Scenes can come in all shapes and sizes: a one-sentence establishing, a half-page aftermath, a three-page reversal, the list goes on. And clearly there’s a lot that goes into crafting a great scene: start late; get out early; maintain conflict; keep lines of dialogue brief; keep action paragraphs short; maximize white space; avoid “I” and block pages; incorporate subtext and indirection; create audience connection through suspense, mystery, and revelation; and show the story in a visually interesting way, all while writing with a unique original voice. But that’s all…

Screenplay Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance Movie Time: 103 minutes 1. INCITING INCIDENT Ben (Jimmy Fallon) meets Lindsay (Drew Barrymore), asks her out, and she accepts despite her concerns that he’s “just a schoolteacher.” (00:10:03)