Intention, Coherence, Detail: the three pillars of storytelling

Intention, coherence and detail form an interconnected triad, essential to the fluidity and clarity of the narrative, allowing it to come alive and the magic to happen.

Intention, because it is the beating heart of the film.

I am not speaking here of the screenwriter’s intention, but of the story’s - the screenplay’s - intention. It is the point of view, the driving force of the narrative.

Intention is essential for the writer in making choices, strengthening and refining the story, but also for the team (producer, director, cinematographer, actors, editor, etc.) in sharing a common vision, and finally for the audience, so they can follow the story and its development without losing anything along the way.

Coherence, because it is the film’s invisible architecture.

A story is a world we create, even when it is “realistic”. A world with its own rules, characters and interactions. Its structure and rhythm. Its style.

Once created, this world - though unreal - must feel believable. And it is coherence that makes this possible, that creates a sense of truth and allows emotion to flow.

Detail, because it forms the film’s sensory substance.

Coherence and intention are carried by detail. In a screenplay, details are neither superfluous nor merely cosmetic. They are the embodiment of the story: its depth, the threads of its weave, its subtext. Screen directions are often their vehicle.

Details create the authenticity of a world and its characters. They are everything that tells, enriches and reveals without explaining. They are what give the narrative body, density and precision, allowing it to resonate with the audience.

These three pillars serve everyone throughout the making of a film: the writer, the team (producers, director, cinematographer, editor, actors, production designer, etc.), and ultimately, the audience.

Déborah Braun / 90pages

Script doctor

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