Pace Pacing Properly

As most aspiring #screenwriter knows, getting a spec #screenplay produced is a helluva uphill battle. Even the most talented writers can find themselves struggling to get their #specscripts noticed by producers and studios. One of the most common reasons that spec #screenplays get passed on is poor pacing.

"Film is a medium of time. It is the manipulation and control of time that makes a good movie. Pacing is the most important element in the manipulation of time, and that's what makes it the most important element in filmmaking."

~#DavidMamet

#Pacing refers to the speed at which a #story unfolds. A well-paced screenplay is one that keeps the audience engaged and interested from beginning to end. It balances action, dialogue, and character development in a way that feels natural and organic. Poor pacing, on the other hand, can make a screenplay feel sluggish, confusing, or let's be honest really damn boring.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to poor pacing in a screenplay. One of the most common is a lack of conflict. A screenplay without conflict is like a badass-looking car that ain't got an engine – it might look great, but it's not going anywhere fast. Conflict is what drives a story forward and keeps the audience invested. Without it, a screenplay can quickly lose momentum and become tedious to read.

Another factor that can contribute to poor pacing is too much exposition. Exposition refers to the information that the audience needs to know in order to understand the story. While some exposition is necessary, too much of it can slow the story down and make it feel like the writer is hitting the audience over the head with information. A good screenplay should reveal information gradually, through action and dialogue, rather than relying on long, dry passages of exposition.

A lack of clear structure can also contribute to poor pacing. A well-structured screenplay has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with each act building on the one that came before it. A poorly structured screenplay, on the other hand, can feel disjointed and confusing, with scenes that seem to come out of nowhere and characters that disappear without explanation.

In order to avoid poor pacing in a spec screenplay, it's important to take the time to develop a strong story structure, create compelling conflict, and reveal information in a way that feels natural and organic. It's also important to be willing to cut scenes and dialogue that don't serve the story and to be open to feedback and constructive criticism from others.

So what does all this shit mean?

In the words of screenwriter and producer Aaron Sorkin, "If you can't write a good screenplay with a compelling story, a great structure, and strong characters, you're not going to succeed. It's as simple as that." So take the time to get your pacing right, and your spec screenplay could be the next big hit in Hollywood or at least not suck.