define "scene"; #scenes in a film???

[Randall_Oelerich]

Can someone please define a "scene" as used in screenwriting? Also what is the typical number of scenes in a 100 page (minute) screenplay (film)--not sluglines, but scenes? I think I read somewhere that an average scene is about 2 pages, thus 2 minutes, so 50-60 scenes in a 100-120 minute film?

Am I correct in that multiple sluglines, or maybe just one, depending, can comprise a 'scene'?

I am thinking a scene is a unit of plot action (like a link in a chain, the chain being the story or plot and each link being a scene or chunk of the overall story) taking place in a short period of time in one general location (which might have several sublocations as part of the overall scene location, written as individual sluglines--am I correct?).

 

[AuditoryVisuals]

If you have a shot of people walking into a house from the outside, and a shot when they arrive on the inside, this could be considered two different scenes.

Although, I personally go by the passage of time. Since it was instantaneous, it is the same scene.

If you had a shot of soldiers talking in a military base, and then the same soldiers sleep, it could possibly be considered a different scene, since it is in a different time.

Usually for me, it's a major time, location, or situation change (or likely a combination) that makes it a different scene.

 

[wcmartell]

A scene is a dramatic unit.

You can have one scene where characters walk through a series of rooms having a single conversation... and that would require many sluglines.

The average film has 55-60 scenes... and usually many more sluglines. My CRASH DIVE script has 313 sluglines (made for HBO, released over a decade ago). I have no idea how many scenes were in the script, but my bet would be fewer than 60.

- Bill

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

Thanks guys, that helps. Confusion between sluglines and scenes, sometimes one and the same, sometimes different, but as a unit of drama, location, and time that makes sense to me as a scene. Had a doh! moment and searched wikipedia, found this which helped too, so now it is sort of gelling and making sense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scene_(fiction)

A scene is a dramatic unit.

You can have one scene where characters walk through a series of rooms having a single conversation... and that would require many sluglines.

The average film has 55-60 scenes... and usually many more sluglines. My CRASH DIVE script has 313 sluglines (made for HBO, released over a decade ago). I have no idea how many scenes were in the script, but my bet would be fewer than 60.

- Bill