Screenwriting Rhythms in Post-Production

When cutting a narrative piece, the script isn’t just a blueprint for the dialogue; it is the sheet music for the edit.

Many young editors focus purely on the visual continuity or the performance of a single take. But if you understand screenwriting structure—the inciting incident, the turn of the second act, the subtle setups and payoffs—you begin to edit not just for the scene, but for the story.

The Invisible Beat

Sometimes, dropping a frame or holding on a reaction shot for an extra beat isn’t about making the cut smoother. It’s about respecting the underlying rhythm the writer intended. It is the pause before the realization. It is the breath between the lines.