How Pro Video Editors Transition Between Scenes

Most beginner editors focus on where to cut between scenes—but pros know the real magic is in how you transition between them. In this video, I sat down with director and former editor Scott Rice to break down four powerful scene transitions from our short film Treasure Imagination. These aren't just technical cuts—they're creative choices that carry emotion, momentum, and meaning.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we covered:

• Match Cut (City to Cave): We used the motion of a hat to seamlessly jump between two vastly different settings, inspired by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s a simple object match that visually bridges a real-world city and a fantastical cave.

• Action Cut (Cave to Jungle): This one wasn’t scripted. I cut from the beginning of the kid starting to run, straight to his feet already racing through the jungle. Combined with the villain’s maniacal laughter echoing across the cut, it kept the energy up and linked the scenes through sound.

• Sound Advance (Jungle to City): Instead of a jarring cut, we let the honk of a city car bleed into the jungle dream, easing the character—and the audience—into a new reality. It felt more like waking up, and it worked better than what we originally imagined.

• Creative End Credits Transition: Don’t overlook this! We used a playful whip sound and a visual wipe as a nod to Indiana Jones, making our cut to credits feel intentional and satisfying. Music played a huge role here too, building to a crescendo that gave the ending a final punch.

Each of these transitions tells part of the story—and they all evolved in the edit bay. So try them out in your own work, and don’t be afraid to experiment (that’s where the best moments often come from).

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.