Hey guys,
What would you recommend to a novice screenwriter as good exercises or writing conventions to consider when your aim is to build tension? Setting the stakes and continually raising them is ground zero, but what tricks and quirks would you recommend to improve that skill?
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Tension is unresolved conflict. The key is to keep "poking the tiger" - reminding the audience of the conflict throughout the scene. The other key is character identification - you need to bring the audience into the story so that what happens to the character is happening to them. Here's an episode of HITCH 20 where I talk about "poking the tiger". http://sex-in-a-sub.blogspot.com/2018/04/fridays-with-hitchcock-hitch-20...
That's awesome, thanks for the link and the advice!
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You don’t have to keep raising them. It is where you position the audience.
If the character and the audience know the same info, then there will be fear of the outcome.
If the audience knows more than the character there is anxiety. The “don’t go through that door” moment you get in horror films.
You have to manipulate how much info the audience has. Give them enough to feel fear. Too much and the outcome feels inevitable, not enough and they get a shock, not fear.
Hope this helps.
Watch tense movies and rip them off.
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Watch some old Hitchcock films - learn from a master.
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Read screenplays and watch movies that fit what you aim for, learn from the best.
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On a scene level, definitely look at the different forms of conflict; personal, environmental, and internal.
Also look at the PASTO structure for scene building.
I have a scene building worksheet you can use here.
On a story level, it's all about continually raising the stakes and the risks.
Hey Chaz. Some good advice given already, especially from William Martell at the start. Happy to chat about your work any time.
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The old Hitchcock view on this: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/728496-there-is-a-distinct-difference-b...
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Thanks for all the advice guys, really appreciate it. I remember one of the examples I was given at Uni was "Touch of Evil" by Hitchcock. Specifically, the time bomb in the car at the beginning which exemplifies Dramatic Irony. I'll watch more of Hitchcock's work and read his scripts. Thank you for the links, I'll look at them too!