Film Transitions

December 12, 2022

For my film transition, I chose to use a fade out to black and white. The fade out signifies an ending to the scene and the beginning of another. Rather than just utilizing a cut from scene to scene, or a wipe that rids a scene quickly, a fade to black is slower and feels softer to the audience. For my clip, I focused my camera onto my dresser table and then, added a fade into black effect which shows the end of this scene and the start of the next. Fading to black can also be used to fade to a future time, or even fade from one character's story to the next. Scenes that look chronologically close together are cut together, but scenes that take place at different times get a fade out. These cinematic traits tell us what we are transitioning into. In the Avengers Infinity War trailer for example, there were many instances of fade to black transitions. In the beginning of the trailer, each scene includes this transition to fade between the different avengers. The fading creates a very dramatic environment and shows the emotion between the superheroes. If the cuts did not have this transition, it would be much quicker and less dark. During these transitions, the black remains on screen to create drama and intrigue to the next scene. Another popular film transition that can fluidly bring the viewer to the next scene is the action match. This transition brings separate events together emotionally and can be a quick way to change settings or concepts. Transitions in film are vital to the structure of the film and in guiding the audience from one scene to the next.