Line #99 Main/Montages


1	->''"Show lot of things happenin' at once''\
2	''Remind everyone of what's goin' on.''\
3	''And with every shot show a little improvement''\
4	''To show it all would take too long.''\
5	''That's called a montage!''\
6	''Ooh, we wanna montage!"''
7	-->-- [[ShapedLikeItself "Montage"]], ''Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice''
8
9	A montage (literally "putting together") is a form consisting of a series of short shots which are edited into a coherent sequence. Or at least coherence was intended.
10
11	Note that it takes more than a lack of dialogue and some overlaid music to be a montage. Montage is generally considered to be the ''opposite'' of [[VideoEditingTerminology continuity editing]], so discontinuity is key. If the shots are short, but one flows into the next in real time, it's ''not'' a montage, it's just a tense scene.
12
13	Not to be confused with a {{Motif}}, although a motif may crop up here if a certain type of image is repeated. See also {{Scenes}}.
14	----
15	!!Sub-Tropes:
16
17	[[index]]
18	* AngerMontage: A montage that shows a very angry character smashing up a room.
19	* ApocalypticMontage: A montage of places being destroyed.
20	* AspectMontage: Rather than show a whole scene to establish a setting, a montage of different parts of it is shown instead.
21	* ATeamMontage: A montage that shows the characters one by one building something together.
22	* AtrocityMontage: A montage of people suffering horribly.
23	* AvengersAssemble: Each individual member of a hero team is shown being summoned to deal with a situation.
24	* BingeMontage: A montage that shows a group of characters partying drunkenly.
25	* BladeOfGrassCut: A screen cut to an object.
26	* {{Blipvert}}: A very fast montage, often of unrelated scenes.
27	* BoredomMontage: A montage of a character starting off happy about something, but eventually growing bored of the monotony.
28	* ClipShow: A television episode consisting mainly of recycled footage from earlier episodes.
29	* ContrastMontage: A montage that contrasts two characters.
30	* ConversationCut: When there's a scene cut in the middle of a conversation, but the conversation continues as if no time had passed.
31	* CostumeTestMontage: A montage of a character trying on and rejecting different outfits.
32	* CreationSequence: A scene of something being made (not always a montage, but usually is).
33	* CreditsMontage: The credits show a montage of scenes from the show/movie.
34	* CrimeSpreeMontage: A montage of someone committing crimes.
35	* DeathMontage: A montage where a character repeatedly dies.
36	* DrunkenMontage: A montage focusing on a single, drunk character.
37	* ExplodingCalendar: Time is shown passing by having calendar pages flip, tear off, or days get crossed out.
38	* FailureMontage: A montage of one or more characters trying to do a specific thing, but failing.
39	* FallingInLoveMontage: A montage of two characters developing a romance.
40	* FanEdit: An unofficial edit of a work.
41	* FashionShopFashionShow: A woman buys many new outfits with her friend or boyfriend and poses like a model in each one (not always a montage, but usually is).
42	* FlashbackMontageRealization: A montage of [[{{Flashback}} previous scenes]] is shown as a character realises something that puts those things in a new light.
43	* FullyAutomaticClipShow: A montage focusing on a single action or phrase.
44	* GilliganCut: A character insists they won't do something. By the next scene, they're doing or have done exactly what they said they wouldn't.
45	* GluttonyMontage: A montage of a character eating.
46	* GoodTimesMontage: A montage that shows a character or characters having fun.
47	* HappierHomeMovie: A sad character watches a home movie of times they were happy.
48	* HardWorkMontage: A montage of a character working home.
49	* HouseHuntingMontage: A montage of a character looking for somewhere to live.
50	* IndestructibilityMontage: A montage of someone trying, and failing, to kill a person or destroy a thing.
51	* InterrogationMontage: Characters being interrogated or interviewed, and it cuts to a different character answering the question each time.
52	* KuleshovEffect: The actor is making the same expression, but it conveys different emotions based on the context.
53	* LipstickAndLoadMontage: A montage of a woman dressing and applying makeup.
54	* LockAndLoadMontage: A montage of one or more characters preparing for a fight.
55	* LostLoveMontage: A montage of scenes from a now-broken romance.
56	* LovedOnesMontage: A montage of a character's friends, family, lover, etc. that enables them to overcome an obstacle.
57	* MadnessMontage: A montage of an unhinged character.
58	* MakeoverMontage: A montage of a (usually female) character being made over.
59	* MontageEndsTheVHS: A VHS tape that ends on either a montage or a series of ads.
60	* MontageOut: A montage that conveys everyone's emotions.
61	* MugshotMontage: A montage of photos taken after a character's arrest.
62	* MusicalSlapstickMontage: A montage of AmusingInjuries, set to fast music.
63	* NationsOfTheWorldMontage: A montage of people in various countries doing the same thing.
64	* NecroCam: A FlashbackMontageRealization about how a character died.
