Scene and Sequence - Screenwriting Basics
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- This is a new series by Scriptwriting tips: The Screenwriting Basics - Screenwriting 101
[Επιλέξτε να δείτε το βίντεο με ελληνικούς υπότιτλους.
English and Greek subs available.]
We ’re going to cover mostly basic knowledge about screenwriting, so feel free to ask any question you want, no matter how simple you think it is, in the comment section below.
In this episode, we're discussing when do we have a change of scene (new scene) and what is a sequence.
Intro - 0:00
What is a scene - 0:41
Scene examples in a movie - 0:54
What is a sequence - 2:30
Sequence examples in movies - 3:03
Read more about scene and sequence, or plot points and story structure in scriptwritingtips.com/
Facebook: scriptwritingtips/
Feel free to make suggestions or even request what you'd like to watch!
Exactly the video I was looking for. A nice straightforward explanation
Just the answer I need. Thank you so much.
Love the simple, easy follow! I appreciate it!
God bless you. This has answered a long time question in my heart.
Thank you very much this told me everything i need to know
This amazing.
Thank you so much.
Exactly what I have been looking for.
Thank you for your kind words!
Good tips and so kind to answer questions in the comment section. You deserve my subscription!
Thanks for the appreciation!
dang this helped me, thanks for the video!
thank you so much
it helps me a lot
I'm really glad! Thank you for your comment!
Hi. Have a question. Wouldn´t all the examples of the scenes in the first part would be also a example of a sequence?
Hello! Those scenes are mostly parts of a sequence.
explained very clearly
I only thought about sequence of event .but basic of sequence scenes is very important for cinema .thanks for this information .... sri lanka
I'm glad you find it informative. Thanks!
This is exactly what I needed thank you very muuuuch
Glad to be of help!
Thanks a lot.
Thank you for these insightful clarifications. I am yet still skeptical about the exact meaning of some sequences, for sometimes there seems to be a sequence starting, then new events happen, so you think it is a new sequence, then the trail is continued for the same old sequence...
Yes, that's right! Sequences aren't always clearly separated. In fact, the better crafted the screenplay the more connected the scenes are. The goal is to always write in a consecutive way, action-reaction, and to try to tell the entire story like this, so eventually of course everything will be connected. Sequences are only a mean for us to be able to divide in "chapters" our screenplay in order to see its structure better and to work easier when writing. That's why I mention in the Jaws example that many times a bigger sequence can be also parted in smaller ones, in fact the "Hunting of the shark" could very easily be separated in 3 smaller sequences. Lastly, not every scene in a film is necessary a part of a sequence. However, often this is a useful tool for screenwriters to better structure our stories.
Thank you for your reply... would you mind please sharing your Facebook, or Whatsapp... I still have some questions.. Thanks for your collaboration
@@Splay20 Sure, find my facebook page and send me a message there. facebook.com/scriptwritingtips
What happens with movies like Carnage of Roman Polanski? where everything happens in the same space time. Does a scene can have more than one sequence inside?
I'll check the movie and get back to you on that.
Apologies for the delayed response. I managed to watch Carnage eventually.
First of all, even if things are happening at the same house and time they're changing scenes many times because they move from one room to another quite often.
Now, generally, no I wouldn't say that a scene has a sequence, usually it's the other way around, a sequence has one or more scenes.
In Carnage you could separate some sequences by topic. The subject they're talking about at any point could indicate a change of sequence, because sequences are mini stories inside the bigger story of a movie. However, don't overthink of sequences. Just try to tell your story and they will probably come naturally.
From your name, I'm thinking that you must be Greek. I could write the answer in greek if you like. :) Thanks for your patience and for watching my video!
You keep reading (Syd Fields, Snyder) you're supposed to have 14 scenes in one act. For about 25 minutes. You showed in 1 minute 7 different scenes. That would mean that act would have a lot of scenes. What is the guideline for how many scenes should be in one act?
Hello! Actually, I don't believe that we should have such a guideline at all. There are scenes that last half a page and there are scenes that last two pages (that's around two minutes more or less). There's no point to say a specific number of scenes. Write as many scenes as your story needs, in order to be able to narrate it clearly, but no more than that. Just try to write the least possible amount of scenes.
thanks for the video it was great!
