In Part 1, we used the Inquiry Cycle to read a scene through camera placement and blocking. Part 2 builds on that same structure — and many of the same questions — to guide practical filmmaking decisions when constructing a scene with clear intentions.
This approach works with any short scene, whether it's an original script, an extract, or a reimagined moment from a well-known story. 30–60 seconds of film is more than enough.
The inquiry cycle approach:
Tuning in: Define the scene’s core intention in one sentence.
Finding out: Identify the non-negotiable information the audience must understand.
Sorting out: Decide on actor blocking before touching the camera.
Going further: Choose how the camera will behave to support the intention.
Making conclusions: Lock in shot types, positions, and movements.
Taking action: Film the scene.
Reflecting: Review footage to evaluate how well the choices worked.
Tuning In
Write one sentence that captures what this scene is about, not the plot, but the intention. As in Part 1, ask: What really matters here?
Examples:
“This is the moment when the youngest character is forced to grow up all too quickly.”
“This is the scene where a key character chooses to stay silent.”
Everything else will flow from this sentence.
Finding Out
Ask: What must the audience know for this scene to work?
This might include:
Who is present?
Where are they in relation to each other, the setting, and the camera
What they are feeling, and how that emotion will be communicated.
What changes during the scene
These are your essentials. The camera must capture these concepts to build a clear narrative.
Sorting Out
Plan the blocking first - again, going back to similar questions in Part 1
Who stands close together?
Who is apart?
Who moves, and why?
What is in focus?
Is the camera still or moving?
How is the blocking impacting the way the scene will be understood by the audience
Camera placement creates meaning, but if blocking is unclear, no camera position will fix it.
Going Further
Decide how the camera behaves:
Is it still or moving? If it moves, why?
Does it follow one character or hold the group?
Is it a wide or close-up shot?
Eye-level, high, or low angle?
What is in or out of focus?
Making Conclusions
Choose your exact camera positions, shot types, and movements.
Sketch it out (high- or low-tech) and ask:
Do these choices say what I want them to say?
Are the blocking and camera choices working together to express the intention?
What is the audience being guided to understand?
Run the idea by a quick test audience and see what they interpret, without giving them context.
Taking Action
Film the scene. Keep it short. You are testing the plan, not aiming for perfection.
Reflecting on Your Understanding
If you had to analyse this scene as if it weren’t your own, how would it stand up? After filming, review and discuss:
How successfully did the scene communicate the intended meaning?
Did blocking and camera choices work together?
What would you change in a second take?