65	* ObituaryMontage: A montage of people who died the previous year.
66	* OdessaSteps: A violent montage on a staircase.
67	* OnPatrolMontage: A montage of a character doing heroics.
68	* OnTheNext: Every episode of a television show ends with a sneak peek of scenes from the next episode.
69	* OpeningMonologue: A monologue [[{{Exposition}} explaining]] the show's premise (doesn't require a montage, but one is usually present).
70	* PhotoBoothMontage: A montage of photos taken at a photo booth, usually by a couple.
71	* PhotoMontage: A montage of photos.
72	* PrankingMontage: Montage that shows characters pulling pranks.
73	* {{Precap}}: A sneak peek of the episode you are about to watch, designed to prevent you from changing the channel.
74	* PreviouslyOn: The later parts of a multi-part episode each begin with a few clips of the earlier parts so that new viewers can be brought up to speed on what's happened so far without having to watch the earlier parts first.
75	* ProgressiveEraMontage: A montage that shows time changing from one era to another.
76	* ReallyDeadMontage: After a character is killed off, a montage of scenes where they were still alive is played solely to emphasize that the character [[KilledOffForReal isn't coming back]] and that their death is permanent.
77	* RecapByAudit: The aftermath of an event reveals or sums up what happened.
78	* RecoverySequence: A thing is shown being fixed, not always with a montage but often.
79	* RightNowMontage: A montage of several characters doing normal things.
80	* RoboticAssemblyLines: An assembly line made of robots (usually shown as a montage of it making something).
81	* SadTimesMontage: A montage of a sad character.
82	* SexMontage: A montage showing many couples having sex, or a couple having a lot of sex.
83	* ShoppingMontage: A woman taking a younger character, usually her daughter, clothes shopping, set to a montage.
84	* SpinningClockHands: A spinning clock is seen while a montage plays.
85	* SpinningPaper: Newspapers spin into view with front page headlines relevant to the developments of the episode's plot.
86	* StoryboardingTheApocalypse: Someone explains (usually over a montage but not necessarily) the horrors that'd happen if someone else didn't act.
87	* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: A montage where various people are interviewed for an available job, with each applicant proving that they are very unqualified.
88	* TimeCompressionMontage: A montage that happens to show the passage of time.
89	* TimeLapse: An under-cranked shot.
90	* TimePassesMontage: A montage where the position of the camera stays the same.
91	* TitleMontage: The opening intro shows a montage.
92	* TrainingMontage: A montage of a person undergoing training to prepare for something.
93	* TravellingSalesmanMontage: A FailureMontage of someone trying to date, sell things, etc.
94	* TravelMontage: A montage of a journey.
95	* UnfoldingPlanMontage: A montage that shows characters formulating, and acting out, a plan.
96	* UnguidedLabTour: A top-secret workplace is introduced by having a character explore it unnoticed.
97	* WritersBlockMontage: A montage of an [[WritersBlock uninspired writer]].
98	[[/index]]
99	----
100	!!Examples:
101	* Experimental filmmaker Bruce Conner's films, such as ''Film/AMovie'' and ''Film/{{Report}}'', are full of Montages (as are Arthur Lipsett and others).
102	* Award-winning short film ''Film/PreciousImages'' is one long montage from beginning to end, being a compilation of all of cinema history as presented in a collage of film clips.
103	* ''WesternAnimation/FrankFilm'', the Oscar winning animated short from Frank Mouris using cut-outs from old magazines.
104	* American surrealist master [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T65K0ipTQHo Joseph Cornell]]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQxtZlQlTDA Rose Horbart]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUF1_-6rLWQ The Aviary]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnPfaftcask By Night with Torch and Spear]].
105	* ''Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}}'', or ''Life Out of Balance'' all in one Montage.
106	* Creator/SergeiEisenstein, if he didn't invent the montage at least perfected it.
107	** One particular sequence, in ''October'' (also known as ''Ten Days the Shook the World''), 1928, there is a sequence where single frames of the muzzle of a machine gun and of the gunner are alternated. There is also a sequence which violates part of the given definition, where shots of three stone lions in different positions appear as a single statue spring to its feet.
108	** Also check out ''Film/TheBattleshipPotemkin'' (its infamous OdessaSteps sequence listed above).
109	** ''Film/{{Strike}}'' ends with shots of the striking workers being massacred intercut with a graphic film clip of a cow being slaughtered.
110	* An example that doesn't really fit in any of the sub categories (though its close to Slapstick) is a ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode where George is believed to be handicapped at his new job, and goes through a montage while "My Baby Takes The Morning Train" plays, showing him accidentally tripping a coworker with his cane, being carried by another, and then goofing off sword-fighting with his cane until caught-he throws the cane down and acts like he's injured.
