Coconote
AI notes
AI voice & video notes
Export note
Try for free
What is Pacing?
Jun 16, 2024
What is Pacing?
Introduction
Pacing: The speed at which a story is told.
Stories don't move at a single pace; pacing varies.
Pacing in narratives likened to a long-distance runner's cycle of speeding and slowing down.
Evolution of Pacing in Film
Early cinema: Long takes, short runtimes, slower editing, faster-paced stories.
D.W. Griffith: Pioneered cross-cutting, affecting audience emotions.
Alfred Hitchcock: Used pacing for suspense and shock.
Modern films: Pacing remains a primary consideration.
Micro vs. Macro Pacing
Pacing can apply to individual scenes or larger sequences and entire narratives.
Techniques for manipulating story tempo during production and post-production.
Pacing in Screenwriting
Screenplays signal the desired speed of the story:
Tar
: Tempo changes explicitly stated in the screenplay.
A Quiet Place
: Uses short bursts, ellipses, and line breaks to build tension.
Past Lives
: Steady, meditative pace with detailed character direction.
Aaron Sorkin: Rapid-fire dialogue with minimal action lines.
Safdie Brothers (
Uncut Gems
): Hyperactive pacing with rapid scene transitions and overlapping dialogue.
Requiem for a Dream
: Short, fragmented scenes reflect characters' unstable lives.
Pacing During Production
Directorial choices influence pacing:
Few shots in a scene can slow the narrative.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul: Long single takes for a dreamlike quality.
Children of Men
: Handheld camera for a chaotic, fast pace.
Kill Bill
: Crash zooms and whip pans for fast-paced fight scenes.
Yasujiro Ozu: Locked-off shots for a contemplative scene tempo.
Stalker
: Slow camera dolly for a dream state quality.
Actors' performances also affect narrative speed:
Slow scenes to show inner emotion (
Nomadland
).
Dramatic pauses for comedy (
The Grand Budapest Hotel
).
Speedy dialogue to ramp up scenes (
The Grand Budapest Hotel
).
Pacing in Editing
Editing is crucial in determining pacing:
Fast cuts increase tempo (Baz Luhrmann).
Sparing cuts slow tempo (Chantal Ackerman).
Combination examples:
The Hurt Locker
,
Platoon
.
Montages for fast pacing:
The Rules of Attraction
,
The Wolf of Wall Street
.
Music's role in pacing:
Jaws
: Increasing tempo in the soundtrack builds suspense.
Dunkirk
: Ticking clock sound adds urgency.
Conclusion
Pacing is essential throughout the filmmaking process.
Important from script to post-production.
StudioBinder's pre-production software helps set and manage pacing effectively.
📄
Full transcript