As the title suggests what signifies the change of scene?

I know sometimes its simply the change of location, aside from things like chase scene can span several INT. EXT. changes its still considered one scene.
So how do you know when a scene changes to the next scene in a more subtile sence?
Im kinda vague at this when it comes to writing or understanding I know some areas in a movie I can sit back and go like change of scene real easy right there, but then there are others that it is more difficult for me either because they are more subtile or just blend to well or something.

So how do you know when one scene changes into another? whats required for it to be a scene all that stuff...

And I searched the forums already didn't find anything if there is something out there I probably missed it then. So apologies if this has alrady been answered.

As you put it yourself Earl, a change in location usually signifies a scene change. If the camera has to be picked up and moved, that's a new location.

Other ways of indicating scene changes are using a SERIES OF SHOTS or a MONTAGE.

I'm not sure what you mean by the more subtle changes? Are you talking about the camera fluidly panning from left to right across several locations? That type of stuff is the directors choice. As a writer, you don't need to concern yourself with that. New location  = new slug line.

The only other 'subtle' example that comes to mine is when the scene is outside someone's house, like at their front door and some walks in. In that special case you write the slug like this:

EXT./INT BILLY'S HOUSE - DAY

Eoin

I was reading Save the Cat... insanely good book in my opinion also How to write a Script or Movie in 21 Days, the one by Viki King I think thats a great book also but I lost my copy and cant find it.
But towards the end of Save the Cats it goes about to say use 40 scenes for the course of the movie, now I know there are sometimes more and sometimes less in actual movies but other than a change of location I am not all entirely sure what counts as a change of scene...

Like in the movie lets say good Will Hunting theres a scene where the chick is with the actor matt damon in bed and she asks to see his brothers and the do abit of dialogue and then they got to the bar where they are now with damons friends that is a change of scene.
But I know there are times that even though they may change location its still the same scene because what is being talked about is still a continuation from what was in the other location almost like walking through a door into another room or just going from the yard to inside the house but they are still talking about the same thing sort of like what you described in a sence.

So I think im asking what changes the scene more than just the location change, or something.... as I sit here and read all of what im typing I doubt I have any idea what I am asking in the first place.
I'll sit back and think about it, and I will try to find a better way of asking the question or something.

You used the correct word - CONTINUOUS.

When the conversation is carried from one scene/location to another, CONTINUOUS is used at the end of the slug line. Pretty logical?

As the 40 scene rule, it's good rule of thumb, but film is such a diverse medium, you can't apply such a strict stipulation as 40 scenes. I've read all the 'Save The Cat' books and tons more besides. Screenwriting is a continual learning process.

Basically, a scene is this:

One character wants something. The other character (or characters) want the same thing, or at least they don't want the first character (the protagonist) to want it. When the character either gets what he wants, or doesn't, and the ending is obvious, you've finished the scene.

Scenes should be obvious, when you're writing them. They should've been obvious when you outlined or wrote a treatment.

I think the best thing for you to do is read screenplays. Dissect them. Break down the script into Acts, Sequences and Scenes and understand each function of the page. Notice when scenes start and notice when they end. Make notes on transitions from scene to scene. I'm not talking about CUT TO: but the way the writer flows from one scene to the next. How does he do it without making it a glaring change?

Choose one of your favorite movies and try to keep up with the movie as you read the script. Once you know it, then you can break down the script.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it's worth it, especially if you need to ask what a scene is.  

So basically the answer was so simply I thought it was to good to be true and tried to complicate it thinking there had to be more to it.... Awsome.

Yea I know the 40 scene rule is more of a rule of thumb, a good rule to follow when starting out but later could be ignored.
...

Funny part is I have read alot of screenplays so it should be something that I should know but I think it is just that I was trying to find something complicated out of something simple.


Anyway thanks.

You can keep "save the cat"... A scene ends when you've said/shown all that needs to be said/shown and nothing more.  

Earl, I think you're complicating things unnecessarily.

For instance, you could have a single scene script/movie.  There are loads of examples of this.  You could play out some sort of chase throughout a house in real time and in theory, you've got 1 scene.

Or you could easily have a 2 scene script.  Take the above example and then throw in another group of peeps on their way to this location where the chase is going on.  You can play these 2 scenes off each other going back and forth between them, as the new group gets closer and closer to potentially saving our first group.

If I were you, I would not even think or worry about such nonsense.  Come up with a story. Populate it with characters.  Do research and plan way ahead, and write it out without even worrying about how many scenes or locations you have.  If it ends up being too many, you'll know, or someone will tell you, and you can then make adjustments.

Earl, I think you have the words "scene" and "sequence" mixed up.

I know when you go on the scene selection of a DVD, there's only around forty or so scenes, but take place in different locations.  The word "scene" in that context and the word "scene" in script context are two different things.

On the DVD, it's more like a sequence, or a "series of scenes which form a distinct narrative unit, which is usually connected either by unity of location or unity of time".

A scene itself is only one location.

Or, maybe I just read your question incorrectly.  

Gage