The Scene

A scene is a unit containing a single and continuous dramatic action unified by time and space (location). While it could conceivably be a single shot, a scene is usually a cohesive series of related shots. When the time or location shifts, it is a new scene.

What a scene should do:

• Advance the story
• Reiterate the main theme of the film
• Reiterate the main structure of the film (beginning, middle, end / Act I, Act II, Act III)

A scene may:

• Introduce a problem or resolve one
• Introduce a complication
• Introduce characters
• Present exposition (to fill in the back story)
• Deliver some relevant information, establish a setting, create a mood
• Reveal character relationships
• Express a theme
• Present comic relief after a scene with lots of tension

Screen Time vs. Story Time

the passage of time we see vs. the passage of time for actual events

Scenes on Television

• TV Series (Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, The Simpsons)
• TV Serial (Soap Operas, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order)
• Multiple protagonists
• Simultaneous stories
• Stories/characters interconnected
• Acts separated by commercial interruption
• Scenes (within acts) follow a cause and effect chain
• Each act ends in a mini-climax to hold attention over commercial break
• See Modern Family "Our Children, Ourselves"

Additional thoughts: elements of a scene to consider in story structure

• What is the scene's purpose within the overall story?
• Does the scene flow continuously from the scenes before and after it
• What are the transitions between this scene and those on each side of it?
• Who are the characters in the scene?
• What is each character's objective in the scene? What does each want?
• What is the scene's internal structure? Does it follow a beginning, middle, end, climax, and resolution pattern?
• Does the Scene have conflict and Tension?
• If one scene crisis is resolved, is there another left unresolved to move us to the next scene?
• How does the scene begin?
• How does the scene end?
• Does the scene have suspense? A surprise twist? Other surprises?
• Does it have an interesting setting (or staging)?
• How does the protagonist deal with conflict?
• Does the scene stress action and visuals (not simply people talking)?