Movie Runtime Pacing Calculator
Movie Runtime Pacing Calculator optimizes movie pacing by allocating runtime to narrative segments, with analysis and a visual timeline.
Formulas Used in Movie Runtime Pacing Calculator
The calculator uses the following formulas to allocate and analyze pacing:
Segment Duration (Proportions):
\\[ D_i = T \cdot \frac{P_i}{\sum P_i} \\]Segment Duration (Fixed Durations):
\\[ D_i = d_i \quad (\text{scaled if } \sum d_i \neq T) \\]Total Runtime Check:
\\[ T_{\text{calc}} = \sum D_i \\]Pacing Balance Metric:
\\[ B_i = \left| \frac{D_i}{T} – P_{\text{ideal},i} \right| \cdot 100 \\]Where:
- \\( D_i \\): Duration of segment \\( i \\) (minutes)
- \\( T \\): Total movie runtime (minutes)
- \\( P_i \\): Proportion of segment \\( i \\)
- \\( d_i \\): Specified duration of segment \\( i \\) (minutes)
- \\( T_{\text{calc}} \\): Sum of segment durations (minutes)
- \\( B_i \\): Balance deviation for segment \\( i \\) (%)
- \\( P_{\text{ideal},i} \\): Ideal proportion for segment \\( i \\)
Example Calculations
Example 1: Small Movie (Three-Act Structure)
Input: Structure = Three-Act, Total Runtime = 90 min, Tolerance = 10%
Ideal Proportions: Act 1 (25%), Act 2 (50%), Act 3 (25%)
\\[ D_1 = 90 \cdot \frac{0.25}{1} = 22.5 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ D_2 = 90 \cdot \frac{0.5}{1} = 45 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ D_3 = 90 \cdot \frac{0.25}{1} = 22.5 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ T_{\text{calc}} = 22.5 + 45 + 22.5 = 90 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ B_1 = \left| \frac{22.5}{90} – 0.25 \right| \cdot 100 = 0\% \\](Similarly for Act 2, Act 3)
Result: Act 1 = 22.5 min, Act 2 = 45 min, Act 3 = 22.5 min, All deviations = 0%, Pacing balanced
Example 2: Medium Movie (Custom Proportions)
Input: Segments = [Setup,0.2,Conflict,0.5,Climax,0.3], Total Runtime = 120 min, Tolerance = 10%
Conflict deviation: \\( \left| \frac{60}{120} – 0.5 \right| \cdot 100 = 0\% \\)
Climax deviation: \\( \left| \frac{36}{120} – 0.25 \right| \cdot 100 = 5\% \\)
Result: Setup = 24 min, Conflict = 60 min, Climax = 36 min, All deviations ≤ 10%, Pacing balanced
Example 3: Large Movie (Custom Durations)
Input: Segments = [Intro,30,Build,60,Twist,50,Resolve,60], Total Runtime = 180 min, Tolerance = 10%
Sum of durations: \\( 30 + 60 + 50 + 60 = 200 \ \text{min} \\)
Scale to 180 min: \\( D_i = d_i \cdot \frac{180}{200} \\)
\\[ D_1 = 30 \cdot \frac{180}{200} = 27 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ D_2 = 60 \cdot \frac{180}{200} = 54 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ D_3 = 50 \cdot \frac{180}{200} = 45 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ D_4 = 60 \cdot \frac{180}{200} = 54 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ T_{\text{calc}} = 27 + 54 + 45 + 54 = 180 \ \text{min} \\] \\[ B_1 = \left| \frac{27}{180} – 0.15 \right| \cdot 100 = 0\% \quad (\text{ideal } 0.15 \text{ for Act 1 in five-act}) \\]Resolve deviation: \\( \left| \frac{54}{180} – 0.1 \right| \cdot 100 = 20\% \\)
Result: Intro = 27 min, Build = 54 min, Twist = 45 min, Resolve = 54 min, Resolve unbalanced (>10%), Suggest reducing Resolve to ~18 min