What is a traditional way to end a scene?

• A. To cut to the next scene.
• B. To fade to black or dissolve.
• C. Freeze frame.
• D. End with a line of dialogue.

Answer: (B)

Ending a scene in traditional editing relies on transitions that signal a shift in time or location and give the audience a moment to take in what just happened. A fade to black or a dissolve is the classic way because it quietly stretches the end, letting the story breathe and indicating that a new moment or place is beginning. The fade gradually darkens the image to black, while a dissolve smoothly blends one shot into the next, both signaling change without an abrupt stop.

Cutting to the next scene is common for pacing and clarity, but it’s a more immediate, forward-driving transition that doesn’t inherently convey a pause or passage of time. A freeze frame is a stylistic tool used for emphasis or a playful or dramatic effect, not the standard way to close a scene. Ending with a line of dialogue can work in some moments, but it’s not the traditional transition that signals a formal end and movement to something new.