When sitting down and writing out the first draft of your script, you’ve got all these different things planned out, but how often do you stop and consider the transitions between scenes? How much focus should you even put into transitions? Isn’t it enough to just imply cutting to the next scene? Why do we need transitions anyway? You’ve got questions, and I’ve got answers! Today I’m talking all about how to transition between scenes in a screenplay.
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What is a Scene Transition?
Transitions are essentially directions to editors about how to move from one shot to the next. The most popular transition CUT TO is simple and directs the reader to immediately go to the next scene. Back in the day, screenwriters wrote CUT TO between every scene, but nowadays, it’s just implied that you’ll be cutting to the next scene unless you specify with a different transition. Screenwriters also need to consider how their story flows from one scene to the next, and not just by the technical transition screenplay terms.
How Do I Write a Scene Transition?
For the technical aspect of transitions, they are always capitalized, followed by a colon, and flush with the right-hand margin.
Example of a Screenplay Scene Transition
The script snippet below is taken from screenwriter Alex Garland’s “28 Days Later” and is used for educational purposes only.
FADE IN/FADE OUT
Does what it says; it fades the scene in or out — primarily used at the beginning and ending of screenplays to usher us in and bring us out of the story. Performs the same function as DISSOLVE TO, but dissolves are commonly used anywhere in a script and imply a passage of time.
JUMP CUT
A jump cut is an abrupt transition usually used to show a progression of time. Unlike most transitions which seek to create seamless and effortless connections between scenes, the jump cut is startling and meant to draw attention.
MATCH CUT
A match cut is a transition that implies a relationship between the two scenes. The action of the two scenes smoothly meets up, for example, a child in one scene throws a frisbee, and the next scene shows a newspaper being thrown onto someone’s porch. Matching up the action of those two objects sailing through the air would be a match cut.
WIPE
If you’re familiar with any basic film editing software, then you’ve likely noticed this one. A wipe is literally when one shot is wiped across the screen, revealing the next shot. It can be diagonal, horizontal, or in the form of a shape. It’s most popularly seen used in “Star Wars” films.
These are just a few of the many transitions there are. Some are rarely used anymore, so I didn’t include them. From this list and your knowledge of films, I bet you can tell that significant or noticeable transitions aren’t often used in major films anymore. The film industry has moved in a direction where more subtle and less noticeable transitions are preferred.
When to Use Scene Transitions?
You don’t want every scene to have a specific transition; it’s unnecessary. You want to try to save your transitions for significant moments in your script when you want the audience to be aware a transition is occurring. Not all transitions are appropriate for every movie. You need to take the genre and tone into consideration when choosing a transition, as well as your personal style. You want transitions to enhance the visual storytelling of your script, not hinder, confuse, or clutter it.
Stylized transitions such as WIPES are often viewed as dated. However, all transitions will make a movie feel dated if they’re overused. Some professionals advise new screenwriters to stay away from utilizing transitions. Still, I think a well-placed transition can create an interesting cinematic moment in a script and shouldn’t necessarily be discouraged. Just keep in mind to use them sparingly, and for moments that need the emphasis!
Other Things to Consider When Transitioning Scenes?
As shared in an article on NoFilmSchool.com, there are other things to consider when transitioning between scenes besides the technical terms. Other elements that help you to transition between scenes include:
Size
Consider the camera’s area of focus, and go between wide shots and tight shots in between scenes to keep the reader (and eventually the viewer) engaged enough to see the movie in their head.
Sound
Using audio cues from one scene to the next can give the reader (or viewer) the signal that we’re in a new scene and a new place. Audio, whether music or some other sound, is typically used in prelap, meaning the audio begins before cutting from one shot in the former scene to the next shot in the latter scene. It creates an overlap that transitions nicely.
Question & Answer
Leave one scene on a lingering question, with the promise of an answer in the next scene.
Theme
Address the image you’ve left the viewer with at the end of the previous scene by using another thematic image to start the next scene.
Transitions should be used on purpose and never just slipped into your screenplay because you want to indicate that you’re going from one scene to the next. It is no longer necessary to always include CUT TO, and you should also consider whether the type of transition you’re using is adding to or detracting from the story you’re telling. As with any screenwriting device, use technical transitions sparingly, but always keep scene transitions in mind in terms of visuals — not just cuts. I hope this was a helpful guide to transitions. Happy writing!
