Scene diagnostics

The ten questions

Run these in order. The first honest "no" is usually the problem.

• Who wants something here, and how badly?
• Who's in the way, and what do they want instead?
• What changes between the first line and the last?
• Why does this scene happen today and not tomorrow?
• What's the worst thing that could happen in this room?
• What is nobody saying out loud?
• Could I start later and end earlier?
• Does anyone learn something the audience doesn't already know?
• Whose scene is it — and does the camera agree?
• If I cut it, what actually breaks?

Fast fixes to try

• Enter late, leave early.
• Give one character a secret.
• Change the location to something inconvenient.
• Take away the easiest way out.
• Let someone lose.