Cards on a Wall

physical, visual method for organizing a film's structure by affixing index cards—representing scenes, shots, or story beats—to a wall. Often using a representative frame from the scene, this technique provides a tangible, at-a-glance 'road map for the entire movie' that helps the editor maintain a macro perspective on the story. As editor Tom Cross notes, it allows one to 'look at the picture and instantly know what the scene is,' and serves as a tool for directors and producers to communicate ideas.