Playwrights Series: The Art of Writing Scenes

The video tutorial discusses the importance of scenes in storytelling, emphasizing how they should move the story forward by providing new plot or character information. It highlights the role of behavior and desire in scenes, suggesting that scenes are driven by characters' attempts to achieve their desires. The tutorial offers techniques for developing scenes, such as using cue cards, and advises on identifying and fixing scene issues during rehearsals. It also underscores the significance of subtext, where underlying themes are present but not directly discussed, enhancing the depth of the narrative.

What is considered the driving force behind a character's actions in a scene?

• Setting

• Dialogue

• Desire

• Visual elements

What is a useful method for organizing scenes to identify missing elements in a story?

• Creating a detailed storyboard

• Recording audio notes

• Using cue cards with one or two lines per scene

• Writing scenes as a full script

What might indicate that a scene is becoming repetitive or losing its impact during a rehearsal?

• Actors are overly enthusiastic

• The language and rhythm feel repetitive

• The scene is too short

• The setting is too complex

How can subtext enhance a scene?

• By simplifying the plot

• By focusing on visual elements

• By adding hidden layers of meaning

• By making the dialogue more explicit

What can happen if a writer is too focused on what a scene is supposed to achieve?

• The writing feels organic and surprising

• The characters become more relatable

• The scene becomes more dynamic

• The scene turns into a mechanical checklist