Creative video transitions and scene transitions explained, including J-cut, match-cut, fade-in and more.

Ultimate Guide: Editing Transitions https://bit.ly/ed-tr
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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro — 9 essential editing transitions
01:19 – Basics of editing: the cut
02:10 – Fade
04:47 – Resolve
06:43 – Match cut
08:53 – Iris
10:24 – Swipe
12:16 – Passing
13:19 – Whippan
14:06 – Smash cut
16:02 – J-cut / L-cut
18:11 – Honorable mentions
18:36 – Get your FREE edit transition shot list

In film editing, transitions between scenes are sometimes overlooked as opportunities to help tell your story. While most scene transitions use just a simple montage, there are many more creative and cinematic transitions that filmmakers can use. In this video we look at the different video and film transitions, their specific qualities and what they add to visual storytelling.

One of the most common movie transitions is the fade-in and fade-out. Typically these are used to open and close a movie, but they can also be used between scenes to create a more definitive separation. Besides the cut, one of the most commonly used transitions is the solve (or cross-solving). This is when one scene fades out while the next scene fades in. The dissolution is just one of the techniques used to create seamless transitions, but also to suggest the passage of time or to switch to a flashback or dream.

The match cut is a film transition that is purely intended to create a connection from one shot to the next or one scene to the next. That connection can be made with shapes, colors, movement or even sound. The match cut is an immediate scene transition, but a match dissolution establishes both the “connection” of a match cut and the “fluidity” of a cross-solving. The iris transition is an old-fashioned technique that is rarely used unless you are going for a nostalgic or retro style.

Likewise, the swipe transition is a bit archaic in terms of film and video transitions. George Lucas built the swipe transition into the visual language of Star Wars as a nod to his two biggest inspirations for the Skywalker Saga: the Flash Gordon series and Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress. A modern approach to the same cinematic transitions is called a passing transition (or pass-by effect). This uses movement in the frame to transition seamlessly to the next scene, and is one of director Edgar Wright's favorite film editing transitions.

Then there's the whip pan, where the camera rotates quickly to create a blur (where a cut can be hidden) that leads to another whip pan to start the next scene. These types of movie transitions not only provide smooth transitions, they also help maintain the momentum from one scene to the next. A smash cut is perhaps the most abrupt film transition because it is built on contrast between loud and quiet, or active and quiet, or sometimes both.

Finally, there's the J-cut and the L-cut, two ways to use a split between audio and video for a variety of effects. For example, an L-cut is often used when a character begins to narrate a flashback. And a J-cut is often used to build anticipation for the next scene. These are just the most common video transitions and new transition effects are being created all the time. Your job as filmmakers is to find the right scene transitions that help tell your story.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

SONGS USED:

/"Clubfoot clavipes/" – Isaac Joel
/"Origin/" – David A. Molina
/ "Last but not least (instrumental) /" – Chelsea McGough
/"Mauretania (instrumental)/" – Sam Barsh
/ "Mia & Sebastian's theme (late for the date) /" – La La Land OST
/ “Let's stick together /” – Al Green
/ "Spaceballs Love Theme (instrumental) /" – Spaceballs OST
/"Mary Jane/" – Rick James
/"La Llorona/" – Chavela Vargas
/ "O Katrina!/" – The black lips
/"The Shape of Water/" – The Shape of Water OST
/"When things seem hopeless…/" – A Christmas story
/"Baby Blue/" – Badfinger
/"Star Wars Main Theme (Full)/" – John Williams
/"Time Warp/" – Richard O'Brien
/"Dancing with the Devil/" – Hot Fuzz OST
/"Drumming Free/" – Airflow
/"Do your thing/" – Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
/"Lovingly Easy/" – William Proulx
/"Search Up/" – Watermark high

Music on artist list https://utm.io/umJx
Music by Artgrid https://utm.io/umJy
Music by Soundstripe http://bit.ly/2IXwomF
Music from MusicBed http://bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq

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