Secrets of Constructing a Movie Scene

The basic element to construction of a scene is a beat, a single dramatic moment or event. Placed in order, several beats comprise a scene. Scenes comprise acts, and acts comprise your screenplay.

What is a scene? The scene is the basic unit of fiction, in that each is a miniplay with its own beginning, middle, and end. When contriving a scene ask yourself several questions.

1. Do you need the scene? Be as ruthless as possible if a scene does not progress the story, then cut it out. Many stories can be vastly improved by starting later in the action, since "set - up" scenes tend to be more static.

2. Are you missing any scenes that are necessary for your character arc? Character development is on a set path and scenes should potray the growth of your character.

3. Does every scene sufficiently orient the reader in time and space? Nothing is worse then having an audience lost as to where you are in the movie. Make sure that the audience is oriented.

4. Can you turn any large chunks of exposition into a dramatized scene? Large chunks of exposition are like copies of War and Peace, very, very, boring. Try to dramatize scenes to spice them up, and keep them interesting.

5. Does every scene move the plot forward and reveal character?

6. Is every scene vivid? Make them come "alive" through dialogue and description. Remember to use sensory details: smell, sound, and texture.

7. Does every scene come to some sort of interesting end?
- A rise in emotion
- A heightening of conflict
- A new story element introduced
- A new insight for the audience
- Something to make the audience want to go on

8. Is your scene set in an unusual, visually stimulating place?

Concerning length, a scene should be 2-3 pages long or 1-3 mins long. Each scene has a rhythm to it, and an objective. An objective of a scene should consist of 1. purpose of a scene in terms of plot/character, and 2. attitude.

Think of the most entertaining and effective way to communicate information in the scene. Physical action, Visual Sensibility, and Dialogue are the three main vehicles for doing this.

Another componet of scene design is the turning point. This can be interpreted in a variety of ways:
1. result protagonist didnt predict that turns scene in different direction
2. involve surprise
3. raise the viewers level of curosity
4. reveal insight into plot and character
5. point story in new direction

When building scenes, it is best to take it piece by piece and construct it cautiously, thus allowing a great scene to unfold.