DAY 1: What I learned …

[Carol Kennedy]

I looked back on a script that I am working on and realized that some things were too obvious, others were not. So, I rewrote it adding more irony and intrigue. It’s SOOO much better now!

[Ali Jordan]

What I learned through analizing that scene is that how you structure your scene and sequense events are important choices. Instead of jumping straight to the bank take over, we’re tickled with some back story, stunts and revealing dialouge. Then boom, the heist and all the backstabbing and mayhem that ensues. I realized that some of my BIG scenes needed a deeper “warm up” for lack of a better term and not just the beginnings of the scripts. So I’ll be revisiting some of those too.

[Adam Kroshus]

What I learned is just how dense a five-minute scene can be. A lot of information is given in a relatively short period. I’ve been tweaking my opening scene all day. No significant changes, but trying to ask all of the questions. The arc, the situation, the conflict, etc. It’s got to be clear without being too “telly,” for lack of a better word.

[Ann Bowen]

I needed to get into the scene sooner and give more attention to scene arc.

[Roddy Blelloch]

Dialogue is action and it needs to a advance the story.

[Rich Goldstein]

It takes a lot of thought, effort, and planning to write a great scene.

[Julie Scorziell]

I learned to jump right in, take off the gloves and create a scene that shows the true nature of the character from the get-go. Also helpful to have a sense of good v. evil/bad right away and someone whose very existence is threatened by the bad.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  Julie Scorziell.

[John Woodward]

Regarding writing my own opening scenes, I learned to consider and double check for the following: basic scene components, including scene arc, situation, conflict, moving the story forward, entertainment value, setups/payoffs, invitation to the journey, challenging situations, interesting action, intriguing dialogue, and what is the thing inside the characters that propel them to go on the journey.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  John Woodward.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  John Woodward.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  John Woodward.

[Christine Young]

What I was reminded of is that a writer can put a spin on traditional scene which would be the traditional bank heist where all the characters are working in unison to get the job done like a well oiled machine but in this film, it flipped that and made them a band of self-interested villains looking to be the last man standing all at the direction of a man who directed them to take one another out so that they wouldn’t have to share the wealth. The spin creates intrigue, surprise, conflict and makes it exciting.