Three Act Structure

Three act sturcture

1. Stories, Plots, Narrative
You have an idea for a film that you want to
write.
Remember that films are ‘Show Don’t Tell’
Remember to concentrate on the visuals
which will tell your story
Importantly as well, is that ‘Dialogue’ has to
be character specific, that is the character
speaking is convincing in what they are
saying.

2. Screenwriting: The Basics
You must layout your script in the correct
industry standard format layout and Courier
12pt typeface
Use screenwriting software to format your
scripts that way you can concentrate on the
story you wish to tell.
www.celtx.com free screenwriting software
Others are Final Draft and Screenwriter

3. Screenwriting: The Basics
In correct screenplay layout one page is one
minute on the screen, this is a good rule to
work by.
Your first draft will generally be 30% too long
Revise your script constantly and cut, cut, cut
as you refine and improve and sharpen
Movies are good at telling stories but not
good at telling very complicated stories

4. Screenwriting: The Basics
Remember:
What if? A good way to start generating
stories.
Use a variety of sources from pictures to
books to articles to things you see and hear as
a starting point.
Kiss: ‘Keep it Simple Stupid’

5. Screenwriting
The majority of movies and particularly those
coming out of the USA follow that is called:
The Classic Hollywood Narrative …or…
the Three Act Structure
The Discontinuous Narrative: is another way
of telling your script and can be defined as….
….every story has a Beginning a Middle and
an End….….but not necessarily in that order.

6. The Three Act Structure
The Screenplay is divided into three parts :

Act 1 : The Set-up (of location and
characters) (the first 1/4)
Act 2 : The Confrontation (with obstacles)
(the middle 1/2)
Act 3: The Climax and Resolution
(the last 1/4)

7. We can be Heroes
Protagonist: The good guys or girls
Antagonist: The bad guys or girls
Note: Antagonists do not have to be people……
who can they be? Examples?
Scripts are about ‘Confrontations’ and
overcoming them

8. The Three Act Structure
We will use as our example a 2 hr film which
equates to 120 pages of correctly laid out
screenplay.
1 page of Screenplay = 1 minute of screen time
Total running time 120 minutes/120 pages of
script
Screenplays are constructed/hinged around two
Act Breaks or commonly referred to as ‘Turning
Points’.

9. Turning Points
Movies following the Classic Hollywood
Narrative method of construction are written
around/constructed around these two Turning
Points:
‘Turning Point One’ at the end of Act 1 or
approximately 30 minutes into your screenplay
‘Turning Point Two’ at the end of act Two or
approximately 90 minutes into your screenplay
(approximately = within a page or two)

10. The Three Act Structure

11. Turning Point 1
The Turning Points are Plot Devices, incidents
that allow/propel your story forward….cause and
effect.
Act 1: The set-Up: introduces our characters and
story plots, (and with its own 3 acts structure) it
takes us to…..
Turning Point One: a point where we have had a
mini-story that ends, but then leads us into a
new story, this will be the main direction the rest
of the story follows.
Essentially the moment the hero takes on the
main quest/problem/confrontations.

12. Turning Point 2
Turning Point 2: The most important
part/event of a three act structure narrative.
Turning Point Two: is generally at the point
where your main Character/Protagonist is
furthest from achieving their goal, then they
see a way out/way forward to the
climax/conclusion of your story.

13. 3 Act Structure
To clarify the breakdown of a Three Act
Structure screenplay of two hours / 120 pages:
Act 1 = 30 pages
Act 2 = 60 pages(starts at or around page
30/30 mins)
Act 3 = 30 pages(starts at or around page
90/90 mins)

14. Act 1
Act 1 is also called the Set-Up
You introduce all you main characters
All your story threads, plots, sub-plots etc
It is also a self contained story of its own (with
its own 3 act structure!)

15. Act 2
The main story
The bit you really want to write with your
characters developing and changing as they
progress through your story.
Conflicts and confrontations in our hero’s way
and stopping them achieving their goal.

16. Act 3
The Resolution
You finish your story
Tie up all loose ends
Characters will have undergone a life-
changing journey over the 120 minutes: ‘The
Character Arc’

17. What makes a great Movie?
Conflict
Characters
Situations
Locations
Convincing Protagonist
Convincing Antagonist
Great Dialogue!

18. How Long?
It doesn’t matter if your script is 3 or 120 pages
The Three Act Structure can be
adapted/modified to any length
But it is not the only way of telling your story
Movies that do not follow this structure……?
Write the script/movie the way you want to and
you feel is best, the rules are there to help not
dictate…