AS1: Task 12: Transitions and Effects

Transitions and Effects

Style of Editing:

Moving from one shot to another shot is known as 'transition'. Transitioning can be used for the audience to gather various ideas about the sequence in the film. When using transitions, you must be accurate, otherwise the audience might not be able to have an understanding of what is about to happen.

There are different types of transitions that re used within films. The consist of:

• Straight Cut
• Dissolve
• Fade 
• Wipe

Straight Cut:

A straight cut is known as an 'invisible form' of transition and is also the most common form of transition. Used to retain reality, straight cuts are used within scenes when one scene moves to the other as the audience is totally oblivious to this movement. Straight cuts are mostly used within continuity editing due to the fact that the suspense from the audience isn't broken during the scene.

Dissolve:

A dissolve shot fades away one shot while at the same time fades a shot into the scene. We see the man fading away from the shot, yet at the same time we see the woman sitting a table, reading a book being faded into the shot. We are able to see both shots at the same time on the screen. 

Using dissolve demonstrates the correlation between the two shots in the scenes. These scenes can either include objects fading away, people, or different places. Using dissolve exemplifies the change in time between the two shots.

Fade:

A fading shot is similar to a dissolve shot, but instead it gradually gets darker on screen (or lighter) all the way until the scene in the film turns completely dark, or completely white. 

When using a fade, it's normally included in a scene to represent the beginning or end of a specific part of the sequence.

Shown opposite is an example of using a fade.

Wipe:

A wipe is an unusual type of transition. Wipe is demonstrated when one image is wiped away from the shot by another image. This is demonstrated here in a scene from the film 'Star Wars'. The new scene is pushing the scene out of the way. 

The wipe transition can push an image in any direction, however the most common shifts are to the left and sometimes the right to demonstrate the continuation of time.  

This transition provides the audience with the knowledge that different locations are being presented to them at the same time.

Graphic Match:

Graphic match is another specialised type of transition and is created when two similar shots are placed next to each other. 

This type of transition notifies the audience that there is a relation between the two shots that they are watching.

An editor will add graphic match in order to complete their decision making on which shots should be included within the shot. 

This scene from the film 'Psycho' shows the character; Marion's eye matches the shot of the plughole from the sink. The scene transitions from the plughole, then to Marion's eye. As shown below.

Taken from the film; 'Psycho 1960'

Space Odyssey (2001):

Another film that uses graphic match is Space Odyssey. Space Odyssey shows the a bone being thrown into the air and then turns into a satellite in space, pictured below.









Here is a film clip from the film that shown the
graphic match shot taking place.

     

War of the Worlds (2005):

At the beginning of the film we notice how there are various adaptations occurring in the world. A few graphic match shots are demonstrated when we see a water droplet transform into the earth. After this, the earth then transforms into a right traffic light. Shown below is a film clip of this.

Manipulation of Diegetic Time and Space:

It is blatant that several (practically all) films use transitions and effects that catch the audience's attention and even more effects are added to the film during the final stages of editing.
The use of time and space in films is essential because it portrays the specific time period where certain activities have been changed throughout time. Flashbacks/flashforwards are demonstrated here.
Editing allows a film maker to demonstrate the difference between several locations throughout a specific time period and it also allows the film maker to show the difference between the paces that time is moving at - either quickly, or slowly.

Editing not only involves the speed or transitions, but it can include the filters that are used within the images in a scene. This is seen in many films.

Wizard of OZ

This scene shown below portrays Dorothy being trapped inside of a tornado. After a while, Dorothy is hit on the head by a broken window and then is knocked out. As soon as Dorothy regains consciousness, she enters the world of technicolour and says to her dog, along the lines of; "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore". We see that technicolour isn't proper colouring on screen and how space has been manipulated as Dorothy enters a new found land.

Taken from the film; 'Magic Mike'

As film makers make adjustments to their films, the images that have been shot can be edited to change their saturation. This can involve an image transition from an a coloured image, to a black and white image. Black and white images often represent a flashback.

Taken from the film; 'Memento'

Moreover we see how time and space is manipulated in films and an example of this is depicted in the film; 'The Time Machine' where we see the time traveller travel through time using his time machine.  As the time traveller travels through time, we note how his surroundings alter throughout time. Here is a quick clip from the film.

The Time Machine (1960):

The camera focuses on the clock in this scene as we see time going backwards. The flowers here are also distorted as we see them come to life and then shrivel up and die.

Parts of this scene are achieved through the technique of altering the speed of an image.

There was a remake of this film which came to cinemas in 2002.

The Time Machine (2002):

This is an example of a modern version of using this effect.

During this scene, we see as the time traveller travels through time, the daytime comes and soon afterwards nighttime follows rapidly.

The seasons quickly come and go as we see the glass roof be covered with frost and the leaves cover the glass.

This is showing how time and space is used within films. It could lead the audience to be curious as to what will occur in the next scene. We don't know if there is going to be an error when using the time machine.

Harry Potter Time Turner (2004):

Another modern day example of using this effect would be from the film; 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

More effects are included in this film and this is where we see the use of layering and changing the speeds of the image. Shown below is a short clip. 

This scene shows Hermoine (Emma Watson) spinning the time turner. Once this action has been performed, the other characters are seen rapidly entering and exiting the scene. This portrays the change of speed within the scene. 

Soon after the clock stops spinning, we see Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermoine alone in a room. The room previously was occupied by Dumbledore (Albus Percival) and Ronald (Rupert Grint).