What Is Pacing?

Pacing, also known as rhythm or tempo, is the rate of movement and flow of events that occurs as a film’s story progresses – basically, the speed at which a film’s plot moves at.

If a movie’s pacing is too slow, it can feel long and drawn out and viewers may lose interest. If a movie’s pacing is too fast, it can leave viewers either bombarded with too much information too quickly or leave them wanting more and feeling as if there was a lot of good storytelling or background information that was glazed over.

There is no such thing as a universal pace at which all films should be cut. Every movie has a different story to tell with various pacing techniques that can be used to successfully hold the attention of audience members. However, some genres of film have certain pacing that works better than others. For example, a movie in the mystery or horror genre can benefit from using a slower pace to create more suspense and tension while an action film may benefit from going with a faster pace to create thrill and excitement.

Learn more about how to improve rhythm and pacing:

“Better Editing Pacing: Keep It Interesting” by Brandon Li

If you are looking for professional editors to help you with pacing for your next production, check out our online Nevada Production Directory to find experienced Nevada production crew or drop by our office and pick up a free printed directory!

If you offer production and film-related services in Nevada and are not yet listed in our Production Directory, you can learn more about how to sign up for the NPD here.

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