Middle School Media
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Transitions
The devices used to shift from one scene to another provide the equivalent of punctuation. They convey certain impressions. They also assist understanding and help to make meaning clear. Audiences learn to make meaning from these visual language conven- tions because they are constantly repeated.
Following are some of the devices used as ‘visual punctuation’.
Cut
A cut is an instant change to another shot. In real life, this is similar to an abrupt change of attention, when we suddenly decide to inspect something else. A cut is the least obvious transition because it occurs so quickly and seems to work naturally. A cut can be regarded as the shortest distance between two shots.
But there should be a reason for the cut, so the audience feels they want to look at the next shot. The motivation might be provided by the dialogue or an action from a character. Cutting on action is common because the movement in the shot distracts attention from the shot change. Cutting on dialogue seems natural because the audience naturally wants to see each person speak.
The dissolve
During a dissolve, one image gradually blends or dissolves into another. A dissolve is a longer route between two shots than a cut. For this reason, it intro- duces greater disruption. It can represent a ‘dramatic pause’. In a narrative genre, a dissolve can be used to suggest a smooth and gentle change in time or place.
The fade
A fade-out gradually fades the picture to an empty or black screen. A fade-in begins with a black screen and gradually reveals a picture. The fade is an obvious and disruptive transition. It signals a major change in the progress of the text. As such it is often compared to the curtain in a stage theatre, which opens and closes the show and separates the acts. The fade is the longest route between shots.
Defocus
Defocus shots provide transitions by gradually moving out of focus on one scene and refocusing on another. They are similar in character to the dissolve and are a more gradual way of easing the audience from one shot to another.
The wipe
A new image ‘wipes’ across the old one using a defined line. Digital effects switchers allow for a huge variety of wipes, including the flip frame and the page leaf. A wipe is the most unnatural transition and con- sequently is the most obvious to the audience. It is commonly used in those genres that allow for dis- jointed presentation, such as news, documentaries and sports coverage.
