How do we put a pause in a movie dialogue?

Question

"Shall we begin? ...Anyone? ...I'll take that as a yes."Is this the right way? Is there a better way? Is there any other way? I am asking because this looks odd.

Clive · Accepted Answer

That's how scripts are commonly written.

CalifJim · Answer

onelook
"Shall we begin? ...Anyone? ...I'll take that as a yes."

Is this the right way? Is there a better way? Is there any other way? I am asking because this looks odd.

...................... ........... TEACHER

............................. Shall we begin?
.................................... (pause)
.............................. Anyone?
.................................... (long pause)
............................. I'll take that as a yes.

I don't think you've ever looked at a movie script, have you?

Take a look at these:

https://www.weeklyscript.com/Bruce+Almighty.html
http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/chinatown.txt
http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/bulldurham.txt

In the first two you have this style:

Jack pauses.
Jack pauses for a beat.
Gittes pauses.
Cross pauses.
(a long pause)

In the third:

(beat)

Note also that the character speaking is written in all-caps and centered.
Under that are the words the character says interspersed with stage directions such as "Jack pauses."

Also, not all script writers are completely consistent about these matters of presentation on the page. You may see a mix of ways for indicating a pause, for example, all in the same script.

CJ

How do we put a pause in a movie dialogue?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions