diff --git a/flow-state/src/look/ArcDriver.js b/flow-state/src/look/ArcDriver.js
index efd8ead..9e7dadc 100644
--- a/flow-state/src/look/ArcDriver.js
+++ b/flow-state/src/look/ArcDriver.js
@@ -708,10 +708,12 @@ export class ArcDriver {
 
         // During a blend transition, lerp from the previous cue's palette to this
         // one's over the cue's fadeFrames, in OKLCH so hue travel stays perceptual.
+        // Sharp transitions never blend: on a hard cut the colour jumps
+        // instantly with the image, even under a blend-mode director.
         let base = palettes[baseIndex] || palettes[0];
         let blendT = 0;
         let blendFrom = -1;
-        if (plan && plan.transition === 'blend' && cue && cueIndex > 0) {
+        if (plan && plan.transition === 'blend' && cue && cueIndex > 0 && !cue.hardCut) {
             const prevIndex = plan.cues[cueIndex - 1];
             if (prevIndex !== baseIndex) {
                 const into = frame - cue.startFrame;
diff --git a/flow-state/src/look/Camera.js b/flow-state/src/look/Camera.js
index 985d0fb..62f6dfb 100644
--- a/flow-state/src/look/Camera.js
+++ b/flow-state/src/look/Camera.js
@@ -279,9 +279,11 @@ function timingFor(spanFrames, story, energy, camera, curve, rng) {
  */
 function relocatesAt(cue, story, rng) {
     if (!cue.hardCut && cue.atSectionStart) return true;   // a new section is a new place
+    // A sharp transition ALWAYS cuts the camera: the image swaps, so the gaze
+    // must land somewhere new with it — never a static hold across a hard cut.
+    if (cue.hardCut) return true;
     const tension = story ? story.tension : 0.5;
     let chance = 0.12 + tension * 0.45;
-    if (cue.hardCut) chance += 0.3;
     if (story) {
         if (story.act === 'climax') chance += 0.2;
         else if (story.act === 'resolution') chance *= 0.4;
diff --git a/flow-state/src/look/venueShots.js b/flow-state/src/look/venueShots.js
index e02ce1c..d972c5c 100644
--- a/flow-state/src/look/venueShots.js
+++ b/flow-state/src/look/venueShots.js
@@ -128,12 +128,30 @@ export function planVenueShots(cues, sections, archetype, style, isJump, rng, ga
         const energy = (section.bias && section.bias.energy) ?? 0.5;
         const jump = isJump ? isJump(cue) : null;
 
-        if (cue.sectionIndex !== sectionIndex) {
+        // A sharp transition re-picks the shot even mid-section: the room
+        // camera must cut to a different angle/position/direction with the
+        // image, never hold static across a hard cut. Motive yields to
+        // grammar here — a cutaway needn't face the action.
+        const sharpCut = !!cue.hardCut && marks.length > 0;
+        if (cue.sectionIndex !== sectionIndex || sharpCut) {
             sectionIndex = cue.sectionIndex;
             const prevMark = marks.length ? marks[marks.length - 1] : null;
             sectionSize = locked ? 'normal' : pickSize(prevMark, energy, story, style, rng);
-            sectionTarget = pickTarget(prevMark, energy, story, rng,
-                sectionTargets.map((t) => ({ target: t })), archetype);
+            if (sharpCut && prevMark && sectionSize === prevMark.size) {
+                sectionSize = rng.pick(VENUE_SHOT_SIZES.filter((s) => s !== sectionSize));
+            }
+            if (sharpCut && prevMark) {
+                // Flip the look direction outright: screen↔room, so the new
+                // composition cannot be the old one from a step aside.
+                // (Passerby has no opposite — re-draw it instead.)
+                const pt = prevMark.target;
+                sectionTarget = pt === 'screen' ? 'room'
+                    : pt === 'room' ? 'screen'
+                    : (rng.bool(0.5) ? 'screen' : 'room');
+            } else {
+                sectionTarget = pickTarget(prevMark, energy, story, rng,
+                    sectionTargets.map((t) => ({ target: t })), archetype);
+            }
             sectionTargets.push(sectionTarget);
         }
         const progress = n > 1 ? cue.index / (n - 1) : 0.5;
@@ -146,6 +164,7 @@ export function planVenueShots(cues, sections, archetype, style, isJump, rng, ga
             pos: mark.pos,
             look: mark.look,
             jump: jump ? jump.arrangement : null,
+            hardCut: !!cue.hardCut,
             // The move eases over the dissolve, except on a jump cut.
             easeFrames: jump ? 0 : Math.max(1, cue.fadeFrames || 12),
         });
@@ -331,7 +350,11 @@ export function venueShotAt(marks, cueIndex, frame, cueStartFrame, cueEndFrame =
         : lookPathAt(marks, progress, cur.jump !== null ? cur : null);
     const span = Math.max(1, (cueEndFrame ?? (cueStartFrame + cur.easeFrames)) - cueStartFrame);
     const driveT = clamp01((frame - cueStartFrame) / span);
-    if (!prev || cur.jump !== null) {
+    // A sharp transition lands instantly on the new mark — position, size and
+    // look together. The image swaps on this frame, so the reframe lands
+    // exactly when the eye is least able to see it move. (Same rationale as
+    // the jump branch: easing through a cut reads as a glitch, not an edit.)
+    if (!prev || cur.jump !== null || cur.hardCut) {
         return {
             pos: cur.pos.slice(), look,
             size: cur.size, target: cur.target,