So we have all seen the scene where one person comes to the office/place of another (typically) man and he is putting at his little golf tee. And they talk. Often seen on Law and Order and other shows.
I want give the boss some other sort of business to be doing. Open to your suggestions. Must be something simple and reasonable that a man would do in his backyard. (AND not a complex production nightmare.)
And yes you may see this posted in another group. ;)
What genre?
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If it's a comedy, maybe his grass looks like hell and he's putting golf balls in his robe on the patio, using his golden retriever as a backstop.
If it's horror: maybe he's scraping the old paint off a table with the rusty blade of a knife.
If's drama and you want the tension high, maybe he's struggling to pull a small, dead bush out of the ground and it finally comes out at the highpoint of the conversation.
If it's drama and you want the mood light, maybe he's happily clipping roses.
I guess my point is to pick something that enhances whatever's happening in the story and use it to drive everything forward.
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Typically women are gardening in films – with ugly gloves and a jaunty hat. Would be a bit novel to have a guy do it. He could be seriously engaged in laying pretty borders around his herb garden. Turns out he is a serious cook.
As has been said yeah just tell the actor to do what works best to heighten and counterpoint the scene.
Anybody can bring their hobby out into their backyard so maybe he has a collection he is looking over, or tools he is arranging, or maybe he is just admiring past handiwork. Just pick something that suites the scene and let the actor do what feels most comfortable.
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Christiane Lange that is an INCREDIBLE. .. and I can really wor in a good metaphor here. This is the scene
ORIGINAL SCENE - District Attorney has summoned one of his ADAs to his office to explain what he wants done on a case. It's something shady.
NEW SCENE - DA summons ADA to his home. He is in the backyard fiddling with plants. His wife is making him do it. hr agrees to do it "for the team". He tells her what he wants done. This sort've works well because it is "off book" not in his actual office and he never quite says directly to do something wrong, just insinuates. He reminds her she also needs to be a team player.
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Tennis against a wall, play catch, I like Christiane's idea about gardening - I've known more than a few who are obsessed with weeding through pruning a hedge or cutting flowers would be interesting, wood carving, sweeping, beating the dust out of a mat, painting, or sketching. Whew! I challenged myself to come up with 10 - made it! Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
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Goes to Character. Who is this guy? That is where you will find your answer.
If you have read any of my books on writing, you know that I am Lord Of The Lists...
So make a list of personality traits this character has. Is he focused and meticulous? Is he outgoing and one of the boys? Is he great at office politics? Figure out who the character is...
Then look at the main personality trait and find the hobby that fits that trait. Heck, make another list of hobbies that match the trait and pick the most interesting one. The most cinematic one.
Perhaps he is fixing or cleaning his barbeque.
Wayne Hazle From the description I can't work out if he is telling the wife or the ADA to do something wrong. But if you can work with the gardening idea, cool! :)
The man is planting flowers over his spouse's grave he just finished filling in.