sCRIPT aNALYSIS

[Neckmancaleb]

IF I INTRODUCED A CHARACTER INTO A SCENE, CAN THAT BE CONSIDERED A TURNING POINT IN THE SCENE? OR WHAT IS A TURNING POINT IN A SCENE?

[Deus Ex Machine]

The turning point in a scene, like a story, is when the direction of the drama is radically altered. This is different from the status being altered, simply going from good to worse with the same goal and route to it is not a turning point. Having to abandon one planned route to chose another and go in a new and unexpected direction is a turning point.

[Neckmancaleb]

Is there a limit as to how many turning points i can have in my scipt?

[Deus Ex Machine]

No, but you should vary the intensity of each to give your story the appropriate emotional peaks and valleys.

[Revisionist]

Appropriate emotional peaks and valleys... I don't know if they're appropriate but it sounds like my week has just be summed up by Deus.

[wcmartell]

1) Make a list of recent films like your story.
2) *Study* those films - what are the turining points? When do they happen? How do those stories work?
3) *Time* those films (ie: figure out what happens and when) - since the ballpark is a page per minute, you can get an idea of the pacing needed in your *script** by looking at the pacing in similar films.
4) Now you have an idea how stories similar to your work, so you'll know the answer to questions liek "How many turning points can I have?" If you use 5 example film and all have four turning points, I'd think that's a good guide for your script.

Basically - do some script anaysis.

- Bill