Thanks for watching!
let's say i write about 30 min of dialog and action so like an episode of a screenplay, how often should i change the focus on one set of characters in one location, to go and focus on another set of characters in another location?
Do you mean that you're trying to write an episode for a tv series, for example?
Well, there is no particular rule how often you should change scene, because your story will guide you most of the times. Some scenes need to be very short and others need to be longer. Short scenes are usually very welcome, while longer can be a bit tiresome.
However, in general, you could have in mind that it's good to stay around to two pages maximum for each scene. But this is NOT a rule. There are some exceptions where a scene can be 3 pages long. It's just a suggestion that you could keep in mind. I hope this will help you. :-)
Scriptwriting Tips thanks! This is very helpful 👍
4:45 what do you mean by bigger sequences being parted into smaller ones?
I mean that you can find a shorter story in a bigger story, so one could say that the bigger story is a sequence but another could say that there two or three shorter stories in this sequence so there are two or three smaller sequences in there. It's ok, that happens.
Scriptwriting Tips ohh I understand now! Thank you for explaining it! Have a good day
QUESTION, it seems SEQUENCE indication in screenplays becomes a thing in Hollywood, but I have not found clear indication how to write it - any suggestions? Some times I see scene and sequence indication being the same thing. I have seen some say you write SEQUANCE A + bla bla bla and then SCENE START. And Some just start SEQUANCE by simply saying BAGIN TITLE but while in title sequence it might be clear that its a stand alone sequence how would you do it for other sequences? I love braking my screenplay into sequences but I just do it SEQUANCE 1, SEQUANCE NAME followed by description like "we are to learn about Jakes secret and see arrival of the aliens from deep space" and then I indicate scene start and it will contain a few scenes. Any thoughts? :)
I must admit that I'm not sure I have understood your question. Nevertheless, I think I have an idea of what you're asking, so I'll try to answer. First of all, even if in our mind we (may) have divided our whole screenplay into sequences, we don't indicate that in our screenplay. We only indicate scenes, not sequences. However, there are some exceptions. For example, the montage sequence, where you want to show various things happening in various places with music playing, like a video clip. In this case, you write in the scene title that this is a "montage sequence" and you use sluglines to indicate the various scenes. You can do this for sports games where you have to show various moments of the game etc. I hope this answers your question.
@@ScriptwritingTips Oh you understood correctly what Im asking and yes you clarified this very clear, thank you gain for your time and guidance ~ love you ♥ :D
Can you explain with the same example what is beats?
I had this backwards! I had the connection, but thought the sequence made up a scene. Good thing I checked.
what about flashbacks? me and my friends are making a film project for school. these kids are all sitting in a table and most scenes are happening at the same place and at the same time, but at some point time goes faster ofcourse but ı think its still the same scene, so we wrote scene 1 to all of the shots, except the flashbacks, they are all different scenes. did we do it correct?
Hello, yes, flashbacks are different scenes!
I'm not sure I understand exactly what you mean by "time goes faster" but when there is a change of place or time we have a new scene.
However, what troubles me is the fact that you ended up with a script full of scenes 1. When you cut to a flashback it's better to return either with a new number e.g. scene 2 or at least scene 1A, 1B, 1C etc.
Always remember that the reason we put these titles in each scene (place, day or night etc.) is to help the film crew to communicate better during filming. To help them do their job faster and easier. So, sometimes it's better to improvise in order to help the crew, rather than stick to hardcore rules. I hope my answer helps you!
QUESTION, but in the screenplay of Godfather There is only 1 scene and phone booth is part of this scene, new scene only begins with interior of apartment as character hangs up the phone, and even then this scene doesn't split into 2, even if character walks into kitchen...
Hello, that's a great question! In the phone booth scene, it's the director's decision to cut and take the camera inside the booth. The screenwriter imagined this as one scene but the director chose to do it this way during filming. He changed his mind. That's why I've selected this particular scene because I wanted to make it very clear what a different scene actually means.
