Topic 7: Transitions - continued

The Dissolve

Directors may use a dissolve to transition from one shot to the next. With a dissolve, there is a moment when images from the first and second shot both appear on the screen at the same time. One image dissolves away, as the other image takes over.


Watch this short video clip from Citizen Kane and observe the dissolve that begins near 0:16. You'll see the swinging door dissolve out, as the headlines in the newspaper dissolve in, signalling the scene change.

Directors employ dissolves to indicate the passage of time or to show a process (e.g., the stages in building a house). Pay attention to these moments in film as they may also have symbolic importance.

Photo by Daria Sannikova from Pexels

Photo by Stacey Gabrielle Koenitz Rozells from Pexels

 

Explore

Familiarize yourself with the cinematic technique definitions in the “Transitions” section of the Elements of Film handout. Use the Elements of Film Tutorial to explore the remaining types of transitions. Be sure to review the YouTube link that accompanies each term in the tutorial to understand the effect of each technique. Record your impressions on your Elements of Film handout.