Rhythm

The pace and rhythm of editing influence the viewer's emotional engagement and comprehension of the content. Properly pacing scenes and shots can build tension, evoke emotions, and maintain viewer interest throughout the production.

Average shot length

The rhythm of editing refers to the shot lengths of a sequence.

• Average shot length – ASL. In early cinema, the ASL was 60 seconds. By the 70s, it had been reduced to 6 seconds, suggesting a move to rapid cutting

• The rise of the action film in the 90s introduced the trend towards what is commonly referred to as MTV style editing e.g. 2-3 seconds ASL – ‘Armageddon’, ‘Top Gun’