Three Act Structure

THE THREE ACT STUCTURE

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR STEPS (SCENE LIST)

THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA

BUT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ACTS TOO LONG OR TOO SHORT

THREE ACT STRUCTURE (30 to 50 steps)

BEGINGING MIDDLE END
SET UP COMPLICATION RESOLUTION
CREATE INTEREST HOLD INTEREST SATISFY INTEREST


ACT ONE: 5 TO 10 STEPS

OBJECTIVES:

ESTABLISH THE SPINE

INTRO WORLD: ESTABLISH THE RULES

INTRO CHAR: ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS

CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER:

1. EXPOSITION: INFORMATION THAT EXPLAINS CHARACTERS
a. MUST REVEAL IT THROUGH CONFLICT
b. OCCURS THROUGOUT THE STORY, BUT OFTERN EARLY
c. EXPPSITION EASILY REVEALED THROUGH THE CONFIDANT/CENTAL RELATIONSHIP
d. BACKSTORY - EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOUR FIRST SCENE

2. PLAUSIBILTIY: WHAT’S ACCEPTABLE TO THE AUDIENCE

e. ESTABLISH YOUR RULES EARLY (FIRST ACT) AND BE CONSISTANT
f. ALL CHARACTER’S ACTIONS MUST BE MOTIVATED
i. STORY LOGIC -- THE CHAIN OF EVENTS COMES FROM THE CHARACTER’S DESIRES RATHER THAN THE WRITER’S
3. COINCIDENCES COME EARLY
a. WE WON’T BELIEVE THEM IN SECOND ACT



THREE MOVEMENTS IN THE FIRST ACT

1. POINT OF ATTACK/OPENING BALANCE
AS LATE AS POSSIBLE
JUST BEFORE YOUR HERO’S WORLD CHANGES

2. INCITING INCIDENTS
SHAKE UP YOUR HEROES WORLD
INTRO THE GOAL


3. LOCK IN SPINE
CENTRAL CONFLICT, QUESTION, GOAL ALL CLEAR
NO MORE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS
NOW WE ASK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT


ACT II: (20 TO 30 STEPS)

OBJECTIVE: COMPLICATE THE SPINE

CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER:

1. ORDERING EVENTS AND REVEALING INFORMATION

SUSPENSE AND THE CHRONOLOGICAL STORY
TIME WITHHOLDS INFORMATON: CREATES SUPSPENSE

2. SUSPENSE VS SURPRISE

USE BOTH, BUT IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE SUSPENSE IS USUALLY PREFERABLE


3. WHO KNOWS WHAT AND WHEN

WRITER KNOWS EVERTHING AT EVERY POINT

AUDIENCE LEARNS INFORMATION WHEN THE HERO DOES OR A LITTLE BEFORE

4. DRAMATIC IRONY - AUDIENCE KNOW MORE THAN CHARACTERS ON THE SCREEN

THE SECRET TO GETTING YOUR AUDIENCE COMPLETELY ENGAGED
BOMB UNDER THE TABLE
ii. MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
iii. THE GRANPA’S BODY IN THE BACK OF THE BUS

7. GOOD NEWS LATER – DON’T’ RELIEVE THE TENSION
a. DON’T SHOW THE GUARD SLEEPING

8. BAD NEWS SOONER -- CREATE SUPENSE
a. SHOW THE GUARD AWAKE WITH GUN
9. WAVY NARRATIVE LINE: YOUR HEROES FORTUNES RISE AND FALL
a. MAKE IT HARD ON YOU’RE HERO
i. FERRISS BUELLARS DAYS OFF – THE EXCEPTION
ii. LEAVING LAS VEGAS—THE EXTREME EXAMPLES
iii. MONTSER
iv. MONSTER’S BALL -- (OSCARS FOR ACTORS)

THREE MOVEMENTS OF THE SECOND ACT

1. NEW PLAN
MET BY A SERIES OR REVERALS
HERO IS INFLUENCED BY OTHERS
DOESN’T TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR ACTIONS

2. MIDPOINT
HERO TAKES RESPONSIBITY FOR HIS OR HER QUEST
SECOND HALF
PLOT NARROWS/CHOICES LESSEN

3. DARKEST HOUR
HEROS ACTIONS MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE’S NO HOPE



ACT III: 5 TO 10 STEPS

OBJECTIVE: RESOLVE SPINE

YOUR SCRITP IS OVER WHEN YOU RESOLVE SPINAL ISSUES

THREE MOVEMENTS OF THE THRID ACT

1. ENLIGHTENMENT/ MOMENT OF CLARITY
a. HERO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO CONFRONT THE CENTRAL CONFLICT
b. PAST ACTIONS IN ACT II TAUGHT THE HERO HOW TO CONFRONT THE CENTRAL CONFLICT, GO FOR THE GOAL


2. CLIMAX
HERO CONFRONTS THE CENTRAL CONFLICT
GOAL ACHIEVED OR NOT
CENTRAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

3. DENOUMENT / WRAP UP
RESTORE BALANCE; HOW HAS YOU HERO CHANGED?