✍️Screenwriting I Unit 3 – Story Structure – The Three–Act Paradigm

What's the Big Deal?

• The three-act structure provides a framework for organizing and pacing a story, ensuring it has a clear beginning, middle, and end
• Helps writers create engaging and satisfying narratives by guiding the placement of key events, conflicts, and character development
• Ensures the story maintains momentum and keeps the audience invested in the characters and their journeys
• Facilitates effective storytelling by establishing a recognizable pattern that audiences can easily follow and understand
• Serves as a foundation for many successful films, plays, and novels across various genres (action, romance, comedy)
• Allows writers to break down complex stories into manageable sections, making the writing process more structured and efficient
• Enables writers to create a sense of rising tension, culminating in a satisfying climax and resolution

The Three Acts Explained

• Act 1: The Setup
  • Introduces the main characters, their world, and the central conflict or problem they will face
  • Establishes the story's tone, genre, and themes
  • Includes the inciting incident, which disrupts the protagonist's ordinary world and sets the story in motion
• Act 2: The Confrontation
  • The protagonist faces obstacles and challenges while pursuing their goal or confronting the central problem
  • Introduces subplots and secondary characters that complicate the main storyline
  • Features the midpoint, a significant event or revelation that raises the stakes and propels the story forward
  • Concludes with a major setback or crisis that leaves the protagonist at their lowest point
• Act 3: The Resolution
  • The protagonist rallies and makes a final push to overcome the central conflict or achieve their goal
  • Subplots and character arcs are resolved, tying up loose ends
  • Includes the climax, the story's most intense and dramatic moment where the protagonist confronts the antagonist or main obstacle
  • Concludes with the denouement, showing the aftermath of the climax and the new status quo for the characters

Key Elements of Each Act

• Act 1 elements:
  • Ordinary World: Shows the protagonist's life before the inciting incident
  • Inciting Incident: A event that disrupts the protagonist's world and sets the story in motion
  • Call to Action: The protagonist is presented with a challenge or opportunity that they must decide to accept or refuse
  • Refusal of the Call: The protagonist initially resists the call to action due to fear, doubt, or other reasons
  • Crossing the Threshold: The protagonist commits to the journey and enters the new, unfamiliar world of Act 2
• Act 2 elements:
  • Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The protagonist faces challenges, forms alliances, and confronts adversaries
  • Approach to the Inmost Cave: The protagonist prepares for the central ordeal or confrontation
  • Ordeal: The protagonist faces their greatest fear or the most significant obstacle in their path
  • Reward: The protagonist gains something valuable (knowledge, an object, or an ally) as a result of the ordeal
• Act 3 elements:
  • The Road Back: The protagonist begins their journey back to the ordinary world, often pursued by the antagonist or facing additional challenges
  • Resurrection: The protagonist faces a final test or confrontation, often with raised stakes and heightened drama
  • Return with the Elixir: The protagonist returns to the ordinary world, having changed or grown, and shares the benefits of their journey with others

Plot Points and Turning Points

• Plot points are significant events that move the story forward and change the direction of the narrative
• Turning points are specific plot points that mark the transition between acts and introduce new conflicts or challenges
• The first turning point, or the inciting incident, occurs near the end of Act 1 and propels the protagonist into the main conflict
• The second turning point, or the midpoint, occurs in the middle of Act 2 and raises the stakes, often introducing a new revelation or complication
• The third turning point, or the crisis, occurs at the end of Act 2 and represents the protagonist's lowest point or greatest setback
• The climax, or the final turning point, occurs near the end of Act 3 and represents the story's most dramatic and intense moment, where the protagonist confronts the main conflict

Character Development Across Acts

• Act 1: Characters are introduced, and their goals, motivations, and flaws are established
  • The protagonist's ordinary world and their initial reluctance to change are shown
  • Supporting characters and their relationships to the protagonist are introduced
• Act 2: Characters face challenges and undergo growth and transformation
  • The protagonist learns new skills, gains insights, and confronts their flaws
  • Relationships between characters are tested and developed
  • Antagonists and their motivations are revealed, creating obstacles for the protagonist
• Act 3: Characters resolve their arcs and demonstrate their growth
  • The protagonist applies the lessons learned in Act 2 to overcome the final obstacle
  • Supporting characters' arcs are resolved, often in relation to the protagonist's journey
  • The protagonist's transformation is shown through their actions and decisions in the climax and denouement

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Rushing the setup in Act 1
  • Ensure sufficient time is spent establishing characters, their world, and the central conflict
  • Avoid introducing too many characters or subplots too quickly
• Losing momentum in Act 2
  • Keep the story moving forward by introducing new challenges, revelations, and complications
  • Ensure the protagonist remains proactive and engaged in pursuing their goal
• Neglecting character development
  • Ensure characters have clear arcs and undergo meaningful change throughout the story
  • Avoid relying on stereotypes or one-dimensional characters
• Overcomplicating the plot
  • Keep the central conflict and the protagonist's goal clear and focused
  • Avoid introducing too many subplots or extraneous details that distract from the main storyline
• Rushing the resolution in Act 3
  • Allow sufficient time for the climax and denouement to unfold naturally
  • Ensure all major plot points and character arcs are satisfactorily resolved

Analyzing Famous Movies

• "The Godfather" (1972)
  • Act 1: Michael Corleone is introduced as a reluctant outsider to his family's criminal empire
  • Act 2: Michael becomes increasingly involved in the family business and faces challenges from rival gangs and the law
  • Act 3: Michael consolidates his power and confronts the consequences of his actions
• "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977)
  • Act 1: Luke Skywalker is introduced as a farm boy yearning for adventure, and the inciting incident (receiving Leia's message) sets him on his journey
  • Act 2: Luke learns the ways of the Force, rescues Princess Leia, and faces challenges from the Empire
  • Act 3: Luke participates in the Battle of Yavin, ultimately destroying the Death Star and becoming a hero of the Rebellion
• "The Lion King" (1994)
  • Act 1: Simba is introduced as a young prince, and the inciting incident (Mufasa's death) forces him into exile
  • Act 2: Simba grows up in the jungle, meets new allies, and confronts his past when Nala finds him
  • Act 3: Simba returns to the Pride Lands, confronts Scar, and takes his rightful place as king

Applying the Three-Act Structure

• Begin by identifying the central conflict and the protagonist's goal
• Outline the key events and turning points of each act
  • Act 1: Inciting incident, call to action, refusal of the call, crossing the threshold
  • Act 2: Tests, allies, enemies, approach to the inmost cave, ordeal, reward
  • Act 3: The road back, resurrection, return with the elixir
• Develop characters' arcs and ensure they align with the story's structure
  • Establish characters' goals, motivations, and flaws in Act 1
  • Show characters' growth and transformation through challenges in Act 2
  • Resolve characters' arcs and demonstrate their change in Act 3
• Refine and revise the outline to ensure the story is well-paced and engaging
  • Ensure each act has a clear beginning, middle, and end
  • Balance action, dialogue, and character development throughout the story
  • Get feedback from others and make adjustments as needed