Ever notice how cutting a scene in film is kind of like cutting a steak? Both need the right knife, the right angle, and a sense of what to keep and what to discard.

Exactly, but in cinema you also have to consider the narrative rhythm, not just the texture. If you trim too aggressively, you lose that subtle tension. If you hold on to too much, the pacing stalls. It’s a tightrope—one misstep and the whole film’s flavor goes off.

Love that analogy – a film’s marrow is its thematic core, the real meat that keeps the audience glued. When you keep trimming, you risk turning that core into a dry, lifeless skeleton. But if you’re too generous with the fluff, the story becomes an over‑cooked, flavor‑dead mess. It’s all about that sweet spot where the heart beats steady, the plot doesn’t gasp for breath, and every cut feels intentional.

Exactly, but in practice it’s a lot trickier than a kitchen timer. Even the best cuts can still feel forced if the pacing feels rushed or the character arcs get flattened. The real test is whether the audience feels the heartbeat, not just hears it.