111	* Special mention: ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' spoofed these in the WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "[[Recap/StrongBadEmailE117Montage montage]]". After a fan asked him if he could "creat a montage" (sic), Strong Bad did ''four'' montages, all involving a "wagon fulla pancakes". One had Strong Bad and the wagon just hanging out, another had Strong Bad [[FallingInLoveMontage falling in love]] with the Wagon Fulla Pancakes, the third had The Cheat and the Wagon Fulla Pancakes [[TravellingSalesmanMontage as "down-on-their-luck door-to-door salesmen",]] and the last one was a TrainingMontage with the Wagon Fulla Pancakes "training for the champeenship" and besting Homestar. And to top it all off, he did an end credits PhotoMontage, complete with captions out of a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue.
112	-->'''Strong Bad:''' Those were some good montages, eh [[EmbarrassingNickname Watered Down]]? That was like, a montage of montages.
113	* The biopic ''Film/TheLifeAndDeathOfPeterSellers'' is rife with these: a TimeCompressionMontage charting his rise to U.K. film stardom, a FallingInLoveMontage for his courtship of Britt Ekland, a MadnessMontage when she leaves him that becomes a TimeCompressionMontage (the film moves from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s), a HappierHomeMovie sequence, and finally an AngerMontage (burning his old film memorabilia) intercut with a version of WritersBlockMontage (trying to find the character of [[Film/BeingThere Chance the Gardener]]). Whew!
114	* The films of Fernando Meirelles feature many montage sequences.
115	** Roughly 90% of ''Film/CityOfGod'' is composed of montage sequences, including LockAndLoadMontage and a TimePassesMontage that spans the entire history of drugdealing in an apartment.
116	** ''Film/TheConstantGardener'' features both a FallingInLoveMontage and a LostLoveMontage for the same person. It also features a HardWorkMontage.
117	* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' manages to create the AnthropomorphicPersonification of the montage as... [[http://video.adultswim.com/robot-chicken/montage.html the superhero, Montage!]]
118	* [[http://www.cracked.com/funny-318-movie-montages/ This]] Cracked article contains the outline for a quite a few.
119	* Both ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' use musical montages all the time, usually with licensed songs.
120	* ''Film/TheSoundOfMusic'' has two montages involving Maria and the children: one following "My Favorite Things," and another that makes the endless repeats of "Do-Re-Mi" considerably less boring.
121	* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' episode "Making a Stand" has two sequences which parody musical montages. In the first, the narrator complains that even with music over the top, the sequence of images wasn't funny; he says it would have been better with "Yellow Submarine", but they couldn't afford that. The second montage has similar complaints from the narrator and a cheaper song about a yellow boat.
122	* The literal [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQAPcuuiP0 Montage number]] from ''A Chorus Line'' stitches together 4 songs to tell 17 dancers' adolescences.
123	* ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony'' frequently uses and spoofs montages.
124	** The episode "Winning" has the caption: "Montages... for when I'm too lazy to write anything."
125	** Then "Saying Words" has this one:
126	-->'''Rarity:''' Oh, Opalescence, today has not been my day. Why, not even a montage would cheer me up.\
127	''[The first notes of "Becoming Popular" play.]''\
128	'''Rarity:''' Whoa whoa whoa whoa, hey, ''hey'' stop the music! What are you doing? I told you a montage ''wouldn't'' work!
129	* For ''Anime/LupinIIIDeadOrAlive'', we are treated to an information gathering montage as Olèander tries to find out if Pannish is really alive or not. The audience hears a nice walking song, while Olèander spends all day searching the city. She starts from the market, but by the end of the day, she's walking around in the shady parts of the city.
130	* In ''Webcomic/{{Irrelevator}}'' there is a [[http://i.imgur.com/KlJ9V3w.gif poop/fart montage. ]]
131	* In ''Theatre/{{Fiorello}}'', a newsreel summarizes Fiorello's exploits as a pilot in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI
132	* Chuck Workman won an Oscar for ''Precious Images''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW_IfD2d_dc]], a Film Montage Of Awesome.
133	* Creator/GuyRitchie's anachronistic take on the [[Film/KingArthurLegendOfTheSword legend of King Arthur]] has plenty of montages, including TrainingMontage, HardWorkMontage, TravelMontage, UnfoldingPlanMontage, and TimeCompressionMontage.
134	* ''Film/MainStreetMeats'': Late in the movie, we're shown a montage of Neddy killing people, and their bodies being fed through a meat grinder.
135	* ''Film/PlayingWithDolls'': After settling into the house, [[TheProtagonist Cindy]] decides to try out the various outfits she finds in the closet (which she was told belonged to the houses previous caretaker).
136	* ''Film/ChristmasBlood'': There's a montage in the movie that cuts between the main group having fun at Julie's house, and Detective Terje investigating the Santa killer.
137	* ''Film/GhostLab2021'': At one point, we see a montage of Dr. Gla interviewing people about their encounters with ghosts, and going to supposedly haunted places looking for ghosts.

Context Main / Montages