How to Write Great Scenes — 4 Elements Every Scene Should Have

Anatomy of a Great Scene — dissecting the four main elements of a great scene, including conflict, plot function, character development, and blocking & staging.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Great Scenes
00:56 - What Makes a Scene Great?
03:08 - Chapter 1: Conflict
08:21 - Chapter 2: Character Development
12:42 - Chapter 3: Plot Function
16:25 - Chapter 4: Blocking & Staging
20:18 - Deep Dive: The Silence of the Lambs
25:03 - Takeaways

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ANATOMY OF A GREAT SCENE

What makes a great movie scene? While no two scenes are the same, there are consistent elements of a great scene. In this video, we’re going to take a scalpel to some of the best scenes in film history to understand the anatomy of a great scene. These include conflict, character development, plot function, and blocking & staging. A great scene doesn’t need all four of these elements — the recipe for each scene is unique and variant. Let’s look at them individually.

Without conflict, there would be no storytelling. Through the course of a single story, the protagonist must encounter conflict and obstacles in the way of their goal. At a scene level, the conflict can be minimal as long as their is sufficient conflict overall. And there are different types that can be employed like physical, verbal, internal, or environmental conflict.

A great scene should also be designed to serve the character along their arc. An individual scene can function as a tiny nudge in that direction or a full-on shove — but without some effect on the character, you might have to question if you need the scene at all.

The same criteria applies to how the scene functions on a plot level. Does the scene move the plot forward (and in the right direction) or does it slow the pacing and feel out of place? It’s one thing to write a great scene on its own but if it doesn’t add to the storytelling, it’s best to cut it.

Finally, it is the director’s responsibility to turn these written elements into a functional scene with blocking and staging. Is the camera static or would the scene benefit from a slow push in? Is there a way to use the character’s movements in the scene to enhance the conflict or character development?

The combination and execution of these elements is completely flexible and subjective. But when the elements of a great scene come together, there’s nothing better.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti
“Night Piece for Saxophone and Orchestra” by Bernard Herrmann
“Blood Trails” by Carter Burwell
“The Verdict” by Ennio Morricone
“Father Son” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
“Mystery Math” by Danny Elfman
“Water, Ocean” by by Jung Jae Il
“The Braying Mule” by Ennio Morricone
“Treat Her Right” by Roy Head
“Hinting” by The Kitimangoes
“Heat” by Kronos Quartet
“Adagio Per Archi E Organo in Sol Minore” by David Parry
“Los Paramos” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Jack’s Smirking Revenge” by The Dust Brothers
“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“Tsiolkovskij” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“The Searchers Soundtrack Suite” by Max Steine
“Toys” by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Citizen Kane Suite” by Bernard Herrmann
“Dead Already” by Thomas Newman
“Singin’ In The Rain” by Gene Kelly
“Bulletin Board” by Howard Shore
“Visit to Lecte”r by Howard Shore
“You Look Like A Rube” by Howard Shore
“A Neverending Beam of Light “by Makeup & Vanity Set
“Tangra” by Makeup & Vanity Set

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Great Scenes
00:56 - What Makes a Scene Great?
03:08 - Chapter 1: Conflict
08:21 - Chapter 2: Character Development
12:42 - Chapter 3: Plot Function
16:25 - Chapter 4: Blocking & Staging
20:18 - Deep Dive: The Silence of the Lambs
25:03 - Takeaways

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[JagIsOnline]

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[JoshuaFluke]

I've learned and implemented so many tips from this channel and they have absolutely changed my entire style for the better I think. The scenes I see in my head aren't quite what comes out, but it's getting closer and closer! Some of this information was so transformative, even if they were somewhat annoying to think about and implement at first. I would remind myself with a little checklist of things to try or implement / look out for, and at first it was time consuming, if not 'flow interrupting', but over time they've become second hand knowledge. These days I find myself doing these tips, or trying to - without really thinking. I can look back and see the difference from before and after I've found this channel. Thanks so much for all you offer! As for studio binder itself, I'm a one man band, so the amount of features for me is almost overwhelming. To storyboard and write, shotlist, equipment, location, etc. Maybe I just don't know what I'm doing. Who knows.

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Thanks.

[teacherofteachers]

The content of StudioBinder is amazing education at this price, but on top of the great writing it's the light gravitas of Paul Gregory that makes these lessons genuinely entertaining and memorable.

[jcspotlight_design]

Those scenes are in fact so good, that I find it difficult to actually get the lecture content while re-watching these scenes. Thank you for another amazing video StudioBinder!

[lucinematic]

You made it sound so easy! I love those breakdowns so much. And of course editing (Twin Peaks theme and Queen!) is amazing as always

[alejandrovargasaguilar]

I love how the topic has been touched through several channels but you guys put a unique view on this. I mean the subject is so relative that the way you span the idea is soo great. With the perfect examples and well tell the explainations, sounds like the perfect recipe for cinema.

[evandropba]

Hannibal's facial expressions, the movement of his eyes while speaking, his gaze... everything. Anthony Hopkins is a Master of his craft. We can see Hannibal in Westworld's Robert Ford.

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By watching StudioBinder videos. Thousand Thanks StudioBinder for this Inspiring Masterclass. It really help me.🙏

[idanlewenhoff]

your explaining and deep dive into scenes makes it so much simpler to understand
great video as usual

[vamshi]

I need a video on "How a Director acts and directs at the same time " just like in reservoir dogs

[igorsauchuk]

Please continue to be so sensative in your teachings and advisings, I have a lot of notebooks writing following your courses.

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[SOLIDSNAKE.]

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[Puppetsinmyhead]

I’m so glad to see that Manchester by the Sea was mentioned as a great scene. That scene blew me away the first time I watched it. I didn’t care for the movie, but that scene stood up there next to the best of them.

[onuohaudochukwu]

There's always something to learn from your videos. I enjoyed watching this

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