DZ-99: Scene Questions

Show Notes

Inspired by our earlier episodes on sequences, Chas and Stu narrow their focus to look at the atomic unit of screen storytelling: the scene. In particular, we breakdown how question and answers prompted in the audience structure individual scenes.

We talk plot, character, and theme questions (and their hybrids) by analysing scenes from LOKI, THE LAST CRUSADE, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, QUEEN AND SLIM, and DO THE RIGHT THING. We also briefly discuss SUCCESSION, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES, and ANDOR.

Thanks to our Patrons, especially Alexandre & Natalie, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Thomas, Garrett, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob..

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

Resources

Transcript

Read the transcript for this episode.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Cold Open
00:00:17 – ScriptUp Sponsorship
00:01:56 – What are Scene Questions?
00:16:30 – LOKI
00:23:24 – THE LAST CRUSADE
00:29:51 – › How filmmakers control audience attention by suppressing plot questions
00:33:03 – THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
00:38:40 – › Removing plot questions to surface character questions
00:43:21 – › Where character scenes appear in plot-driven structures
00:45:50 – QUEEN AND SLIM
00:49:19 – › How plot intervenes to escalate a character scene
00:56:31 – › Character revelation under pressure and the midpoint gun-draw turn
01:03:03 – DO THE RIGHT THING
01:06:15 – › Classifying scene questions: character, plot, or thematic
01:09:15 – › How directing and cinematography shape audience questions
01:12:09 – › Scene modulation: shifting from thematic to plot-driven tension
01:15:03 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up
01:20:23 – › Applying scene questions to pacing in a rewrite
01:28:23 – › Point of view shapes which questions a scene raises
01:29:09 – › When narrative cinema steps outside dramatic questioning
01:33:02 – Many thanks to our Patreons

Films

LOKI (2021) — (w/d) Michael Waldron
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) — (w) Jeffrey Boam, Menno Meyjes, George Lucas (d) Steven Spielberg
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004) — (w) Robert Ludlum, Tony Gilroy (d) Paul Greengrass
QUEEN & SLIM (2019) — (w) Lena Waithe, Lena Waithe, James Frey (d) Melina Matsoukas
DO THE RIGHT THING (1989) — (w/d) Spike Lee

Scripts

Study the script: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) — Jeffrey Boam, Menno Meyjes, George Lucas
Study the script: THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004) — Robert Ludlum, Tony Gilroy
Study the script: QUEEN & SLIM (2019) — Lena Waithe, Lena Waithe, James Frey
Study the script: DO THE RIGHT THING (1989) — Spike Lee

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We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.