So true. Conflict by itself can be tense, but conflict with a third element is unpredictable because the audience isn't sure which aspect will ultimately win out. Plus, viewers will tend to project subconscious intent onto that third aspect by default. In the Cop Land sandwich scene, the sandwich not only represents De Niro's disregard for Stallone, but it also serves as a unifying action between De Niro and his colleague. When they share the sandwich, it visualizes to Stallone, "we're in, you're out," with a metaphor that goes deeper than words.
Thanks for this Tony- it’s great. David Hare actually spoke about just the same thing in this BAFTA talk in 2011. https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/screenwriters-lecture-sir-david-hare/ Avoid what he called bell-jar scenes - “the most incredibly boring scenes in all movies, where the subject of the scene, the sole subject of discussion, the sole subject of illustration is simply the scene itself and the themes of the scene”… you put it a little more succinctly!
As in all things, this lesson is also present in the great text of our time, 30 Rock.
Episode one.
The third heat.
So true. Conflict by itself can be tense, but conflict with a third element is unpredictable because the audience isn't sure which aspect will ultimately win out. Plus, viewers will tend to project subconscious intent onto that third aspect by default. In the Cop Land sandwich scene, the sandwich not only represents De Niro's disregard for Stallone, but it also serves as a unifying action between De Niro and his colleague. When they share the sandwich, it visualizes to Stallone, "we're in, you're out," with a metaphor that goes deeper than words.
Thanks for this Tony- it’s great. David Hare actually spoke about just the same thing in this BAFTA talk in 2011. https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/screenwriters-lecture-sir-david-hare/ Avoid what he called bell-jar scenes - “the most incredibly boring scenes in all movies, where the subject of the scene, the sole subject of discussion, the sole subject of illustration is simply the scene itself and the themes of the scene”… you put it a little more succinctly!
Awesome info
Thanks for this Tony!