Ask yourself how each scene desire contributes to the hero's overall desire, and pay careful attention to the different ways conflict can be portrayed on the page. In great, commercial screenplays, the majority of the scenes will feature the hero fighting for what he wants. This exercise will train you to understand the unique pacing and flow of good screenplays, which you'll be able to mimic in your own work.ģ) Track Conflict: In every scene you read, ask yourself 'Who is fighting for what?' Not literally physical altercations - but conflict.
Do you feel the writer creating momentum as you read? Check out how long each scene in a sequence is.ĭo you feel the script dragging? Chances are you're in the middle of a series of too-long scenes. When does an action script take a breath with a slow, emotional scene? When does it amp up the action? Same with comedy - Where do they speed the comedy up, and when do they tone it back? You'll be able to anticipate story beats, and learn to incorporate surprise and avoid over-used or ineffective beats in your own screenplay.Ģ) Keep Track of Scene Length: This is tedious, so you don't need to write down the length of every scene, but just keep it in mind as you read. Over time, you'll develop a second nature for story.
Make note of every single story beat, and whether the hero gets closer or further from their goal in every scene. 1) Write as You Read: Document the plot as it develops.
