The Value of Cliffhangers in Screenwriting (cont’d)
In our weekly Script Reading and Analysis series, one of the dynamics we have been paying attention to is cliffhangers. You can go here to read a post about the presence of cliffhangers in the script for Argo in a great sequence breakdown by Paul Graunke, and some historical perspective I provide about the connection of sequences to film reels. Then last week, Paul provided a similar breakdown here for Gravity. I am reprinting that in full:
My list of sequences. Once again, my m.o. has been to think “reel” — to break down the script into 10–15 minute reels, the way movies were edited in the early days of cinema to accommodate the technical limits of projectors.
Each reel (except the last, of course) ends on a cliffhanger beat. The question I tried to answer in placing that beat is not: what is the logical flow of the story? Rather it is: what is the desired emotional flow in the audience’s mind? Where could the sequence be cut, leaving the audience in the dark (literally in those days!), wondering, worrying, curious — desperate to know what happens next?
I readily concede my choices are arbitrary. In fact, as I write this, the two hemispheres of my brain are bickering over the division of sequences. Which I take to be a sign of incipient schizophrenia — and a well told story! “Gravity” has too many good choices!
REEL #1 — Setup and Warning
Cliffhanger beat (p9–10):
Cliffhanger question: Ryan:” Should we — should we be worried?”
REEL #2 –Oh [Expletive Deleted]!
Cliffhanger beat (p17–18): Shariff is killed by debris.
Cliffhanger question: Are they all going to die?
REEL #3 — Recovery and Initial Survival Strategy
Cliffhanger beat (p29): Matt and Ryan abandon the shuttle, head for the ISS. Matt: “we could use a rescue mission.”
Cliffhanger question: Will they be able to rescue themselves before they run out of fuel and oxygen (ticking clock)?
REEL #4 –Reversal, New Strategy and Heroic Sacrifice
Cliffhanger beat (p40): Matt resolves the dilemma, untethers himself. Ryan is all alone.
Cliffhanger question: Can she make it to the Chinese station on her own?
REEL #5 –Initial Success, Reversal, Surprise!
Cliffhanger beat (p53): Matt re-appears.
Cliffhanger question: WTF !?!?!?
REEL #6 — New Resolve and Last Hope
Cliffhanger beat (p64): Ryan undocks from the Chinese station.
Cliffhanger question: Can she get back to earth in one piece?
REEL #7 –“One Hell of a Ride”
She survives the descent to earth, emerges from the “womb” of the Shenzhou and the water of the lake, saved and reborn.
Why are cliffhangers helpful? One obvious reason: They create suspense, raising the question, “What’s going to happen?” If you create those moments on an ongoing basis every 5 to 10 pages, you are likely creating and sustaining a level of tension in the narrative.
Additionally by working with a cliffhanger as an end point of a sequence, you give yourself a target toward which you can build that particular set of scenes.
This is just one of the ways we have been analyzing scripts in this series. I trust you can see the value in these exercises. Therefore I encourage you, if you aren’t already, to read these scripts and follow along the daily posts. Better yet, join in the conversation.
Thanks, Paul, for these cliffhanger analyses. Quite helpful.