Issue 214 – Dec. 21, 2020 (Know Your Scene Transitions)

Scene Transitions (Last Shot/First Shot Blocking System)

If you are nervous or uncomfortable blocking and directing actors because you lack on-set experience, this article on scene transitions will show you a simple strategy you can use to help block any scene.

To fully understand how to block any scene you must first know the scene objectives and each character’s text and subtext objectives. However, you should also know the following four scene transitions which are the shots you want to cut together one after each other.

Let’s say you are figuring out how to camera block Scene 22.

(1) The first fact you need to know is when (and where) were the characters LAST SEEN? (Was it in the scene before? Was it 10 scenes earlier? Have the characters ever been seen before?) Knowing these answers will determine how each character could enter this scene. (Backstory.)

(2) What is the LAST shot of the previous scene? (Let’s assume the last shot of Sc. 21 is a wide shot of an apartment building. Now what do you think would make a good scene transition to the first shot of Scene 22?)

(3) What is the FIRST shot of the scene you are blocking? (Let’s assume the first shot of Scene 22 is a close up of a doorknob turning and the door slowly opening.)

(4) What is the LAST shot of the scene you are blocking? (Let’s assume the last shot of Scene 22 is a medium shot of your actor walking up to a window and looking out.)

(5) What is the FIRST shot of the next scene? (Let’s assume the first shot of Scene 23 is an exterior wide shot of the actor from Scene 22 looking out a window. The camera then cranes down to reveal a medium shot of another actor sitting in a car watching the actor in the window.)

Once you have these answers, your DOP and Camera Operator will be able to watch the blocking and make some suggestions on where the camera should go to cover the scene. And because you have figured out all your scene transitions, you know where and how you want to start and end each scene so they cut perfectly together with the other scenes!

10 Questions to Ask Before Blocking a Scene

1. Do I understand the writer’s intentions? (Plot & themes)
2. What is the objective of this scene? (What is the scene intention?)
3. What is each character’s scene objective? (What do they want?)
4. What activities would the characters be doing? (Actor business)
5. What are the characters emotional states? (Their story arc)
6. Where is the focus of interest at each moment? (Main emphasis)
7. What is more important: business or dialogue? (What to focus on)
8. How do I want the audience to react? (Tension? Laughter?)
9. How much time should I allow to shoot this scene? (The schedule)
10. What kind of coverage do I need? (Result of above answers)

Copyright (c) 2020 Peter D. Marshall / All Rights Reserved