Beats of Scene & Sequence
Crafting a compelling scene or sequence is not only about entertaining the audience but about moving the story forward and revealing character traits.
Let’s explore how to craft a scene or sequence that engages the audience and leaves a lasting impression. Let’s use the following model for the beats:
Clearly establish the setting.
Clearly establish the POV character.
This character has a goal and an expectation of how to reach it.
The character meets opposition, reversing their expectations.
The character reacts emotionally, physically, and verbally.
The character tries another tactic.
But again, meets opposition.
The character reacts emotionally, physically, and verbally.
The character tries a more forceful tactic.
This time the opposition escalates their response.
The character reacts with shock, pain, and outrage.
The character tries with even greater risk or revelation.
But the opposition obliterates them or delivers a twist.
Section 1: Setting and POV Character
Clearly establish the setting and the point of view (POV) character. The environment in which the scene takes place, and the character through whose eyes the audience will experience the events of the scene.
The setting should be described in enough detail to create a clear picture in the reader’s mind, while the POV character should be introduced in a way that establishes their personality, desires, and motivations.
Example: The opening scene of The Social Network establishes the setting as a busy college bar, while the POV character, Mark Zuckerberg, is introduced as a brilliant but socially awkward computer programmer.
Section 2: Establishing the Goal
Once the setting and POV character are established, the character should have a clear goal and an expectation of how to reach it. The goal should be specific and relevant to the story, and the expectation should be established in a way that creates tension and anticipation in the audience.
Example: In the opening scene of The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg's goal is to impress a girl by creating a website that compares the attractiveness of female students at Harvard. His expectation is that he can accomplish this quickly and easily using his computer programming skills.
Section 3: Meeting Opposition
In order to create drama and conflict, the POV character must meet opposition that reverses their expectations. The opposition should be relevant to the story and should create obstacles that challenge the character's motivations and desires.
Example: In The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg's opposition comes in the form of his ex-girlfriend, who accuses him of being obsessed with status and popularity, and a group of arrogant Harvard students who dismiss his ideas.
Section 4: Emotional Reaction and Another Tactic
The character's reaction to the opposition should be emotional, physical, and verbal, and should reveal their personality and motivations. The character should then try another tactic to reach their goal, but again, they should be met with opposition.
Example: In The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg's emotional reaction to his opposition is frustration and anger. He tries another tactic by creating a website called "Facemash," which allows users to compare the attractiveness of female students. However, this tactic leads to even more opposition, as the university administration threatens him with disciplinary action.
Section 5: Emotional Reaction and Forceful Tactic
The character should then try a more forceful tactic, but once again, they should meet even greater opposition. This escalation should increase the stakes and tension.
Example: In The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg's forceful tactic is to hack into the databases of multiple Harvard residence halls to gather photos of students for his website. This action leads to a massive backlash from the student body and the administration, including threats of expulsion and legal action.
Section 6: Shock and Outrage
As the opposition escalates their response, the POV character should react with shock, pain, and outrage. This reaction should be emotional and reveal the character's vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
Example: In The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg is shocked and outraged when he realizes the full extent of the backlash against his actions. He is publicly humiliated and ostracized by his peers and mentors, leading him to question his own motivations and values.
Section 7: Greater Risk or Revelation
The character should then try through even greater risk or revelation to achieve their goal. This action should be a turning point, leading to a resolution or a twist.
Example: In The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg decides to launch his own social networking site, Facebook, without the involvement of his former partners. This decision leads to a legal battle that ultimately resolves in his favor but leaves him isolated and alone.
Section 8: Twist or Obliteration
The scene should end with a twist or an obliteration that creates a sense of resolution and leaves the audience wanting more.
Example: In The Social Network, the revelation that Eduardo Saverin's ownership in Facebook has been significantly diluted without his knowledge or consent, leads to his removal from the company. This dramatically changes the dynamic between the characters and escalates the conflict.
Crafting a compelling scene is an art that requires careful planning and attention to detail. They must engage the audience, move the story forward, and reveal character traits. A well-crafted scene is not only entertaining but essential to creating a memorable and impactful story.
