TRANSITION & SHOTS...

... or what we should NOT write in our script ;-)



I can't help it, I LOVE reading screenplays which have shots and transition described, and I use a lot of them in my own writing. After all I'm not intending to break into the industry so no harm done really ;-)


Let's have a look at how others go about them.


TRANSITION

Writing Tip:
The only time to use a Transition in a spec script is if it's integral to telling the story. For instance, you might use a TIME CUT: to indicate passage of time. More commonly, a DISSOLVE TO: indicates that time has passed. Or, you might need to use MATCH CUT: if you want to illustrate that there is some correlation between something we just saw and something in the new scene. The point is, unless you become quite skilled in screenwriting don't use these things unless absolutely necessary, because the director of the film will probably think of something different.

- CUT TO
- DISSOLVE TO
- SMASH CUT / JUMP CUTS



video: Delicatessen

- FADE TO
- FADE OUT



- TIME CUT
- BRIDGE





(*) TRAINING MONTAGE



SHOTS

Writing Tip:
As the writer, for reasons already mentioned you should be very judicious using a SHOT to redirect the reader's focus. Your "directing" runs the risk of interrupting the flow of your storytelling. If what you really want to do is direct films, do yourself a favor and DON'T do it in a script you're trying to sell... wait until it sells and try to negotiate a package deal with you on board as the director. This most often is a possibility after you've already had one of your screenplays filmed.

- ANGLE ON
- CU (CLOSE UP)
- ECU (EXTREME CLOSE UP)
- X's POV
- REVERSE ANGLE





(*) INSERT