How to Pace Your Film — Examples of Good and Bad Pacing in Editing, Writing and More

Example of Good and Bad Pacing Editing — We look at the fundamentals of pacing, and why it’s vital for any filmmaker to understand.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Pacing in Film
00:42 - What is Pacing in Film?
02:26 - Chapter 1: Pacing In Screenwriting
07:04 - Chapter 2: Pacing On Set
11:32 - Chapter 3: Pacing In Post
16:08 - Takeaways

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PACING YOUR STORIES

In its essence, pacing is simple– it’s how quickly, or slowly, you tell a story. But in practice, the concept can be exceedingly difficult to master. You don’t have to take our word for it. Celebrated filmmakers with decades of experience under their belt will still miss the mark on pacing, and critics will be quick to call them out for it. In this video, we look at the elusive concept of pacing, and some strategies you can take to avoid bad pacing in movies.

WRITING PACING

Pacing begins on the page. A screenwriter is the one who first and foremost dictates the larger pacing of the overall narrative. Major events may happen at a breakneck speed, from one scene to the next, or an entire film may be a slow motion build to one big emotional beat.

But a screenwriter can also influence pacing on an intra-scene level. In this regard, line breaks are a writer’s best friend. They can slow down the rate of a sequence by simply making each action its own line, or multiple lines. Alternatively, a writer can push for snappy dialogue by omitting action lines.

PACING VIDEOS AS A DIRECTOR

Pacing can be further articulated on set. Erratic camera movement will make a scene feel more energetic and fast (think of the work of Michael Bay, for example). On the other end, a director might opt for more minimal camera moves, or no camera moves, which can make a scene feel meditative and slow. Pacing can also come from actors. In consultation with a director, an actor can decide how quickly they go through dialogue or execute an action.

EDIT PACING OF THE VIDEO

In a way, editing is the art of pacing. An editor’s primary decision is how long to hold on a shot. The longer they hold on a shot, typically, the slower the pace. Rapid cutting, conversely, will lead to rapid pacing. An editor can dictate pacing on a more macro scale, using montages to blow through large spans of story in a matter of minutes. They can also use music to affect how an audience perceives pacing.

As you may be able to tell, pacing is a consideration from the beginning to the end of the filmmaking process. This is why it can be so difficult to achieve, there are so many areas where pacing can go wrong. But with careful attention, anyone can find great pacing.


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♬ SONGS USED:

"Year Of Silence" - Crystal Castles
"The Entertainer" - Scott Joplin
"Fragments of a Prayer" - John Tavner
"John Mourns" - Tyler Bates
"A Familiar Taste" - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
"The Ballad Of Howie Bling" - Oneohtrix Point Never
"Lux Aeterna" - Clint Mansell
"Thumbs Up" - Dominic Lewis
"Eternity’s Sunrise" - John Travner
"Ticket To Write" - Michael Giacchino
"Canto At Gabelmeister’s Peak" - Alexandre Desplat
"What’s The Internet?" - Kyle Dixon
"New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra
"European Vacation" - tomandandy
"Audrey’s Dance" - Angelo Badalamenti
"Jaws Theme" - John Williams
"Regimental Brothers" - Hans Zimmer
"In Motion" - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

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