If a character is speaking, then pauses for a few seconds, and then speaks again, how do you type that? I'm not talking about a significant pause, just like people do in normal life.
When a person pauses?
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Re: When a person pauses?
The cleanest way to reflect that in dialogue is either:
.....................JOE
......I'm sorry, Ben... she left this morning.
or
....................BEN
.....You mean to tell me that she
......ran off with Jerry AND took my
......golden retriever?
..........(beat)
......I loved that golden retriever!- - - - - - -
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Re: When a person pauses?
Originally posted by ExtHollywoodDay View PostThe cleanest way to reflect that in dialogue is either:
.....................JOE
......I'm sorry, Ben... she left this morning.
or
....................BEN
.....You mean to tell me that she
......ran off with Jerry AND took my
......golden retriever?
..........(beat)
......I loved that golden retriever!
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Re: When a person pauses?
If it's a very important for a specific reason, you can add (beat) as some other colleagues indicated.
If it's a pause in a normal conversation, leave it to the talent of the actor, they know how to do that.Check out my website with my productions: http://www.picturesplusproductions.com
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Re: When a person pauses?
In real life if someone pauses for a moment the other person jumps in a starts talking...
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Re: When a person pauses?
Interesting about the use of (then) in place of (beat).
I had never heard that. I sort of like it. At least it is something different.
But isn't it amazing how we go to such great lengths to avoid just writing (pause) in those rare instances when something is really needed and cannot be gleaned from context?
"The fact that you have seen professionals write poorly is no reason for you to imitate them." - ComicBent.
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Re: When a person pauses?
Originally posted by muser777 View Post'Beat' is specifically for a pause due to a change in topic - it's originally an acting term precisely for this.
And an actor can convey a "beat" by not pausing and just taking the following dialogue up an octave or two."I am the story itself; its source, its voice, its music."
- Clive Barker, Galilee
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Re: When a person pauses?
Originally posted by TwoBrad Bradley View PostIf an actor can choose to pause where there is no pause, or not pause where there is one - what is the point?
And an actor can convey a "beat" by not pausing and just taking the following dialogue up an octave or two.
It will also feel off to have buckets of carrot spew in your script too, of course.
But, admitted, nowadays it's common just to put a line there with no "(beat)" in parentheses. Or a (pause) as others have said - though, I personally prefer (beat) for this as it's not necessarily a pause you are highlighting. Kind of as you were saying.
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