The Unseen Value of Transitions | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Unseen Value of Transitions

Why cinematic transitions are one of the key attributes of beautiful films.

39
The  Unseen Value of Transitions
Youtube

Ask yourself this: what is one aspect of a film that is both a blessing, in that it can add tremendous beauty to a film, and a curse, something that if improperly used can lead to audience disorientation and confusion?

The answer is transitions.

Transitions are cinematic devices used by directors to move the audience from one scene to another in a hopefully seamless, cohesive manner. In fact, the dictionary definition of a transition is "a technique...by which scenes or shots are combined."

To demonstrate, consider this: let us say that a film begins within a room in an apartment building and the director wants the second scene to be one of the protagonist talking to a suspicious character on the sidewalk. How does the director transport the character, and the audience, to the sidewalk?

Believe it or not, most directors would not be able to answer this question very well. Some might postulate that by using a clean cut, they could first introduce the shady character before having him meet the protagonist. Others might try to use a flashback to give the audience some sort of insight into why the protagonist needs to meet with the character so earnestly. And still others might suggest introducing an extra character who motivates the protagonist to proceed out to the sidewalk where he would then meet the mysterious individual.

What's wrong with all of these suggestions?

For one, all of them are exceedingly complicated for the simple task. As I learned from one of my friends, why complicate a matter when it can be simplified?

Secondly, all of the responses are suppositions; the answers themselves seem like they themselves are uncertain of whether or not they will be successful in their uncertain purpose.

Thirdly, all of the ideas, if put into action, would only confuse and annoy the audience, for obvious reasons.

Simplicity is an underrated beauty. One example of a more effective and beautiful transition, in our simple circumstance, would be to follow the protagonist's glance outside a window where his eyes, now the camera's point of view, focus on the mysterious individual, insinuating a connection between both characters. This would allow for the director to then move on to his second scene: the meeting. There are obviously other options yet this idea struck me as both simple and clever.

So why then do many directors use bizarre, inappropriate, and sloppy transitions (a.k.a. the "wipe" transitions that saturate many of the Star Wars movies and give the overall impression that a third grader made them).

I, for a fact, do not know because the alternative is as clear as filtered water.

Transitions themselves are exceptional in their role within a film; without them, films would be nothing more than choppy scenes, representations of the worst children's play production imaginable.

Transitions are what convert a film, a series of scenes, into a cohesive story, one that can be understood flawlessly and without distractions. Thus each transition must be intentional and filled with evident purpose in order for the film's true beauty to shine through.

Examples of excellent transitions range from intricate lighting techniques, to the use of the surrounding set or scene, to iconic melodies signature to the story, and the list goes on.

Essentially, a transition is a work of art in and of itself. It is because of transitions that good films can be appreciated in all of their beauty due to their ability to further enhance the film's true purpose.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

701
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4118
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2538
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201899
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments