"Flow" & Movement in Cues
Pacing -Tempo/Production:
Issue: We get a LOT of revisions for Cues being “TOO SLOW” or “Speed Up” This is due to not only the BPM of a Cue, but also the actual Production.
Solution: GO to the references and Match the TEMPO of the Category you are writing to. This is extremely important, as this will immediately get the Cue rejected. The References are the Ultimate Guide on the Predetermined Pacing , Feel, and Flow of the show(s). So, we cannot deliver Anything Slower than what the references point to, so Please make sure you are doing this with EVERY cue.
Movement:
MAKE sure your CUE has MOVEMENT throughout while following the structure system set below.
You can still do so much within this structure, and make the cue interested, IT is shorter to make sure that it does NOT get repetitive in any way and has the effect of Evolving.
Make sure you are using chords and movement elements in your production to give the illusion that movement is happening
Example- Using “Double time” elements in an already slower cue (85 BPM as example) and having some things performing in 16th notes helps give the illusion that there is “movement.” Not just Hi-hats, but Hats playing in a traditional trap beat is an example of having movement in a slower tempo cue. BUT please avoid just using Hats to pull this off.
Also making sure transitions in the structure and going in and out of sections is KEY to make sure NOTHING sounds repetitive and overall “flat” in nature.
(more on this below) – I have provided samples to Go through to hear this in action
EVOLVING
This is a Major part of all cues being revised. The cue must not feel like a loop. If there are Long sections, then it will give the illusion that it is a loop. It needs to keep growing, and taking things out and introducing them back gradually per section is the best way to do this. I covered a small bit in the “pacing” section.
Having the Breakdown, and Back into the Final Hook, but also having that Hook "evolve into the Ramp up" is how you make your cue feel like it is always moving forward and have interest.
It is obvious that they despise repetitive cues. With the Structure I gave, this addressed this. This will keep your Intros short, your First hooks short, You Verse Really Short, Your Break down, and into the Last Hook(s)... It is all condensed, to the point, and keeps "interest" as it does not allow the Ear to predict what it will do next
IF you repeat a Section for more than 4 Bars Exactly without the subtraction and or addition of new elements, it is a Loop to them/too repetitive.
Movement/Evolving Cue Example
1st Example -- HERE
This intro lays the Steady Bounce at first
Strings Introduce Movement and good tense "pace" - @ (:22)
The "verse 1a" section, it is mellow, but the Synth Arp/pluck still give subtle movement - @ (:48)
The Verse 1b section, the Strings come back in and bring that Movement (1:11)
Then it does a "Start stop" into the Last Section/Hook 1 (1:33)
Then the HOOK 2 (with a small Fill that lead into it) introduces the Brass and Brahms feeling brass, that gave it another Dimension of "evolving” (1:43)
Then "Ramps UP into the Stinger” (1:53)
This really nails down the concept of what we’re aiming for—a cue that isn’t just about tempo, but about pacing and progression. The cue should evolve, keep the listener's interest, and have those "start-stop" moments that transition smoothly between sections, without overwhelming the scene. It’s subtle but powerful, introducing new elements just enough to keep the energy flowing without going over the top. This cue was crafted specifically for visual media, meaning it’s working with the editor, not against them. It’s ready to support the visuals as-is, without needing a vocal to carry it. The music should stand strong on its own, driving the scene forward without competing for attention. It’s all about being the foundation that moves and breathes with the picture, and that’s the essence of what makes it work so effectively.
Example 2 -- HERE
No emphasis on the Genres, But the basic Idea behind the concepts he is explaining... Also, Complex Chords and adding Simple support, also add "movement" in keeping a good pace and not so much the overall BPM...
The Second Concept
Third Example Concept --Third is the Perfect "hook" type sections