Screenwriting 101: No—that's just what they're expecting!
Pictured above: From Monty Python's "Spanish Inquisition" skit:
"Give her the
rack!"
One key to comedy writing is incongruity, but that's not what I'm here to tell you. Rather, I'm here to say the scenes and films you hold dear to your heart most likely are ones in which you in part were surprised by what transpired.
A twist of some sort, whether comic or dramatic, will enhance a scene--even if it's not the big "wow" at the end of the film.
So when working on a scene, consider:
- Why is this scene necessary?
- How would people expect it to end?
- What are the different ways it could end?
- Are the characters in that scene cooperative? Evasive? Challenging?
- Does the scene contain conflict?
- If the main character gets what he/she wants, chances are the scene is boring.
- If all you're doing is providing information--dreaded exposition--then what you're really doing is putting the audience to sleep.
Each page of a screenplay is a canvas through which vivid images of
your characters, their actions and the story must evoke emotion.
Each line of dialogue or each action in your screenplay must engage and intrigue in a visually dramatic way. If the scene remains somewhat uneventful, you may discover your characters need a bit of a makeover.
And, no, a character proclaiming "Damnit!" is not what I'm talking about, damnit! In the very least give him a bottle of gin or some action to express his emotions. Film is visual, so don't tell people what the actors already are showing them, damnit!
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