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The mathematics of the Hollywood blockbuster

» The mathematics of the Hollywood blockbuster

Film-makers have got better and better at constructing shots so that their lengths grab our attention,” says James Cutting, a psychologist at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He analysed 150 Hollywood movies and found that the more recent they were, the more closely their shot lengths tended to follow a mathematical pattern that also describes human attention spans.

Mathematical storytelling!

read more posts about:
• math
• storytelling
• mathematical storytelling
• structure
• shots
• pacing
• movies

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174 notes

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   For the FULL article visit...

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    A shrink reckons “that a good narrative and strong acting are probably most important.” Breakthrough. Where on earth is...

11. sigyn reblogged this from onedropcolors and added:

    proofmathisbeautiful:austinkleon: Film-makers have got better and better at constructing shots so that their lengths...

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    New Scientist: “Solved: The mathematics of the Hollywood blockbuster” by Ewen Callaway, Feb. 18, 2010Professional...

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21. cecilen reblogged this from austinkleon and added:

    Your step-by-step to making the next blockbuster:

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    I think filmmakers would laugh at this. It’s true of course, that shots have progressively become shorter. But were...

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    I particularly love “Star Wars Episode III (pictured), however, which he describes as “just dreadful”, adheres rigidly...

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    I wish covered this kind of stuff when I was in film school, then my B.S. in Cinema, Photography and Media Arts would be...

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