SCENE DESIGN

SCENES are unified around DESIRE, ACTION, CONFLICT and CHANGE

Each scene has to be a minor, moderate, or major turning point

The effects of TURNING POINTS are fourfold:
SURPRISE
INCREASED CURIOUSITY
INSIGHT
NEW DIRECTION

You need to lead the audience into EXPECTATION, make them think they understand, then CRACK and open a SURPRISE

SURPRISE and CURIOUSITY always bring the audience into the story

Give the audience the pleasure of discovering life, pains and joys at a level - and in directions - they have never imagined

SETUPS/PAYOFFS
-Setup is layering-in knowledge
-Payoff is closing the gap and delivering the knowledge to the audience

THREE POINTS YOU NEED FOR THE AUDIENCE TO FOLLOW YOUR STORY

1) Empathy with the characters. We don't need to like them, but understand them and feel for them.
2) We must know what the character wants and let the character have it.
3) We must understand the values at stake in the character's life.

The more often the audience experiences something, the less effect it has.

EMOTION peaks and valleys rapidly in a great story. It's the catalyst for the PACE of the story.

THE LAW OF CONFLICT - Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict.

As long as conflict engages our thoughts and emotions, we travel through the hours unaware of the VOYAGE that is leading us.