Lesson 27

[Tita Beal Anntares]

Tita Will Solve Basic Scene Problems after I rehaul the basic structure… probably next month not in this last week

What I learned from this unfinished assignment so far:

Before I get to this level, I need to trust the value of my fast draft, love the story and complete all previous revision rounds before this and next (unless this is a paid assignment then I just need to love my client’s vision!)

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The SU/Hal template will guide my work

A) BASIC SCENE PROBLEMS

The basic scene structure rules make sure a scene works. Any scene that is missing one of the basic components could easily be improved.

Ask these questions and fix any scenes that don’t meet your needs.

c What is my most important purpose for that scene and does it deliver on that?

c How does this scene move your story forward?

c What is the conflict of the scene?

c Is there a clear scene arc — a change that occurs from beginning to end of the scene?

B) WEAK SCENES

Sometimes a scene will be good, but could easily be stronger. Often, just elevating one part will improve it dramatically.

See if you can elevate any of these:

c Make the scene arc stronger

c Increase the conflict

c Raise the stakes

c Focus around an interest technique (intrigue, suspense, surprise, betrayal, etc.)

C) SITUATIONS THAT DON’T CHALLENGE CHARACTERS

Every scene has a situation (circumstances of the scene). The more that situation challenges your main characters, the more engaging it is going to be for the audience.

Challenge them in one or more of these areas:

(Goal, Need, Values, Wound, Physically_

D) CLICHÉ SCENES

A cliché is simply something we’ve seen before that the audience might recognize from another movie. Anytime you have a cliché scene, it is an opportunity to be more creative.

c Follow these steps to bust clichés:

c Ask: What is the purpose of this scene?

c Brainstorm 5 to 10 versions that meet that purpose…and are fresh in some way. Pick the best and write it!

[Lonnie Nichols]

Lonnie’s Solved Scene Problems

What I learned from this assignment: Since this script (13 Down… A time to reveal/A time to heal) is historical fiction, I have many scenes in which are placeholders, but need further research into such books as Michener’s, etc. Actual dialogue will replace some of the placeholders. Scenes which need to be reviewed or embellished with historical facts:

1) Opening shots of JFK, MLK, and RFK speaking: need the rights

2) Scenes on KSU campus with Chuck and Karen…. not exciting. I am interviewing Chuck Ayers in May at KSU, an actual student photographer during the KSU shootings, and will update the dialogue at that point.

3) some scenes with a “suspicious man” are fiction, but they need more action. They are based on a real undercover man, Terry Norman. I will go through them all after further research.

4) I’m missing the courtroom scenes in which the slain students’ parents sued the National Guard and Governor Rhodes of Ohio, as I need to get the rights to a couple of books depicting them in great detail.

[Rita Roberts]

Rita’s Solved Scene Problems

What I learned:

It helps to read scenes from last scene to first to double check story continuity and make my brain think about it in a slightly different way. It also helps for considering the strength of each scene and not getting lost in the story.

I found places to make scenes and actions more clear in this pass. Feeling ready for feedback to know how it reads to someone else.