Published: October 11, 2024 | Last Updated: November 26, 2024
bridging shot Definition & Meaning
A bridging shot is a transitional shot that connects two disconnected moments in a film’s story. It creates a smooth visual connection between scenes separated by time, location, or both. While viewers might not consciously notice these shots, they help the audience understand when and where they are in the story.
Temporal and Spatial Transitions
Bridging shots have two primary applications: temporal (when) and spatial (where) transitions – or both.
Temporal bridging shot examples
For temporal transitions, filmmakers use bridging shots to indicate the passage of time. Common ways include clocks, falling calendar pages, time lapses, or a combination.
A classic example appears in Groundhog Day (1993), where recurring shots of an alarm clock hitting 6:00 AM serve as both a bridging device and a clever motif, signaling viewers that the day has reset.
Spatial bridging shot examples
Spatial bridging shots help us track location changes. These typically combine multiple elements:
- A shot of the character beginning their journey (boarding a plane, starting a car)
- Travel footage showing the actual movement
- An establishing shot (pick-up shot) of the new location
My favorite example of a spatial bridging shot comes from the Indiana Jones franchise, which I grew up with in the 1980s:
Indiana Jones uses animated maps to bridge geographical transitions, showing long-distance travel while maintaining narrative momentum. They create a very effective and comprehensive transition by establishing shots (pick-up shots of the new location) and overlaid travel footage.
Another option is to use wide-angle or extreme wide-angle shots, showing characters traveling from one location to the next. This works best if the journey itself is essential to the story.
Peter Jackson does this extremely well in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, combining wide shots of New Zealand’s stunning landscapes using aerial cinematography with special effects to create the massive, magical world the fellowship has to traverse.
Combining Temporal and Spatial Bridging Shots
Here’s an example from Luc Besson’s Lucy (2014), starring Scarlett Johansson:
The sequence combines temporal and spatial transitions using time lapses and other visual effects.
Bridging Shots vs. Match Cuts
There is a difference between bridging shots and match cuts. While both techniques connect disconnected moments, they are created and function differently:
- Bridging shots insert a new shot between scenes
- Match cuts create transitions through editing by matching visual or audio elements between scenes.
Match cuts often use visual similarities and sound bridges to create seamless transitions. Here’s a compilation of match cuts from cinema for comparison:
Summing Up
Bridging shots are visual connections between scenes that take us by the hand and guide us to the where and when of the next scene. This upholds the narrative flow and keeps us engaged without breaking our sense of immersion.
When done with excellence, bridging shots take on their own life. A good example is the map sequence in Indiana Jones. Filmmakers have mimicked this particular style of bridging shot multiple times in later films.
Up Next: The FilmDaft Guide to Camera Angles, Shots, and Movements
