Transition To A Better Video With Cutscenes (Reels/Shorts Series)

Boring videos no more. Let's jazz your reels up with transitions and cut scenes!

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LJ Barnum & Fahad
January 17, 2025

Well HI! We hope the month is treating you well so far.

Most creators struggle to ever pick up the camera. Let alone create something.

If you’re like me (LJ) the anxiety of the unedited content is just so all-consuming.

That leaves us with two options.

Do it in “one take” without any extras (my first choice).

OR

Use transitions, cut-scenes, and other special effects for “zchuuugh-ing”.

You might think transitions are just fun effects, but they are actually powerful tools for:

  • Keeping Viewers Hooked: Smooth, creative transitions make your content impossible to skip.

  • Boosting Engagement: A seamless cut or a clever scene change grabs attention and keeps viewers watching longer.

  • Telling a Story: Transitions let you convey complex ideas in seconds, creating a more professional feel.

Cut-Scenes: The Ultimate Hook

Cut-scenes are more than a way to bridge moments; they are a storytelling goldmine. They let you:

  • Add Drama: A quick cut can heighten tension, humor, or excitement.

  • Showcase Versatility: Multiple angles or clips give your content depth and variety.

  • Speed Up the Narrative: Quickly transition between ideas, keeping your audience engaged.

Let’s cover some great ones.

  • Introduce a new character or location or highlight a reaction: Cut to a close-up of the character's face or the new location to create a sense of intrigue and mystery. Perfect deadpan.

  • Add a visual metaphor: Cut to a shot of something that represents the character's inner thoughts or feelings. For example, you could cut to a shot of a storm to represent a character's anger.

  • Create a sense of time passing: Cut to a shot of a clock or calendar to show the passage of time. This can be used to create a sense of urgency or to show change over time.

  • Add a comedic element: Cut to a shot of something unexpected or funny. This can ease tension or add humor. Use this to gloss over the not-so-fun parts of your offerings.

  • Reveal a secret or surprise: Cut to a shot of something that the audience didn't expect. This can be used to surprise and engage the audience; we call these scroll stoppers.

The Transitions Content Concept

Here’s the deal: transitions and cut-scenes are not for hard selling - in fact, reels aren’t for sales.

They are for fun, storytelling, and building your brand’s personality. They keep your audience entertained while gently nudging them toward trusting you.

And trust leads to sales (eventually).

Think of it as a “soft sell” through creativity.

Keep in mind most of these transitions will need to be done in post-production.

  • The Wipe: A wipe transition is a simple and effective way to transition between two scenes. It can be used to create a sense of movement or to emphasize a change in location or time.

  • The Dissolve or Crossfade: A dissolve transition is a gradual transition between two scenes. It can be used to create a smooth, seamless transition or to create a sense of mystery or suspense.

  • The Zoom: A zoom transition is a transition that uses a zooming motion to move from one scene to another. It can be used to create a sense of excitement or energy or to emphasize a particular detail.

    Start by opening a doc or making a spreadsheet to organize your thoughts. The goal is for this to be one page (aka a white paper, dossier, or one-pager).

Tools For Success

All you need is:

Your phone…obviously.

Apps like CapCut, Canva, or Premiere Rush for quick edits.

A little creativity to experiment with angles, effects, and movement.

Need help? Get professionally edited reels for just $25 each through 1/31/2025! (Save $10—don’t miss out!)

This Week’s Campaigns

Real Estate

Creative Property Marketing

Hook sellers who’re sick of your colleague’s BS. Share unique or unconventional ways you've marketed properties, like drone footage, 3D tours, or interactive floor plans.

Therapy

Sleep Hygiene Tips

Share evidence-based tips for improving sleep quality, emphasizing the connection between sleep and mental health. Honing in on symptoms and expressions of sleep on mental health can help create the starting awareness that could lead to your next client.

Retail/E-Commerce

Packaging and Shipping Process

Give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at your order fulfillment process, emphasizing care and efficiency. This is a great way to foster engagement from real buyers and showcase some of the community you’ve created around your store.

Thanks for tuning in this week! We’ll see you next Friday. 

Catch you on the flip side.

LJ & Fahad