ABSTRACT
In a split-screen shot, the frame is divided into two or more frames that feature simultaneous lines of action; this artificial division is an overt visual effect that inevitably exposes the film apparatus and the filmmaker behind it, but it can nevertheless be a powerful narrative tool to imply a special relationship between characters or events. Split-screen shots are still commonly found in scenes involving phone conversations to this day; besides providing the option of not having to cut back and forth between characters, they are also a well-established visual trope that does not call too much attention to itself as an external manipulation of the image by the filmmaker. The shift from film to digital video greatly simplified the creation of split-screen shots; any editing program allows filmmakers to put one together in seconds, even when they include several shots, editing within each section, and moving borders.
