If you've ever struggled with scenes that feel rushed, boring, or underdeveloped, we've got a simple framework that could help you pinpoint the issue. You need to find the balance between three elements: action, dialogue, and visual storytelling. Most writers lean too heavily into one and neglect the others, which creates scenes that lack depth and won't keep viewers engaged.We were inspired by editor Alyssa Matesic's advice to writers in the video below, but retooled some of her advice for screenwriters. - YouTube www.youtube.com Strong ActionAction is the most obvious leg of this three-legged stool. It's what allows audiences to see characters in motion and understand how the plot is progressing. Without enough action, scenes become static and boring.Every scene needs conflict to survive. Action is one of the primary ways to create and show that conflict.In screenwriting, the description/action lines are where you establish the setting, describe character movements, and guide the visuals.Without strong action lines, your scenes become talking heads in a void. We don't know where characters are, what they're doing, or how they're physically responding to the drama unfolding around them.But overloading your script with dense paragraphs of action description creates the opposite problem. Large blocks of text eliminate the sense of pace that occurs when we move from shot to shot in a film. Keep action lines to 1-3 sentences per block, and use white space strategically.Be visual and specific without being verbose. "Bob storms out" is better than a paragraph explaining his emotional state....
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 7 October