The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 295 | What Are The Elements Of A Good Scene? SUPERCUT
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Apr 23, 2026 A supercut of answers from top writers about what makes a scene work. Topics include scene purpose, entering late/exiting early, clear wants and obstacles, and showing measurable change. They discuss pacing, authenticity, comic beats, power shifts, and making internal change visible through action.
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Unique Yet Familiar Scenes
- Make your scenes unique yet familiar so audiences feel both surprised and connected.
- Derek Kolstad emphasizes caring deeply about each scene and rewriting until it has heart and soul.
Scene Objective Then Conflict
- Always define what the scene is trying to accomplish: characters' wants, objectives, and obstacles.
- Maggie Lane: in comedy aim for at least one strong joke per page and clear conflict between both characters.
Every Scene Must Propel Plot
- Treat every scene like a mini-story with a protagonist, objective, and obstacle to move plot forward.
- Eric Jarboe adds: cut early if a scene is a 'pimple' that leads nowhere.
