prop.

Answer: (A)

Parallel action is the editing approach that intercuts between two or more events happening at the same time, so the viewer sees how different strands unfold together. This technique lets filmmakers build tension, show parallel storylines, and convey simultaneity across locations. That’s exactly what the statement is describing, so it’s true.

Cross-cutting is closely related but not the same as the first close-up shot. Cross-cutting refers to intercutting between actions in different places to suggest they happen in parallel, while a first close-up shot refers to the moment a subject is shown in a close frame for the first time—unrelated to the practice of cutting between actions.

Painted film frames aren’t something Cecil B. DeMille is specifically known for creating; he was a director, not the originator of painted-frame techniques. And the Hollywoodland sign is a real-world landmark, not originally a film prop, even though it has appeared in films.