Making a Flat Scene Interesting

This should be screenwriting 101 stuff, but I'm still amazed by how many scripts that I read -- scripts from people with agents -- that contain scenes that just sort of blandly exist.

Talky scenes, in which the characters aren't doing anything during the scene.

Characters should always be doing something. Movies are visual. Even if the characters aren't doing anything, it should be interesting.

A primer for this is "When Harry Met Sally", which is a very talky movie. But in every single scene, there's something interesting going on, even if it is as simple as Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby hitting balls in a batting cage while having a conversation.

Obviously, there's a lot more leeway for this is comedies, and you don't want to do anything too distracting. But do something.

An example is the music video below (hey, I'll take any chance to play another - actually, THE other -- Mountain Goats video).

It's a low-budget video, that pretty much just consists of the band playing the song. But check out how a little early context -- and one perfect piece of bloody make-up -- gives it all a spin that makes it interesting.

Crank it up. And then go write 5 pages.