Conflict Scene Some Challenges

1. Conflict SceneSome Challenges Houston Wood

2. What is a scene? • A single unit within a screenplay • In screenplay format • Not a short film, not a treatment • Often marked by one SLUG LINE • INT. HPU CLASSROOM – DAY

3. What is an action line? • Goes against left margin to right margin (e.g. 17 to 75) • Describes who is in the scene and what is happening • Beginning writers overwrite action lines • Professional writers pen screenplays with a minimum of action lines • Let actors act, director’s direct, cinematographers shoot

4. Why have scenes? • Each scene advances the plot • Adds new development—alters the situation and/or character • Reveals new information • Alters mood or atmosphere • If the scene does not do one or more of these three, get rid of it.

5. What happens in a scene? • Usually the situation changes • I.e. scenes are dynamic—not static • Usually the situation changes not all at once but drip by drip • Usually new obstacles and confusions arise one by one—not all at once • Usually the scene grows in interest as the scene time passes • I.e. it is more interesting at 40 seconds than at 20 seconds

6. How long is a scene? • One page = about one minute on screen • Often your talky one page is more than one minute • Ask: Does this e.g. 4 minutes fit my movie? • Ask: If it takes 4 minutes to do this scene, how long will the entire film be with all the other scenes added? • Screenplays read quickly because screenplay are picture shows—NOT talking shows • Time your favorite scenes in your favorite films • Most scenes today: two to three pages/minutes

7. Scenes are paced—think variation in music • Problem> “This scene seems to start and end at the same level of conflict.” • “This scene has one pitch, one tone, one scream, the same intensity, throughout.” • Conflict scenes need arc, growth, development • Think—beginning, middle and end of each scene • Pacing, rhythm, must change • Action films are heavy metal music

8. Scenes are cinematic • Scenes are written to guide the making of movies, not for themselves • Problem> “This is fascinating, but seems like a short story, or maybe a stage play.” • Problem> “Can you see yourself sitting in a theatre with your friends and watching this scene on a big screen?” • Scenes are usually visually interesting • Scenes usually offer variation of camera angle, movements, or character movement—things to entertain the eye

9. Characters • Not one-dimensional (unless cardboard, cliché, genre) • Not robots with one-track minds, desires • Not action heroes • Are not there to do but to achieve • To realize personal goals • With personalities, complexities

10. Conflict: Protagnonist and Antagonist • “A scene of a murder is not a conflict scene . . . a scene of increasingly complex resistance to being murdered is a conflict scene.” • Problem> “This is a strong scene, a solid opening scene, as you suggest. But it is not a conflict scene.”

11. Dialog in screenplays • Problem> “Everything said here would have greater effect if you used 70% less words.” • Read screenplay dialog—it is not like the theatre; it is not like you and your friends talk to each other

12. Dialog that sparkles • Often indirect • I.e. avoid explicit statements • Seek self-deluded statements—ones reflecting character of the speaker but not the truth of the speaker • Unstated speaking is very common in films—let the actors act, let them “say” what you want them to say through acting, not direct words.

13. Believable • Could this happen? • Could you make a film that convinces your audience this could happen? • Or are you making a fantasy film, sci fi, or horror?”