This is easy but I decided to make a short tutorial on it!
Anyways there’s two ways to pause a scene:
- Use this command: @pause for a beat
You can write:
@pause for a beat
in your script as many times as you like.
Use this command: @pause for S
Replace S with a number though (in seconds)
So, if you write @pause for 5
The scene pauses for 5 seconds.
@pause for 20
The scene pauses for 20 seconds, kinda long lol!
@pause for 3.5
The scene pauses for 3.5 seconds.
@pause for 1.3
The scene pauses for 1.3 seconds.
Fast pauses are less than 1 second, like:
@pause for 0.7
You can include this in your script instead of including many @pause for beat commands.
It also works if you want a pause a cover (that you uploaded into your backgrounds) so the reader can see it and take time to adore it.
Another interesting command, (bonus):
@pause for 0
This means that the scene will pause for 0 seconds, so none at all (no pause) and this can help if you end the scene on a background (you can include it underneath since you can’t end on a background) or when you’re transitioning between music so there’s no awkward pause.
Example of using both in the script:
EXT. MG DINER - NIGHT
NARR (JEM)
Welcome to this diner!
@pause for a beat
NARR (JEM)
It looks quite creepy at night, doesn’t it?
@pause for 1.5
NARR (JEM)
I think I even see a figure.
*BTW in case you didn’t know if you write NARR (CHAR) or NARRATOR (CHAR), the character’s display name will show up when they’re talking in a text box shaped speechbubble. So Instead of showing no name (writing only NARRATOR/NARR gives you this, it would display JEM which is the script & display name for my character)
