Transitions: One for all, all for one

[Mostly_Harmless 0]

Just want to ask the advice of all you video guru's out there. I am currently working on a video and was wondering what are your opinions on transitions? I am using PowerDirector and have access to about 50 different transitions. I try to use some of the fun ones but also try to stay away from the cheesy ones. Should I just use 1 transition between all the clips, or maybe pick out 3-4 of them (I am currently using about 10 of them) and use them through out the entire movie, or should I not use any of them. The purpose of this video is just a fun video highlighting some good jumps that happen over the season at my DZ. I am not planning on selling it or anything else like that but I still want somewhat of a professional touch to it.

_________________________________________
www.myspace.com/termvelocity

[Zoter 0]

less is more....

[Fast 0]

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less is more....

and hard cuts are nice at some points. (i.e. no transition)

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[The111 1]

I could be wrong but I can't ever remember seeing any transitions in a "professional" skydiving movie. If they are there they obviously don't demand attention, since I can't remember them.

In my few videos I only used fades, cross-fades, and cuts.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[quade 4]

Cut, cut, cut . . .

I would usually only use transitions (including dissolves) if there was some underlaying motivation to do so; showing the passage of time for instance.

ANYTHING that draws attention away from the story; ANTHING that makes the viewer notice IT rather than the footage is simply unnessasary and should probably be eliminated.

Look at this this way, if the viewer -ever- says to himself "wow look at that effect!" you've probably blown it -- badly.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[PhreeZone 20]

Only notible exception that I can ever think of to the Crossfade/Fade/Cut is Lucas's use of the corner to corner peel effect in Star Wars. That is the only major movie I can ever remember watching and it dawned on me that it was'nt a cut or a fade.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[quade 4]

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Only notible exception that I can ever think of to the Crossfade/Fade/Cut is Lucas's use of the corner to corner peel effect in Star Wars. That is the only major movie I can ever remember watching and it dawned on me that it was'nt a cut or a fade.

Even those were motivated transitions since Lucas was intentionally mimicing the cheezy clock & iris wipes of the old "Flash Gordon" type movies.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Samurai136 0]

Here's aquote from Apple's website on video transitions:

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When to use a transition?
Just because you can insert a transition between clips, don’t feel you must. While transitions can be a great way to add fun to a video, give it a soft montage-like feeling, or imply the passage of time or change of location, most Hollywood movies use very few transitions. While the most common transitions are cross-dissolves and fades, sometimes the best transition from one clip to another is a straight cut.

I find I have the most fun making good straight cuts between clips. It is challenging to pick/ edit the best parts of multiple clips and tell a good story.

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[DSE 5]

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I could be wrong but I can't ever remember seeing any transitions in a "professional" skydiving movie. If they are there they obviously don't demand attention, since I can't remember them.

In my few videos I only used fades, cross-fades, and cuts.

you can't remember them because they don't inhibit the story. Quade's advice, and advice from everyone else is spot-on. We're used to seeing not more than four types of transitions in vid/film overall, and a big part of that is because the old switchers don't have more than four built in.
jump cuts, dissolves, crossfades, and wipes. We edit 24/7, and other than L or J cut dissolves or butt-cuts, it's rare anything else creeps into the mix. Occasionally titles will be flashy, but that's as they should be. Read Murch, Rodriguez, and Zalman on transitions (or read my editing basics book from College of DuPage) and you'll get a grasp on why transitions that are distracting destroy stories of every kind. Spinning cubes are fun for the late night :30 used car spot, but for real work? Nah...listen to what you're hearing here.
If you're in the NYC area in November, I'm doing the NAB East broadcast/Post Plus show. I'd be happy to get you free tix to some of the conferences. One of them is editing for powerful storylines.

[Mostly_Harmless 0]

I noticed that most films only use cuts but wanted to get everyone's opinions on it. I went home and watched my movie over again and really notice what you said quade, there were too many times I was wow'ed by the transition. So I cleared all my transitions and tried to do only cuts but with the outcome not so good. Then I went to plan "b" and kept with only fades and cross fades. This seemed to wok pretty well. I kept them short as in not to be too distracting from the footage. Thanks for the advice guys, it really helped out. I never thought that transitions could ruin the video but when I read this from quade:

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ANYTHING that draws attention away from the story; ANTHING that makes the viewer notice IT rather than the footage is simply unnessasary and should probably be eliminated.

Look at this this way, if the viewer -ever- says to himself "wow look at that effect!" you've probably blown it -- badly.

it made a lot of sense.

DSE- I am only an hour away from the city by train :)

_________________________________________
www.myspace.com/termvelocity

[Stumpy 284]

In general i totally agree with everyone else. Having said that, i did see this:
http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3305

And think it was pretty cool

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[mccordia 74]

Im a huge 'page curl-transition' fan myself..

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[mccordia 74]

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In general i totally agree with everyone else. Having said that, i did see this:
http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3305

And think it was pretty cool

Your example goes beyond the simple use of transitions...its a whole visual style (which looks awesome)

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[LouDiamond 1]

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.its a whole visual style

I agree. Even then, the use of transitions and effects is spaced out enough that it doesn't become the focus for too long. A good example of finding just the right balance. Although, die hards might say there was too much,especially during the multiple screens portion. Excellently done skydiving video though IMO.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Stumpy 284]

Yup i thought about all of that honest!!

(Actually no i didn't - i just liked it - made me feel all chilled out! )

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[airborne82nd 0]

hey creative video very good job

what soft ware was that avid? or final cut pro????


cool video and someone can fly there ass off that is some great video flying.

wish i could flythat good. some of the transitions are a bit 60's ish a retro feel but hey its all creative

cools style

[Laszloimage 0]

Doug,
When and where in NYC?
I'm interested...
Thanks!
-Laszlo-

[DSE 5]

NYC NAB Post Plus show.
http://www.nabnewyork.com/

pm me if you want a guest pass.

ecit, thanks for fixing my clicky. Just had a double root canal a couple hours ago, not terribly focused at the moment.

[Icon134 0]

http://www.nabnewyork.com/


don't PM me... I'm just fixing the clicky...

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[Laszloimage 0]

Thank you very very much!
Yes I would love to get a guest pass.
Get better with the root canal!!!
-Laszlo-