Transitions & Camera Movements

Transitions:

Cut:

The most basic type of shot transition, the cut is the most common way to join two shots. In essence it is the continuation of two different shots within the same time and space.

Dissolve:

Like the fade, a dissolve involves gradually changing the visibility of the picture. However, rather than transitioning from a shot to a color, a dissolve is when a shot changes into another shot gradually. Dissolves, like cuts, can be used to create a link between two different objects, a man telling a story, and a visual of his story, for instance.

A dissolve most commonly reveals a passage of time.

Fade:

A fade occurs when the picture gradually turns to a single color, usually black, or when a picture gradually appears on screen. Fade ins generally occur at the beginning of a film or act, while fade outs are typically found at the end of a film or act.

Wipe:

A wipe involves one shot replacing another, traveling from one side of the frame to another. Think of a vertical line passing from the right side of the frame to the left. On the left side of this line, we have shot A, and on the right side of this line is shot B. When this line reaches the left edge of the frame, shot B will completely fill the scene, and the transition is complete. This example describes a vertical line wipe, though this is but one type of wipe.

Cutaway:

A shot edited into a scene that presents information that is not a part of the first shot. The cutaway shot is usually followed by a return to the original shot, and is often used to condense time in a scene by eliminating undesired action or to cover a loss of continuity in the action.

Parallel Cut:

For example, imagine an action scene where a villain is chasing the hero of the film. To spend the entire chase scene trying to keep both the hero and the villain in the frame at the same time will become very difficult and un-engaging after a while. A better way to approach this problem is through the use of parallel cutting. In this example, the scene would consist of several shots of the hero running in one direction, and some shots of the villain running in the same direction.

Pan:
Camera moves horizontally left or right to follow a subject or show the distance between two objects.

Notes: Start on a still shot, begin the tilt, and finish on a still shot.

Tilt:
Camera moves up or down without raising its position to follow a subject or to show the top and bottom of a stationary object. Tilting can show how high something is or how small it is.

Tilting up makes an object or a person look larger and thicker. Tilting down and subject looks smaller and thinner.

Zoom:

Brings objects at a distance closer to the lens to show size and perspective. Zooming changes depth perception to the point where size and distance between objects is more or less pronounced.

Rack Focus:

Changing the focus of a shot to change your audience’s focus from one subject to another. This creates a transition similar to an edit by constructing two distinct shots. Often seen in dramas and soap operas, changing focus from one actor's face to another during their conversation or tense moments.