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RD RD

The document provides guidance on writing a scene with two characters who have opposing goals and the addition of a third character. It discusses making the goals urgent and difficult to achieve, using obstacles and tactics, and ensuring each character has a distinct voice and compelling motivations. It emphasizes the importance of urgency and tension to drive the story forward.

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13 views

RD RD

The document provides guidance on writing a scene with two characters who have opposing goals and the addition of a third character. It discusses making the goals urgent and difficult to achieve, using obstacles and tactics, and ensuring each character has a distinct voice and compelling motivations. It emphasizes the importance of urgency and tension to drive the story forward.

Uploaded by

Azure Here
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Harrington

21M.604 Fall 2005


Assignment, Week 2

1. Write a brief scene—5 to 10 pages—in which one character has enough


motivation to make a real effort to achieve his or her goal (i.e. get what they
want), whereas the other character, equally motivated, creates ever obstacle he or
she can to prevent that goal from being achieved. Both characters use whatever
tactics the situation allows. The goals, motivations, obstacles and tactics should
be consistent with what you know about the characters, their relationship, the
setting, the time period, etc.
2. Re-write the scene and add a 3rd character. The 3rd character can be an
acquaintance, a total stranger, an intimate. A willing or unwilling participant in
the conflict (this would create additional tensions). How does the confrontation
change when a 3rd person is present? How does the 3rd person react? Respond?
Do either or both original characters use the 3rd character as an obstacle? A
tactic?

Some notes:
When you are beginning your play:
Start on the most crucial day.
Why today? Why now?
Up the stakes as high as you can.
How can you stack the deck against your characters?
Make it difficult for them to get what they want.
How can you put them in a place where they MUST act?

As you look at and analyze your scenes, ask:


Are characters distinct?
Does each character have their own voice, rhythms, speech patterns, verbal
idiosyncrasies?
Does each character have its own compelling wants, needs, dreams, conflicts, senses of
urgency?

Think about:
Where characters must overcome obstacles to get what they want?
Where do their dreams and fears come into conflict?
What is your character doing in the next five minutes to get what s/he wants?

URGENCY is the prime factor in a scene.


If a scene isn’t working, look at it and determine if anything urgent is going on.
Urgency is a form of tension that drives the play forward.
A need, a dream, a yearning that’s INTENSE.
Every art form has to have a form of tension.

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