Kinds of Scenes — Instinctive Choices

A guest post from my colleague Tom Benedek:

Sometimes I sit down and just can’t bring myself to write a scene I have clearly drawn right in front of me in my story outline. I know what is supposed to happen. Yet it doesn’t feel right. I don’t know where to start, who should say what. There may be a logic to why the scene is where it is in my outline — and yet none of it feels right. Nooooo! Should I force it? Maybe. Hmmm.

I stop, reconsider the elements — what happened before, what goes next. Obviously(though not to me in that moment) I can’t write the scene because it isn’t meant to be a dramatic scene. Perhaps it should be a piece of expository — a quick and direct description in dialogue or voice over. Or it should be no more than a deep exhale before or after a big scene. I change my approach, adjust the outline, move forward with the script pages — finally. Those big scenes have to be there. But every beat in a story outline can’t be one of them.

Dramatic conflict, the big scenes, may matter most. But what comes in between, the small scenes, how we present elements of plot and character, is often nuanced through different kinds of scenes. Scenes of preparation, plant, payoff, aftermath, expository — the best scripts contain many different kinds of scenes — modulated and mixed into the standard scenes of dramatic conflict. Great meals are not just main course offerings. They are made up of different kinds of food, presented in different sizes, in multiple courses. Well told film stories operate in some ways like great meals, as well.

The components of a film script, the scenes arrive at different times, in carefully shaped forms and sizes. We may learn the most about one of our characters through one line, an idle remark, delivered before or after a huge emotional conflict. The best films are nuanced with different means, different kinds of scenes to present story. Knowing how to treat a scene, what kind of scene to write, may make or break the quality of a movie. The golden era Pixar scripts offer fantastic examples of all kinds of different scenes. By studying the kinds of scenes we can write, using these wonderful Pixar movies as role models, it is possible to build up writing style and add the best emphasis to the important things in scripts.

I have a one week class starting on Monday, June 30 which uses Pixar scripts to identify and break down all kinds of different scenes: Pixar Scene Writing Tool Kit.

It’s fun to consider how these scripts use diverse scene techniques to tell their stories. With Pixar scripts as case studies, we will be exploring the many “little things” which make these movies work so well Please do consider joining me for this fascinating class.

For more information on Tom’s upcoming class and all other Screenwriting Master Class courses and workshops, go here.

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