How Fade Characters Into a Scene

Creator's Corner Directing Help & Tips
1

I’m having some issues with this because I don’t know how to fade in characters into a scene where dialogue is going. I can’t find any answers on here so therefore I’m creating this thread. This is what I have:

INT. KAMILAH BEDROOM- DAY

@zoom reset

@cut to zone 2 AND zoom on 496 383 to 192% in 0

music music_stringpluckbeat

@MIRANDA changes into Miranda_lounge

@MIRANDA spot 1.007 160 164 in zone 1 at layer 3 AND MIRANDA faces right AND MIRANDA is idle_read_book

    MIRANDA
(Kylie Jenner is so interesting these days.)

@pause for a beat

@MIRANDA is eyeroll_subtle

    MIRANDA
(Not.)

sound phone_ring

@MIRANDA is read_phone_shocked

    MIRANDA (talk_think)
(An | italic | unknown number | reset |.)

@pause for a beat

@MIRANDA is listen_phone_sigh

music off

    MIRANDA (talk_phone_sad_loop)
Ummmm who is this?

sound swell_eerie

@MIRANDA is startled_surprised

@pause for a beat

sound thud

    MIRANDA (talk_afraid)
Kamilah?

How can I fade in a character into the scene?

2

You’ll need to make an overlay of the background to fade characters in.

3

I did that already. I looked at that thread already, but she doesn’t give an example on how to fade a character into a scene.

4

Start the overlay at an opacity of 1 then time it down to half (if you want the character fully visible).

ie:
INT. BACKGROUND with BACKGROUND OVERLAY in layer 2
&overlay BACKGROUND OVERLAY opacity 1 in 0
@CHARACTER stands screen center in zone 1 and CHARACTER moves to layer 1
@overlay BACKGROUND OVERLAY opacity 0 in 1

5

Okay. Can I show you what my script looks like before I add that coding in?

6

Sure.

7

INT. KAMILAH BEDROOM- DAY with KAMILAH ROOM at layer 2

@zoom reset 

@cut to zone 1 AND zoom on 191 367 to 172% in 0 

@MIRANDA changes into Miranda_lounge

@MIRANDA spot 1.017 155 158 in zone 1 at layer 3 AND MIRANDA faces right

@KAMILAH changes into Kamilah_sleep

@KAMILAH spot 0.990 245 169 in zone 1 AND KAMILAH moves to layer 1 

@overlay KAMILAH ROOM opacity 1 in 0 

@MIRANDA is idle_terrified AND KAMILAH is idle_sad

@overlay KAMILAH ROOM opacity 0 in 1
8

I’m not sure if this is exactly what you want, but try this:

@MIRANDA changes into Miranda_lounge
@KAMILAH changes into Kamilah_sleep
&zoom reset
INT. KAMILAH BEDROOM- DAY with KAMILAH ROOM at layer 2
&cut to zone 1 AND zoom on 191 367 to 172% in 0
&MIRANDA spot 1.017 155 158 in zone 1 at layer 3 AND MIRANDA faces right
&KAMILAH spot 0.990 245 169 in zone 1 at layer 1
@overlay KAMILAH ROOM opacity 1 in 0
&MIRANDA is idle_terrified AND KAMILAH is idle_sad
@overlay KAMILAH ROOM opacity 0 in 1

9

Okay I’ll try it.

10

It worked!! Thanks so much.

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11