Cuts vs. Dissolves

Bill Davis · September 19th, 2011, 12:58 PM

When my son dances (he's 18) his style is built around the jump.

When my wife and I dance, typically we waltz.

As he evolves he watches us and sometimes, just for fun, he glides like we do.

And when we're having fun goofing around with him, we bounce just like him.

The point is sometimes good editing bounces. And sometimes good editing glides.

It's up to the editor to know the difference. If you're okay working in an environment where someone is allowed to tell you that they prefer that everyone bounce, or glide for that matter, as much as possible - you can see that as their STUDIO STYLE and go with it. Or you can decide that you aren't comfortable doing the same style of dancing over and over and over again and find ways to bounce on your own time.

This is the essence of life.

Choices that appear simple at first, but become more complex when you give them more consideration or learn to see them differently over time.

For what it's worth.

Jon Fairhurst · September 20th, 2011, 03:53 PM

I've in the middle of watching the recovered version of Metropolis, recently shown on TCM.

For those of you who aren't aware, the lost footage from Metropolis was recently discovered in Argentina. The 35mm nitrate original had been scanned onto 16mm and destroyed for safety reasons decades before. They didn't realize that this was the only copy of that lost footage at the time. They had never screened the cut down versions in Argentina.

Metropolis Refound (2010) [trailer] - YouTube

Back then. dissolves weren't just for transitions. They were the basis of special effects. And many of the sequences are symbolic. Today's high budget films are shallow-minded by comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j8Ba...eature=related

Jace Ross · September 22nd, 2011, 09:08 AM

I use both, primarily hard cuts based on my project but there is always a time and place for a dissolve.

September 19th, 2011, 12:58 PM	#31
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Re: Cuts vs. Dissolves When my son dances (he's 18) his style is built around the jump. When my wife and I dance, typically we waltz. As he evolves he watches us and sometimes, just for fun, he glides like we do. And when we're having fun goofing around with him, we bounce just like him. The point is sometimes good editing bounces. And sometimes good editing glides. It's up to the editor to know the difference. If you're okay working in an environment where someone is allowed to tell you that they prefer that everyone bounce, or glide for that matter, as much as possible - you can see that as their STUDIO STYLE and go with it. Or you can decide that you aren't comfortable doing the same style of dancing over and over and over again and find ways to bounce on your own time. This is the essence of life. Choices that appear simple at first, but become more complex when you give them more consideration or learn to see them differently over time. For what it's worth. __________________ Classroom editing instructor? Check out www.starteditingnow.com Turnkey editor training content including licensed training footage for classroom use.

September 20th, 2011, 03:53 PM	#32
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Cuts vs. Dissolves I've in the middle of watching the recovered version of Metropolis, recently shown on TCM. For those of you who aren't aware, the lost footage from Metropolis was recently discovered in Argentina. The 35mm nitrate original had been scanned onto 16mm and destroyed for safety reasons decades before. They didn't realize that this was the only copy of that lost footage at the time. They had never screened the cut down versions in Argentina. Metropolis Refound (2010) [trailer] - YouTube Back then. dissolves weren't just for transitions. They were the basis of special effects. And many of the sequences are symbolic. Today's high budget films are shallow-minded by comparison. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j8Ba...eature=related __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 22nd, 2011, 09:08 AM	#33
Jace Ross Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 35	Re: Cuts vs. Dissolves I use both, primarily hard cuts based on my project but there is always a time and place for a dissolve. __________________ Panasonic GF2 \| BlackMagic Pocket Cinema (waiting): Rode VideoMic \|