In the other scene with Sonny, again, the whole scene was expected to happen in one place but during filming, they made changes in the house they used.
However, those screenplays we find on the internet aren't the actual screenplays. In Sonny's scene, it doesn't even say "Kitchen" in the scene title it just says "Sonny's house". Many screenwriters do that in order to let directors free to film it and move the camera the way they like.
@@ScriptwritingTips To add, in case anyone will read in the future. IF for example you want to have a scene and within it EMPHASISE for dramatic purpose or other reasons "From Within Phonebooth" you would just use slugline/shot INSIDE PHONEBOOTH or just PHONEBOOTH and you can follow by shot direction of what we see/happening if for example reader sees character face or it focused on his twitching fingers, that way you DO NOT brake SCENE indication that starts with INT/EXT. I looked around and it seems to be the practice. What would you add to this? :)
And in the next scene, when character moves to the kitchen in original screenplay there is no indication of the kitchen shot/slugline as writer did not know what kind of apartment it would be but in the movie we see cut to the kitchen and IF that would be demanded by screenwriter for apartment to have kitchen it also will write it like this: Start Scene With INT. SOME RANDOM CHAR HOME bla bla bla and then you add new slugline/shot KITCHEN and action follows. This way you actually will perfectly match as if you intended those scene/shots to be in the movie like in final movie cut :) having phone booth and a kitchen.
@@JessicaSunlight Yes, that's absolutely correct!
@@ScriptwritingTips Thank you for your time and guidance and clarification ♥
I heard the saying that "this happens therefore,not this happens but',any clarity on these meanings?
Hi! I am sorry I don't understand the question. Can you explain more please?
Can the sequence collide .....like a scene from 1 sequence follows another scene from another sequence
I would say no, but I don't want to be strict with this. Try not to follow so many rules because it will confine your writing. Stick to the most important guidelines and for the rest just follow your instinct and what your story demands. Your guide must always be the particular story you're writing.
So a play like Krapp's last tape has only one scene which is the entirety of the play????
No, I mention scenes concerning films and movies here, not plays.
@@ScriptwritingTips so how do you separate a scene in a play?
@@blacknwhite6186 In plays, scenes are not always so well defined. Most of the times, there is a change of scene every time there is a change of location or time or a change of characters e.g. there's a love scene between two characters and then a third character shows up and there's an exposition scene.
hello i have a question. what is an act? like when movie critics say “i really like act 3.” 😭🙁
Hello! The meaning of the word act in the theatre is quite different than the way this word has been used in the film and screenwriting industry. In films what they mostly mean by using the word act is the beginning, the middle or the end of the film story.
You can watch the beginning of this video: th-cam.com/video/ERbp_OJbyW4/w-d-xo.html
However, in theatre the ending of an act signifies a very important turning point in the story which completely turns the story into a new direction, which is also true for the films in a way. This is the simplest way I can put it. Acts in theatre are somewhat like chapters in books.
I have videos where I'm saying how to find where Act 2 starts or where Act 3 starts.
This is about Act 2: th-cam.com/video/qzhRGcdOTD8/w-d-xo.html
@screenwriting tips thank u so much!!
Why do we only write characters who appears for the 1st time in capital letters
To indicate that they're a new character...lol!
I just want scene
Hello, I don't think I understand what you mean. Would like to elaborate please?
how many scenes in one episode for tv series
Don't restrict yourself in this way. Write as many as your story/episode needs.
@@ScriptwritingTips I some times wonder if I will write 40 pages of script that would be may be about 45-50 mins in actuality? Does the 1 page one minute still holds true? ( by the way good explanation, simple and to the point :) love it ) ♥
@@JessicaSunlight Thank you for your kind words!
Well, roughly, yes. It still holds true... But it also depends on the director's choices of rhythm. Maybe the director wants a slow pace or a fast pace, that can change everything. But it's better when you're writing to have that in mind 1 page = 1 minute roughly.
the best explanation! thanks for this!
shot-scene-sequence-movie
When the voice in your head teaches you screenwriting
😆😂😂