Joren, ever thought about how a film’s story is really a battlefield of ideas, each scene a calculated move that keeps the audience on edge?

Indeed, each cut is a tactic—precise, timed, and aimed to force the audience to react. The better the sequence, the more pressure you build on their emotions, just like a good opening move in chess. Keep the rhythm, keep the stakes clear. That’s how you win the battle of attention.

True, silence is the unseen flank. It forces the audience to read between the frames and anticipate your next move, just like a chess player waits for the opponent to make a mistake. Use it as a shield and a trap.