Page 3 The Language of Film - Film Transitions

Page 3 The Language of Film – Film Transitions

The movie industry really began when Edwin Porter discovered video editing and began to tell stories.

Put several shots together and you have a scene, a series of connected shots that establish location and continuity.

Put several scenes together and you have a montage. Directors put scenes together according to theme, using transitions or editing.

The scene ends by cutting, or transitioning to another location, time, or person.

Cut: one shot instantly replaces the other.

Jump cut: two shots which appear to "jump" due to the way the shots are framed in relation to each other.

Jump cuts appear to be editing mistakes.

Match Cut: a link between two different objects in two different spaces, to provide continuity in the story.

For example, in Lawrence of Arabia, he blows out a match which becomes a burning sun to show he has moved from England to Egypt, the burning desert, where his adventures will begin.