Screenplay Transitions: 10 Types of Screenplay Transitions

In screenwriting, a transition marks the change from one scene to another. This can be a shift in time or place or denote the change of one camera setup to another. Screenwriters can use transitions to mark visual cues and help drive the storytelling. The conventions of transition usage continue to evolve, but many transitions are essential features of the filmmaking vocabulary and are helpful to writers, editors, directors, and actors.

Transitions that involve specific camera angles and editing techniques are at the discretion of the filmmakers, but you can use them to emphasize plot points. When writing your screenplay, some of the most common transitions you are likely to include are:

1. 1. Fade in: After the title page, this is often the first phrase you write in a screenplay. It signals the story's beginning, even if the filming will not include a transition from a blank screen to a picture.
2. 2. Fade out: On the last page of your screenplay, you are likely to write “fade out” or “fade to black,” which signals the end of the screenplay.
3. 3. Dissolve to: A dissolve is an editing technique that involves overlaying two images, often meant to signal the change in time and space from the previous scene to the next scene. Dissolve transitions are more common than the “fade to” transition.
4. 4. Cut to: You can use this transition to signal the change to a new scene. The change to a new scene will usually involve a cut, so writing “cut to” before each scene can be superfluous.
5. 5. Smash cut: A smash cut emphasizes the juxtaposition made by a cut. You might insert a smash cut in a moment of visceral action or emotional intensity, potentially catching the audience off guard. You can write this transition as “smash cut to.”
6. 6. Iris in and iris out: An iris refers to an effect where a specific portion of the screen is blacked out. The picture takes the shape of a circle—like a telescope—and will narrow in on the focal point of the shot for an iris in, or widen in the case of iris out to show the whole frame. This transition can help emphasize a certain character or action.
7. 7. Match cut: A match cut is a transition between two scenes that features an overlap of audio or visual features. This can be the shape of objects in the frame, characters faces, a sudden action, or an audio cue.
8. 8. Jump cut: A jump cut occurs when the camera angle changes abruptly to a different, but similar angle. This could be a cut from a wide shot to a close-up, or a cut from a character’s face to their hands. Jump cuts are usually meant to provide special emphasis to an action or scene detail.
9. 9. Flashback: This is a specific type of transition that signals a shift backwards in the script’s time frame. A flashback can be to events happening moments earlier to years in the past.
10. 10. Time cut: A time cut marks the passage of time, usually without a change in location. You can write a quick scene in which a character paces in a room, lies down, and wakes hours later using a series of time cuts.

There are no hard rules in screenwriting, but there are widely-observed conventions. A general guide on when and how to use transitions is as follows:

1. 1. Know your audience. Generally, a beginning screenwriter will start by writing spec scripts, meaning they are not commissioned or paid for in advance. When you are trying to make a good first impression as a writer, avoid overusing transitions and focus on storytelling.
2. 2. Keep it simple. Too many transitions and camera directions can distract readers from the story.
3. 3. Treat transitions like dramatic elements. A well-placed transition can be a great way to ratchet up suspense or help move the reader through the story, especially if they are used sparingly. You want the reader to visualize as much of the scene as possible, but you have to guide them along, not force them with an overemphasis on editing and camera angles.

Once you have an idea of when and how to use transitions, it’s essential to know where to write them on the page. Consider the following tips for screenplay formatting:

1. 1. Align transitions to the right margin of the page. Unlike scene headings, general scene descriptions, and actions, which align to the left margin, transitions should be on the right.
2. 2. Place transitions carefully. Transitions are usually between scenes, but not always. Sometimes, to better give a visual idea of the scene, you might incorporate transitions into the general action description.
3. 3. Write sluglines in boldface. Scene headings indicate the location of the scene and the time of day. They begin with “Int” or “Ext” to indicate if the scene is an interior or exterior scene.
4. 4. Include pre-lap dialogue. You can include parentheticals below the character’s name and above the dialogue with a direction like “pre-lap,” which indicates dialogue beginning before the cut to the new scene occurs. This is a common technique to make scene transitions smoother.

Screenwriters typically use screenwriting software to format screenplays properly.

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