fade to black
A fade to black is the most dramatic transition found on this list. A fade to black is essentially a dissolve in or to black. In film, a fade to black is used symbolize completion, meaning a narrative thought is finished. On a practical level, this typically means fading to black at the end of a dramatic scene.
fade to white
A fade to white tells the audience that the hero’s journey isn’t quite over. Despite all of the visual information on screen telling you the action is completed, there is still something left. This is why you will often see a fade to white at the end of a dramatic film with an ambiguous ending.
cross dissolve
Dissolves have admittedly been on the decline over recent years. While you will find lots of instances of cross dissolves in classic cinema, modern filmmakers don’t tend to use them as often. A cross dissolve symbolizes a passage from one scene to the next. This could be a passage of time or simply a passage from exterior to interior. Cross dissolves symbolize overlapping ideas between scenes.
wipe
While all of the transitions on this list stand for a passage of time, a wipe implies continued action that is unresolved. A wipe works well in a film that is full of action and movement, which is why you’ll see it throughout films like Star Wars. A great example from modern film is Edgar Wright, who uses physical objects to wipe between scenes to control the pacing.
transitions within my film trailer
in my film trailer for my transitions i use cross fades
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