How to Write Great Scenes — 4 Elements Every Scene Should Have

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Anatomy of a Great Scene — dissecting the four main elements of a great scene, including conflict, plot function, character development, and blocking & staging.

How to Write a Great Scene ►►
StudioBinder Blog ►►

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Great Scenes
00:56 - What Makes a Scene Great?
03:08 - Chapter 1: Conflict
08:21 - Chapter 2: Character Development
12:42 - Chapter 3: Plot Function
16:25 - Chapter 4: Blocking & Staging
20:18 - Deep Dive: The Silence of the Lambs
25:03 - Takeaways

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ANATOMY OF A GREAT SCENE

What makes a great movie scene? While no two scenes are the same, there are consistent elements of a great scene. In this video, we’re going to take a scalpel to some of the best scenes in film history to understand the anatomy of a great scene. These include conflict, character development, plot function, and blocking & staging. A great scene doesn’t need all four of these elements — the recipe for each scene is unique and variant. Let’s look at them individually.

Without conflict, there would be no storytelling. Through the course of a single story, the protagonist must encounter conflict and obstacles in the way of their goal. At a scene level, the conflict can be minimal as long as their is sufficient conflict overall. And there are different types that can be employed like physical, verbal, internal, or environmental conflict.

A great scene should also be designed to serve the character along their arc. An individual scene can function as a tiny nudge in that direction or a full-on shove — but without some effect on the character, you might have to question if you need the scene at all.

The same criteria applies to how the scene functions on a plot level. Does the scene move the plot forward (and in the right direction) or does it slow the pacing and feel out of place? It’s one thing to write a great scene on its own but if it doesn’t add to the storytelling, it’s best to cut it.

Finally, it is the director’s responsibility to turn these written elements into a functional scene with blocking and staging. Is the camera static or would the scene benefit from a slow push in? Is there a way to use the character’s movements in the scene to enhance the conflict or character development?

The combination and execution of these elements is completely flexible and subjective. But when the elements of a great scene come together, there’s nothing better.


#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti
“Night Piece for Saxophone and Orchestra” by Bernard Herrmann
“Blood Trails” by Carter Burwell
“The Verdict” by Ennio Morricone
“Father Son” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
“Mystery Math” by Danny Elfman
“Water, Ocean” by by Jung Jae Il
“The Braying Mule” by Ennio Morricone
“Treat Her Right” by Roy Head
“Hinting” by The Kitimangoes
“Heat” by Kronos Quartet
“Adagio Per Archi E Organo in Sol Minore” by David Parry
“Los Paramos” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Jack’s Smirking Revenge” by The Dust Brothers
“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“Tsiolkovskij” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“The Searchers Soundtrack Suite” by Max Steine
“Toys” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Citizen Kane Suite” by Bernard Herrmann
“Dead Already” by Thomas Newman
“Singin’ In The Rain” by Gene Kelly
“Bulletin Board” by Howard Shore
“Visit to Lecte”r by Howard Shore
“You Look Like A Rube” by Howard Shore
“A Neverending Beam of Light “by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Tangra” by Makeup & Vanity Set

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Music by Artgrid ►
Music by Soundstripe ►
Music by MusicBed ►

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