Scenes are everything in the screenwriting world. Virtually every movie moment centers around a memorable dialogue or a character interaction, creating what we all love about movies. Whether you're discussing Terminator 2: Judgment Day's "I'll Be Back" or Gone With The Wind's "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." it all relates to the scene.
Unfortunately, it's challenging for novice screenwriters to develop a scene's rhythm. Writing is hard; even icons like Quentin Tarantino or Paul Schrader didn’t get it right the first time. With that being said, what do you do when discussing pacing, timing, and building momentum? Let's discuss the above and dive into the nitty-gritty of optimizing your script.
Still from 'Gone With the Wind' (1939). Photo credit: IMDb
What is Rhythm?
Rhythm in a script is not just a technicality; it's the heartbeat of your story. It refers to the story's pacing, which is influenced by the duration of scenes and the balance between longer and shorter scenes. Understanding and mastering this rhythm is crucial for a compelling screenplay.
Some general screenplay rules may only occasionally align with a screenplay's natural rhythm. For instance, screenwriters are often taught to start scenes as late as possible and end them as early as possible.
In terms of structuring scenes, it is generally advisable to write a few short (1.5 pages) to medium (2.5 pages) scenes, followed by a more extended scene (3-5 pages). After that, more medium to short scenes should be included, leading to an exceptionally long scene (8-10 pages). This cycle continues, with the proper balance of scene lengths crucial for achieving the right rhythm in a script.
On the flip, plenty of screenwriters and filmmakers ignore this general rule. Be it Tarantino or Nolan, many filmmakers can follow a different writing structure since they have the experience and tools to ignore it. If you're starting, sticking with the guidelines before experimenting is best.
Why It Matters
Rhythm is a massive factor in how your script will impact a reader and an audience once it is written. Furthermore, a lot of it relates to editing since a skilled editor understands that rhythm is just one area that relates to the effect of a work. An editor can establish rhythm but break it, change it, or create intentionally arrhythmic moments to evoke a jarring or unsettling impact.
Therefore, it's about more than having a solid sense of rhythm; you also need a deep understanding of fine-tuning your script. Each book or article can only thoroughly teach you this. You need to train your brain by consuming and analyzing a wide range of scripts and creating scripts to see how they turn out.
Creating Beats
Writers wield a scene's rhythm through beats. A story beat is not just a plot point; it's a powerful tool that shapes the narrative. It can be an introduction, a reveal, a set-up, a pay-off, a twist, a conversation, a death, or a turning point. These beats are the building blocks of your story, and using them effectively can transform your screenplay.
Within a scene, a beat refers to a specific action—anything that warrants its action line. A beat is a unit of action or a moment in a scene that changes the story's direction or reveals something new about the characters or the plot.
For example, in a romance story, saying, 'We should go our separate ways' would be considered a single beat. However, if something occurs during the conversation—such as arguing or acknowledging the moment's gravity—that would constitute an additional beat.
Generally, beats in a screenplay are understood as distinct emotional moments or plot points that drive the story forward.
Pacing and Timing
The rhythm of your screenplay is a delicate balance of pacing and timing, and it's a challenge to get it right. Proper pacing is not just a technicality; it's a responsibility. If your screenplay's pacing is consistent or well-managed, the story may feel disjointed, causing the audience to lose connection. Managing narrative pacing is critical in guiding the audience's engagement and shaping their emotional response to the action.
If the pacing is slower, the story might rush through critical events, overwhelming the audience and leaving them with little time to process the information. Conversely, too slow pacing can lead to boredom, making it difficult for the audience to stay invested. A lack of variety in pacing can also result in frustration and tedium.
Effective pacing keeps the audience naturally engaged and preserves their suspension of disbelief. Poor pacing, however, can break this suspension, making the narrative feel forced or contrived. When this happens, it becomes much more challenging for the screenwriter to draw the audience back into the story.
Common issues leading to poor pacing include unnecessary scenes, scenes that drag on or end too quickly, uneven rising and falling action and clunky dialogue. Factors like sentence length, word choice, and structure can all disrupt the flow, contributing to a disjointed narrative.
Building Momentum
Building momentum in a screenplay revolves around rising and falling action. Pacing naturally slows in certain scenes, particularly after a high-stakes moment when a reflective pause is needed. This slower pace gives both characters and the audience time to catch their breath and absorb what has occurred. No one wants to feel winded while enjoying a flick all the time.
In contrast, a faster pace is crucial during action sequences or as the story progresses. These high-tension moments heighten anticipation, create excitement, and propel the narrative forward.
Rising action involves the gradual buildup of conflict and tension, leading to the story's climax and keeping the audience engaged. Falling action, on the other hand, is when the tension from the central conflict begins to decrease and eventually resolves.
Maintaining a careful balance between these elements is vital, as it requires smoothly blending slower and faster-paced sections. Achieving this balance is critical to holding the audience's attention.
However, too much-rising action at a fast pace can overwhelm and frustrate the audience if the narrative continuously builds without offering any release. Conversely, an excess of falling action, where the anticipation never fully delivers on its promise, can leave the story feeling anticlimactic. Striking the right balance between these elements is essential for keeping the audience engaged.