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.