ABSTRACT
How the writer transitions from one scene to another is an important and sometimes overlooked aspect of screenwriting. Smooth transitions are essential in order to insure a well-crafted tone. Most scripts use a simple phrase such as “cut to” or “dissolve to” to denote a transition. Some mention nothing at all. The task then falls to the editor to design the best scene-to-scene transitions. Though some transitions are highly shot dependent, the writer can prefigure these essential devices during the script stage. This chapter looks at different kinds of transition strategies. Manchester by the Sea, Mannequin 2, and Power of the Dog are incorporated as examples.
