The three Act structure
In my first narrative
structure lesson we were looking at the three act structure.
The three act
structure is the framework that all narratives and screenplays adhere to. Syd
Field's book The screenwriter’s workbook
proposes this theory.
The first act is
basically the setup of location, time period, events and, most importantly the
characters. The second act is known as confrontation, this is where a large
portion of the action happens in the story. The third and final act is
resolution; here is where the story reaches a solution and its end.
This is a detailed
breakdown of the three act structure.
Act 1
Set up - what happens?
Exposition - introduces characters, interrelationships,
places and time period.
Introduces main character, the dramatic premise and the
dramatic situation
Main character - person who has a need or objectives to
fulfil and whose actions drive the story
Dramatic premise - what the story is about
Dramatic situation - circumstances surrounding the action
Dramatic incident - an event that sets the plot of the film
in motion - occurs approx. halfway through the first act
Act 2: Confrontation
Obstacles - preventing the character achieving what they
need to achieve
First culmination - a point just before the halfway point in
the film where the character is close to achieving their objective then it all
falls apart, leading to the mid-point
Midpoint - a point where the character reaches their lowest
point and seems farthest away from fulfilling their dramatic need or objective
Plot point 2 - the glimmer of hope that will seem to suggest
the possibility that things will work out
Act 3 - resolution
Climax - second culmination is the point at which the two
antagonising forces meet and force an outcome
Denouement - the brief period of calm at the end of the film
where equilibrium is returned but slightly altered, or differently placed. The
character has become a better person, the world has changed - the people have
changed, for better or worse.
Tzvetan Todorov goes
on to suggest that narratives can be divided into five plot points which are:
1.
A state of equilibrium is established at the
outset.
2.
A disruption of the equilibrium is caused by an
action.
3.
Recognition of the disruption.
4.
An attempt to repair the disruption.
5.
Equilibrium is reinstated.
