Film is a medium that entails many elements, elements that sometimes overlap and are also applicable to other forms of artistic mediums. For example, we see the use of lighting and framing in still photography, the manipulation of sound in music production, and the display and storytelling of movement in dance or plays. But, one element that I found especially unique to film--the use of transitions between clips, really intrigued me. Through the purposeful edits and inclusion of certain effects, the shift from one thing to the next, I used transitions to help the footage progress scene by scene. These transitions not only move the story along, but they offer potentially meaning and flare to the overarching narrative. Applying these transitions in different ways and forms both advances the story and also transitions it in a way that is entertaining and easy to watch.
In Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, we learn about opening up the limitations we set for how most people view and define comics and to “Separate form from content.” By this, McCloud pushes us to know what the specific medium is and to differentiate between the form and the elements that go into making it or that make it work. He then went on to explain how comics can be seen all around, but they are seldom recognized for their true form. I found this reading valuable as a foreknowledge for my short film because I was more aware of the specific elements I was applying through my medium. I noticed how some transitions I used, like time manipulation, could help not only to decrease overall time but also to ease the viewer into the next section of the clip without having to use a straight cut. I also learned from other modern short filmmakers about the art of using deflective transitions. Deflection works by distracting the eye for a short moment with a visual or special effect in between clips in order to add an aesthetically pleasing transition. I used this method of transitioning clips a few times like in between the clip of the tree and the girl’s feet jumping and also between her feet walking and her dumping snow on herself. This type of transition showcases the way this element can act as a buffer between differing clips, or as an element of aesthetic value.
Film and its elements have many different aspects to explore. These can range from sound to visual compositions, but by focusing my approach to the use of clip transitions, I was able to learn about the way these can add an interesting change to clips. Transitions can be used for many different purposes in film; namely, story progression and aesthetic are approached. By applying these different forms of deflection through transitions, I was able to more fully understand the wide span that the medium of film encompasses.
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