Transitions- Emily Mortensen

Transitions in film indicate a passage from one scene to another. An example of transitions is a match cut. Match cuts are the basis for continuity editing because the cuts establish a logical flow to the viewers eye to form an obvious connection between the two. The audience is not surprised or confused by the change of shot and all together they the cut creates a smoother transition. In this scene from Breaking Bad the choice match cut is very clean and compelling to the audience. The pipe leaking becomes what drops into the tea in a totally different scene. It intertwines both shots and doesn't confuse the viewer from the change in topic. When shooting match cuts you will need to plan in advance because it will be easier to edit. A jump cut is the opposite of a match cut because the change in shot is noticeable on purpose. The editor wants to make the cut evident to the audience for a reason. For example, walking down a long flight of stairs. That can take up to 15 seconds, however a jump cut can help and cut it down to 5 seconds. However, this might be confusing or jarring to the viewer and a match cut makes the shot look smoother. Adding a shot of the viewers feet in a close up at the bottom of the stairs can make it known to the viewer that they're done walking. Another transition is fading to black, which is usually done at the end of a film or important scene. If fading out to black is over used it can throw off the overall rhythm of the film. Transitions are a key aspect to editing and should only be used to make a special emphasis on purpose.