Welcome to the final installment of our four-part series on mapping your screenplay, from messy idea to cinematic clarity. In this episode, Desiree and Scott dive into one of the most overlooked but crucial parts of screenwriting: getting your scenes in motion.
Whether you're writing a feature or short, if your scenes lack momentum, your story stalls. But when you layer in clear goals, compelling conflict, rising stakes, and meaningful shifts, your script transforms from a flat outline into a living, breathing film.
This one’s a masterclass on the movement behind the magic.
In this episode:
- What actually defines a scene and why physical location isn’t always the key
- The 4 essential ingredients every great scene needs (goal, conflict, stakes, shift)
- Why setups and payoffs are the glue that hold your story together
- What a “tension arc” is and how it makes your story breathe
- How to audit your scenes for momentum (and know when to cut them)
- When dialogue works, and when it becomes your enemy
- Why “the shift” is your best friend for pacing and emotion
- How to avoid the dreaded “talking head” syndrome
- Simple homework exercises to improve your scene work, character voice, and structure
