One type of set piece I've noticed is to get all of the characters in one place and then play multiple subplots/conflicts off each other. Like the backyard garden scene in Crazy, Stupid, Love. That long scene was like pay off, pay off, pay off, pay off, etc. Also, Michael Dorsey unmasking when the soap was live. It paid off a bunch of conflicts all at once. If only one storyline was affected, it wouldn't be so funny.

Also, a good blog post about set pieces from Billy Mernit from 2006. http://livingromcom.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/setpiece.html A few years ago, my longtime reader told me frankly I needed to write better set pieces in my comedies. I didn't really understand what they were and Billy's post help me crack them.

I saw Boogie Nights at the New Beverly Friday night. The drug deal at the end is incredible -- the music, the jibber jabber, the kid throwing the firecrackers, then suddenly, the guns come out and bullets start flying. I hadn't seen Boogie Nights in years, but the one part of the film that always comes to mind is the lingering shot of Mark Wahlberg's face when he's sitting on the couch, before the shit really hits the fan, and you can see him thinking, "What the hell am I doing here? This is soooo wrong for me. I'm done with this. I'm just done." It's the character having their breakthrough moment -- they're at rock bottom and if they survive, the rest of the ride is going to be going back up -- but what's so great about it is it isn't conveyed through dialogue or anger or a freak out or crying jag. (He does cry afterward, but that's just the emotional aftermath. The real moment of decision is in that room during that drug deal that's about to go very, very wrong.) So, it's a great set piece. The character's in major jeopardy because he went along to sell baking soda as cocaine to men with guns. The popping firecrackers (which the actor who played the character came up with, according to Thomas Jane who was at the New Beverly to talk about the film) starts out comical but, over the length of the scene, builds tension and creates these little moments when you start to jump in your seat. The guy they're selling to playing music too loudly and wanting them to stay and party creates a subtle conflict because you know they have to get going, fast. Thomas Jane's character having a gun and having come there to rob the customer all along, unbeknownst to the guys he brought with him. If you add it all up, there's jeopardy from jump, comical relief, tension, conflict, a strong tone, and a great twist, but, in the middle of it all and what still stands out for me is the fact that's it's the main character's most pivotal moment in the whole film.

Scott, I'm surprised that you quote this from Wikipedia without some comment of your own: "Thus the term is often used to describe any scenes that are so essential to a film that they cannot be edited out or skipped in the shooting schedule without seriously damaging the integrity of the finished product." Perhaps the term is "often used" to mean that, but - as you noted in your examples - that is also "often" not the case. Set pieces are "often" simply fun/exciting/interesting moments that are not driving the "integrity" of the film - but rather, its pure entertainment value. And, of course, providing material for the trailer.

Thanks for driving home that point. Still value in reminding us that virtually everything in a script needs to - at least - be tied to the plot, and more often than not push it forward. But yes, sometimes a set piece is just a set piece with just the merest of connections to the plot.

That scene in Tootsie, the unveiling of Michael live and on-the-air, is a perfect example of a set piece that functions as a Final Struggle, the culmination of EVERYTHING -- as you note multiple subplots -- in one fell swoop. A massive spinning of the plot, setting up an extended denouement. Great one, Christina!

Thanks for that link, Christina. I'll update the OP with it.

One of my favourite set pieces is the strip tease finale in Slap Shot. Here's the set-up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slap_Shot_%28film%29 And here's the finale itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oyxLFD2IIw Does it count as a plot spin if it's the finale? Because it resolves a huge number of plots, subplots, and emotional conflicts, and it hits that writing sweet-spot of being totally unforseen and yet feeling completely in character.

William Martell wrote about set pieces in Script Mag earlier this year: The term “set piece” comes from the old days when films were shot on existing sets. The studios had police station sets and courtroom sets and office building sets and mansion sets and almost anything else you might need to make movie. An entire back lot to film movies on. But what if a script came along with location that didn’t already exist on the back lot? A really big exciting scene was a “set piece” – and would be worth the cost of building a brand new set. http://www.scriptmag.com/features/columns/script-secrets-set-pieces

Another great example is the attack on the helicarrier in The Avengers, which systematically exposes the weaknesses of the various characters, moving them through their personal arcs, paying off their actions so far and setting them up to change... Lots of things colliding there, both plot and character.

For me Little Miss Sunshine is bursting at the seams with great set pieces. I think everyone has seen the film but I'll try and avoid major spoilers. (Which is going to make the film seem disinteresting but it's BRILLIANT.) Can't believe it only has an IMDb rating of a mere 7.9. Grossed 100 bazingas though. Firstly at the dinner table when Olive repeatedly and innocently highlights the elephant(s) in the room. Then. Then. Ok so there's LOADS but stand outs for me; When they're all couped up in the van, bored and the Uncle unwittingly uncovers Dwayne can never achieve his dream. That moment and the meltdown is just beautiful. Assisting Granpaw with his mobility after his unexpected hospital stay. Olive's routine routine at the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXzQFIoZ6lM

The following (emotional) set piece from the film Amelie is one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EKy9o3sbu0&feature=related The special effects used are both novel and poetic, making it the most unforgettable scene of an incredibly enchanting film.