Pacing is the rhythm and speed of your script, and it can have a huge impact on how your audience engages with your video. Pacing can create tension, excitement, suspense, emotion, or clarity, depending on how you use it. In this article, you'll learn how to use pacing to control your script's flow and achieve your desired effect.
Pacing is not just about how fast or slow your script is, but also about how well it matches your tone, genre, and purpose. For example, a comedy video might use a fast pace to deliver jokes and keep the audience laughing, while a documentary video might use a slower pace to explain facts and provide context. Pacing also affects how your audience perceives your video's length, quality, and message. A well-paced script can keep your audience hooked, interested, and satisfied, while a poorly paced script can make your audience bored, confused, or frustrated.
Pacing in storytelling acts as the heartbeat of your narrative, regulating the flow and intensity of the viewer's experience. In an educational video, a measured pace allows for the absorption of information, while in an action sequence, rapid cuts and brisk dialogue can drive up adrenaline. Pacing should always be intentional, mirroring the narrative’s needs—whether to linger thoughtfully on a scene or to create a sense of urgency and excitement. It's about finding the tempo that resonates with the storyline and ensuring that each moment is calibrated to either move the story forward or allow the audience to digest the content.
One way to measure pacing is by using beats, which are the units of action or information that move your story forward. A beat can be a line of dialogue, a visual cue, a sound effect, or anything else that contributes to your script. You can count the number of beats per minute (BPM) to get a sense of your script's pace. For example, a fast-paced action video might have 60 BPM, while a slow-paced drama video might have 30 BPM. However, BPM is not a fixed rule, and you can vary your pace depending on your scene, mood, and goal.
A general rule of thumb we often use in corporate video production is 2.1 words per second + a 20% margin for intros, outros, transitions and so on. That should give you a rough idea of the length of your overall video and from there, vary it up and down depending on your storytelling style.
Adjusting pacing in your script can be done in several ways, such as changing the length and structure of sentences. For instance, shorter sentences can create a feeling of urgency, while longer ones can create a sense of tranquility. Using transitions and connectors, like "meanwhile", "however", "then", or "because" can help control the flow and continuity of your script. Additionally, adding or removing beats can add detail, complexity, or suspense to your script. You can also rearrange or reorder your beats to create different effects such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, or twists. Pauses and silence are also powerful tools that can create contrast, emphasis, or tension in your script; they allow the audience to digest, anticipate, or react to your beats.
The best way to test pacing is by reading your script aloud or having someone else read it for you. This way, you can hear how your script sounds and feels, and identify any issues or areas for improvement. You can also use a stopwatch or a timer to measure the duration of your script and compare it to your target length. Additionally, you can use feedback from your peers, clients, or audience to evaluate how your script works and resonates with them.
Feedback. Ask your mom if she can follow it. Ask several friends, too. If you see a pattern in their responses - that pattern is reality, and you need to adjust your pacing to help them understand. You may also need to simplify your narrative or visuals. ONE visual focal point and ONE idea under discussion at a time are universal rules for every medium.
Pacing is a skill that requires practice and experimentation, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula for it. However, to improve your pacing, consider your audience and purpose, genre and tone, story and structure, and tools and techniques. For example, you should tailor your script to the intended viewers and goals; study and follow the best practices of your chosen genre and tone; plan and outline your script before you write it; and experiment with different tools and techniques. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your pacing is appropriate for the story you're telling.