Dissolve/crossfade happy?

thartley

thartley

Veteran
I am putting together a little music video of some behind the scenes stuff I did a while back, and I think I am falling into a trap.  A transition trap.  There is no real continuity to the footage as I was only able to shoot when I wasnt doing anything else (which was almost never).  ANYWAY, I need someone to set me straight or at least give me a general rule of thinking when it comes to dissolves and crossfade transitions and how to use them (or not overuse them).  I have only part of the project done, I'm not happy with the edits I've made.  
It cant all be in the eye of the beholder....

(oh yeah, thanks!!!)
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

As a general rule, I use cross fades to show a passing of time (though, there are other times when they just seem "right"). Most of the time, I find that straight cuts work for me.
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

I agree, I generally use dissolves to show a passing of time, or change of setting, but mostly just when they look and feel right. To me, there isn't really any steadfast rule. I too, usually just use straight cuts. Usually, what looks good to you, the editor, will look good to the audience. Maybe bring in someone else to view it just to make sure.
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

you can also fade to black when you want to change scenes, days, activities.
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

Like any transition other than a cut, dissolves should be used sparingly. If you're thinking about stringing the whole piece together with dissolves, I wouldn't recommend it. A long string of shots linked by dissolves can make the piece corny or sappy, but there aren't really any strict rules. Personally, I feel like shots linked by a dissolve need to be more carefully matched than when using a cut. If you're making a music video, the beat of the music can draw you through the cuts. If you lay down the music track first and insert markers to the beat of the song, you can assemble your edits so they match the beats.
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

dissolve=passing of time.

But.....for what you are looking to do, i think you could get away with continuous dissolves only if you used slow-mo for all of your shots, like a "recap" sort of thing and the piece isn't too long. Sure, it might look sappy, but if someone sheds a tear in retrospect watching it, then you've done your job!

Though there aren't really any rules anymore, somethings will scream "amatuer", even by the audience. Be careful.
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

Well, I posted my project in Grabs section. The crossfade/dissolve concern is at the beginning of it mainly. I e-mailed the guy I am doing it for with a link to the project when it was partially finished, and he said not to change it, that he liked it the way it was, but I think I would have tried it with less. I was trying to convey a sense of how sloooow the actor's day is, compared to the day of our gaffers and DP, etc. So I was trying to show a passage of time, but where nothing really happens for the actors. I used all straight cuts for the crew action, with some slo-mo stuff of actors interspersed. Considering the footage itself wasnt very good and the shots werent planned out, I think it turned out okay. :D But if you wanna go poke a finger or two at it, go check it out. :)
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

Have you tried to two-screen technique? You go from a full-screen of clip A to a mini-screen of clip A and B side by side to a full-screen of clip B. It allows you to transition without showing the passage of time or get dissolve-happy. Home renovation shows use them all the time.

Here's an example from a "getting ready" segment of a wedding I'm doing: http://www.beyondtimemedia.com/www/video/two_screen.WMV

Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

That's an interesting technique. Will need to keep it in mind. Thanks!
 
Re: Dissolve/crossfade happy?

The 101 uses of dissolves in film making:

#37: In TV commercial making we can use a dissolve(s) to connect images such as a swirling bowl of chocolate with a chocolate pour with a chocolate coated strawberry with a chocolate coated icecream.

The idea /communication is that we (in fact a huge icecream factory) hand make the chocolate sauce and pour it over hand-picked perfect strawberries and blend it together to bring you a flawless Choocolate coated, strawberry flavoured icecream on a stick....dissolve to gorgeous model in bikini ( showing that it does not make you fat and you might get lucky if you buy one).

So in effect we are using the dissolve to condense time / process.
 
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