The Establishing Scene

In the establishing scene you will give information that is essential to understand the entire plot. Few stories can do without explanations. Who is who, who does what, what is the problem?

The audience, like the hero, needs to understand the full details of a problem to show any kind of interest. We need to know what a story is about to feel concerned. Be clear.

It is often said that the establishing scene is difficult: it generally has to provide a great deal of information, and because it is often talkative, this scene can be boring. We don’t go to the movies to listen to people chat. Every story is a new challenge to make this essential establishing scene fluid and entertaining.

An exposé can provide information of course, but so can an argument between two characters, an interrogation or a meeting.

Example Paul talks to his sobbing wife. They’ll start again, and although it will be from scratch, they’ll be fine. He has a plan! He wants to open a bakery in Japan. He has been yearning for a new experience for ages! His wife isn’t sure she understands: Japan is far away, they don’t speak the language and what will their families say? Paul confidently explains his plan to her point by point. But first of all, they need to eat!

EXERCISE 25 Make a list of the information your audience will need.

Imagine how to give us this information in one scene, from the most to the least important. If possible, imagine a conflict for this scene.

HELP You can give information progressively, throughout your film. In fact the establishing scene shouldn’t supply all the information in one go, because the audience may find it hard to take in all at once.

But you also have to be careful not to leave until too late information that should have been provided earlier. Timing is crucial.

Think about badly told jokes. A good narrator knows how to give the right information at the right time to prepare the audience for the punchline