Hey, what do you think are the important elements of a scene?
I'm fleshing out an outline I finished lastnight and I thought I'd ask. I want to ensure that I'm thorough.

So far I'll say the scenes will have started out on one emotion(or beat) and end up on another. They have to change.

Kinda like:

fear to trust to disbelief to relief
anticipation  to dread
joy to panic
anger to amusement
trust to anger

what else do you do, and suggest doing

Make sure the scene does something to advance the plot and/or build on your characters.  If you can skip over it and not lose anything either way, it's not needed.

Quoted from JamminGirl Hey, what do you think are the important elements of a scene?

While we have already established that you do not always subscribe to the general 3-act structure, I would nevertheless submit that it is often helpful to consider individual scenes working in much the same way.

Applying that simple "beginning-middle-end" pattern to each scene can sometimes help you flesh things out the way they ought to be.

Consider each scene to be its own self-contained story.

Your scene should begin with an interesting set-up, then escalate, then conclude -- and consider cutting anything that does not contribute to one of these three components.

In particular -- when these "non-contributors" occur at the very beginning of the scene, or very late in the scene -- that is a clue that they can be deleted.

Quoted from bert Consider each scene to be its own self-contained story.

That's the ideal setting of a scene, but not always easy to do.

Michel

I've also read to start a scene as late as possible and end as soon as possible. Most scenes don't need much of a setup, so they should start while the action is already in progress. If you feel like the audience needs to know something you have at the beginning of a scene, put it in the middle.

A good scene should do one of three things: advance the plot; build a character; or get a laugh. Preferably all three or at least two out of three.

I also second Bert's post above.

"A good scene should do one of three things: advance the plot; build a character; or get a laugh. Preferably all three or at least two out of three."

And/or be a really cool and brutal kill, which would be an add on to get a laugh - provide a scare, or shock.

Or just provide some great nudity, which I guess could be taken as characterization.

LOL!

Quoted from Dreamscale Or just provide some great nudity

Yeesssssssss!!!

A good scene should do the following

Establish the plot
Expand the plot
End the plot

When I write a scene it has to have meaning. It has to go somewhere. IT has to do one of the following above. It's got to establish something or expand on something or ultimately end something.

Each scene has a beginning, middle and end. You have to know how to end a scene just as well as ending your entire movie.

That's what Bert said earlier. Each sequence should be structured like a short

I have to keep remembering to start in medias res. The french film "I've loved you so long" did just that with all its scenes. Even though this was a character drama, it showed very well.
I want my scenes to have resonance so I was hoping for more pointers other than beginning middle and end...

Jammin', Jammin', Jammin'...here we go again.  You continue to come up with these posts and ask the same questions again and again.

Here's what keeps happening.  Various people respond with ideas...mostly ideas from screenwriting books and experts.  Others just give their 2 cents.  Then, the back and forth gets going, and all is lost, for the most part.

Bottom line is this.  No one can tell you how to write solid scenes or scripts for that matter.  No book can show you exactly what to write.  No one can tell you how to write.  You just have to do it.

You have to come up with a story. or maybe just an idea, then turn it into a story.  Create interesting characters...make us care for them and route for them.  Work the story out in your head, with a template, with an outline, whatever you choose to use, and break the story into scenes.

A scene doesn't have to do anything other than make sense, be engaging, and help your story along to its resolution.  Don't get all bogged down worrying about all this garbage.

I'm not disagreeing with anyone on what they've suggested, but don't worry about it up front.  Write, step back and read it over...and over.  See what you like about it, and what you don't.  Add, cut, reword.  Make sure everything's flowing the way you want it to.  Keep a cadence to your writing that is unique to each script's overall feel and theme.

It's like skiing, for instance.  You can have all the instruction in the world from the world's top skiiers, but until you physically get on top of that first run, it all means crap.  You learn to ski by skiing.  Once you feel comfortable on your skis, you start to refine your style. You can't know if you're going to be a cruiser or a carver, a powder hound or a mogul freak.

Just write and write the way you feel.  If others give negative feedback, take it in, see how you feel about it, and try it again.

This is honestly the very best advice anyone can throw out.  

Yeah...I am kind feeling like you pooped on my post when I was trying to be helpful.

So, you're welcome...I guess.  Not really sure why I was sawing on that tired old hambone you threw out there anyway.

Maybe you need to phrase your questions better.  I find your second post more confusing than your first.

Quoted from JamminGirl I have to keep remembering to start in medias res. The french film "I've loved you so long" did just that with all its scenes. Even though this was a character drama, it showed very well. I want my scenes to have resonance so I was hoping for more pointers other than beginning middle and end...

Well, each movie is different... I mean, if you're writing a comedy you clearly can't structure your scenes like you would a mystery movie.  If you want pointers on finding resonance within your own movies you're probably going to have to be a little more descriptive in what you're needing help on. What scene. How's it set up.

I can tell you I write my movies like

Introduction of plot
Veer off to/build up sub plot point
Build up on initial plot
Introduction of new plot and or character
resolution to sub plot point

and so forth and so on, but what's that going to do for you when you're not writing the same movie as us? Different movies need to be tackled in different ways.

If you're wanting to know to start your scene off with a question or an answerer you're going to have to be more clear.

Quoted from bert Yeah...I am kind feeling like you pooped on my post when I was trying to be helpful. So, you're welcome...I guess.  Not really sure why I was sawing on that tired old hambone you threw out there anyway. Maybe you need to phrase your questions better.  I find your second post more confusing than your first.

Yeah, I realized it might see that way afterwards. Sorry about that.

Quoted from Dreamscale Jammin', Jammin', Jammin'...here we go again.  You continue to come up with these posts and ask the same questions again and again. Here's what keeps happening.  Various people respond with ideas...mostly ideas from screenwriting books and experts.  Others just give their 2 cents.  Then, the back and forth gets going, and all is lost, for the most part. Bottom line is this.  No one can tell you how to write solid scenes or scripts for that matter.  No book can show you exactly what to write.  No one can tell you how to write.  You just have to do it. You have to come up with a story. or maybe just an idea, then turn it into a story.  Create interesting characters...make us care for them and route for them.  Work the story out in your head, with a template, with an outline, whatever you choose to use, and break the story into scenes. A scene doesn't have to do anything other than make sense, be engaging, and help your story along to its resolution.  Don't get all bogged down worrying about all this garbage. I'm not disagreeing with anyone on what they've suggested, but don't worry about it up front.  Write, step back and read it over...and over.  See what you like about it, and what you don't.  Add, cut, reword.  Make sure everything's flowing the way you want it to.  Keep a cadence to your writing that is unique to each script's overall feel and theme. It's like skiing, for instance.  You can have all the instruction in the world from the world's top skiiers, but until you physically get on top of that first run, it all means crap.  You learn to ski by skiing.  Once you feel comfortable on your skis, you start to refine your style. You can't know if you're going to be a cruiser or a carver, a powder hound or a mogul freak. Just write and write the way you feel.  If others give negative feedback, take it in, see how you feel about it, and try it again. This is honestly the very best advice anyone can throw out.

Dreamscale, if you don't like the post, ignore it. I just wanted/hoped to spot some gems(strategically speaking) that I hadn't thought of.