The Importance of the Scene

If in a coverage you get a note that your scenes need work or that your “scene work” is not so good – you’re in some pretty deep poop. I have never seen a compelling script with an entertaining premise also suffer from poor scene work. Scenes are the microcosm of the script. If you can’t write a clean, compelling, unique and crisp three pages, I have to assume you also cannot be trusted to write a clean, compelling, unique and crisp script. Don’t get knocked out of the game on page one.

What makes scene work bad enough to be noted in your coverage?

Misuse or overuse of sluglines
Dense, boring action lines
Misuse of matchcuts or intercuts
Scenes that are too long; anything over 3 pages is suspicious
Scenes that are too short and exist for no apparent reason
Scenes that start too early and end too late
Scenes without a discernable point

When scene work is done well, readers don’t point it out because a good scene does its job insidiously; it entertained, it moved the story forward and it was so artful and seamless that nothing about it distracted me or took me out of the story even for a second.

A writer who has no command over his or her scene work is like a dentist who cannot operate the chair or who fumbles with the Novocaine. No good can come from it.

Make today a day in which pay special attention to each scene in your script. Pull a scene – any scene – and ask yourself:

Is there a lot of “black” (dense action lines) or is this scene pretty easy on the eye?

Does the scene start at the latest possible moment? Or is there a lot of “business” in the scene preceding the real meat of the moment?

Are you sluglines clear and correct?

Does the scene end just a little early so that the next scene can “land” more effectively?

What happens in this scene? Does the plot move forward and do characters reveal more about themselves?

Is this scene entertaining in and of itself? Is it visual, cinematic, scary or funny not just utilitarian?

Is this scene necessary at all?

And Rouge Wavers, if the answer to that last one is no – then please refer to Killing Your Darlings and plunge a wooden stake into that sucker. Do it. Do it now.

A great scene is an art form unto itself. You should be able to pull any scene from your script and admire it for its streamlined, effective, evocative and compelling beauty. Don’t ever waste a scene or write a “throw-away” simply to get us from point A to point B.

Scenes are the pearls that make up the necklace, ending at that golden clasp which holds it all together.

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