Thread by @writergeekrhw

The Hegelian Dialectical approach to #TVWriting scenes.

Thesis: Driving character wants something.

Antithesis: Another character or force opposes that want.

Synthesis: The world changes, causing the character to modify their approach/understanding/goal.

1/?

This applies to scenes and or sequences as a whole but can also apply to any given exchange of dialogue or action. Some examples:

2/?

THESIS: EVIL COP wants HAPLESS MAN to admit guilt to a crime he didn't commit.

ANTITHESIS: Hapless knows if he talks, he's screwed.

SYNTHESIS: Evil Cop throws Hapless into cell with Psychopath.

3/?

The next scene is the result of this Synthesis. It should spark a new Thesis, with it's own new Antithesis which will produce new Synthesis. Repeat 50 times and you have a TV episode! Easy.

#TVWriting

4/?

If Hapless is your protag, next scene:

THESIS: Hapless wants to survive the night.

ANTITHESIS: Pyschopath wants a new best friend.

SYNTHESIS: H befriends P, only to learn P kills all his friends.

5/?

If Evil Cop is your protag:

THESIS: Evil Cop shows up in the morning expecting Hapless to be eager to talk.

ANTITHESIS: Coroner wheels corpse of Psycho out of the cell. Hapless smiles. "He slipped and fell."

SYNTHESIS: Evil Cop knows he's up against a worthy foe.

6/?

Individual exchanges in scenes can also follow this approach.

(T) HAPLESS: I want a lawyer.

(A) EVIL COP: If you lawyer up, it's going to make you look guilty. How about you just tell me what you remember about the night Myrtle died?

(S) HAPLESS: No lawyer? No talking.

7/?

Or, FIGHT SCENE:

(T) EVIL COP pulls his gun. He's going to shoot HAPLESS.

(A) HAPLESS grabs the gun, Krav Maga style, pulls EC close and breaks his wrist. The pistol falls.

(S) EC headbutts Hapless, buying himself a moment to stagger back in pain.

8/?

So a Scene is a Thesis/Antithesis/Synthesis but also contains an evolving series of Theses/Antitheses/Syntheses.

Likewise a series of scenes makes an act with its own T/A/S, 3 acts tell a story, and those 3 acts are also, you guessed it, Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis.

9/?

(Thesis) ACT ONE: The protagonist has a want they're driven to fulfil.

(Antithesis) ACT TWO: Antagonistic forces oppose protagonist, eventually thwart their approach and/or invalidate goal.

(Synthesis) ACT THREE: Protag changes approach and/or goal, triggering the climax.

10/?

THESIS: This is a useful tool.

ANTITHESIS: Sometimes it can feel predictable or overly structuralistic.

SYNTHESIS: Take what you like, leave the rest.

/endspew

#TVWriting

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