Three Act Structure
Blog Post #9
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| Three-Act Structure Diagram |
Act One
Act I - The first act (Act I), compromises the first quarter of the screenplay. (For a two hour movie, Act I would be approximately 30 minutes)
What happens in Act I? (Setup)
Exposition: The part of the story that gives the characters an introduction, this basically gives the audience an insight of the characters and what type of characters they are; it shows some of their interrelationships and place them within a time and place.
This part of the story introduces three separate aspects; the main character, the dramatic premise and the dramatic situation.
Main Character: The person in the story who has a need/object to achieve and whose actions determine the drive of the story.
Dramatic Premise: What the story itself is about
Dramatic Situation: The circumstances which is surrounding the action.
Inciting Incident - An event that sets the plot of the film in motion. It occurs about halfway through Act I.
The ''Plot Point'' - According to field, the three acts are separated by two plot points. A plot point (which is sometimes referred to a reversal) is an event that thrusts the plot in a new direction, leading into a new act of the screenplay. Later screenplay gurus have built on Field's theory by stating that plot point #1, which leads into Act II, is the moment when the hero takes on the problem.
Act Two
Act II - The second act (Act II), compromises the next two quarters of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act II would approximately be 60 minutes)
What happens in Act II? (Confrontation)
Obstacles - In the second act, the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need.
First Culmination - This is the point just before the hallway mark of the film where the main character seems close to achieving his or her main goal/objective. Shortly afterwards, everything falls apart which then leads to the midpoint.
Midpoint - This is the point approximately halfway through the film where the main character reaches his/her lowest point (weakness) and seems very far away from fulfilling the dramatic need/objective.
Act Three
Act III - The third and final act (Act III) comprises the final quarter of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act III would approximately be the final 30 minutes)
What happens in Act III? (Resolution)
Climax (Second Culmination) - This is the point at which the plot reaches its maximum tension and the forces in the opposition confront each other at a peak (highest/tension point) of emotional or physical action.
Denouement - The brief period of calm at the end of the film where a state of equilibrium (which was seen at the start of the film) returns.
Act I - The first act (Act I), compromises the first quarter of the screenplay. (For a two hour movie, Act I would be approximately 30 minutes)
What happens in Act I? (Setup)
Exposition: The part of the story that gives the characters an introduction, this basically gives the audience an insight of the characters and what type of characters they are; it shows some of their interrelationships and place them within a time and place.
This part of the story introduces three separate aspects; the main character, the dramatic premise and the dramatic situation.
Main Character: The person in the story who has a need/object to achieve and whose actions determine the drive of the story.
Dramatic Premise: What the story itself is about
Dramatic Situation: The circumstances which is surrounding the action.
Inciting Incident - An event that sets the plot of the film in motion. It occurs about halfway through Act I.
The ''Plot Point'' - According to field, the three acts are separated by two plot points. A plot point (which is sometimes referred to a reversal) is an event that thrusts the plot in a new direction, leading into a new act of the screenplay. Later screenplay gurus have built on Field's theory by stating that plot point #1, which leads into Act II, is the moment when the hero takes on the problem.
Act Two
Act II - The second act (Act II), compromises the next two quarters of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act II would approximately be 60 minutes)
What happens in Act II? (Confrontation)
Obstacles - In the second act, the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need.
First Culmination - This is the point just before the hallway mark of the film where the main character seems close to achieving his or her main goal/objective. Shortly afterwards, everything falls apart which then leads to the midpoint.
Midpoint - This is the point approximately halfway through the film where the main character reaches his/her lowest point (weakness) and seems very far away from fulfilling the dramatic need/objective.
Act Three
Act III - The third and final act (Act III) comprises the final quarter of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act III would approximately be the final 30 minutes)
What happens in Act III? (Resolution)
Climax (Second Culmination) - This is the point at which the plot reaches its maximum tension and the forces in the opposition confront each other at a peak (highest/tension point) of emotional or physical action.
Denouement - The brief period of calm at the end of the film where a state of equilibrium (which was seen at the start of the film) returns.
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| Summary of a basic 'Three Act Structure' |
the bottom image is the same as the top isn't it - I'd prefer to see the break down of a thriller film showing images of each of the turning points i the 3 act structure
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