Week 2- The 3 act structure

The 3-act structure is a very old maxim widely adhered to in storytelling and fiction writing today. It can be found in plays, poetry, novels, comic books, short stories, video games, and the movies. It waspresent in the novels of Conan Doyle, the plays of Shakespeare, the fables of Aesop, the poetry of Aristotle, and the films of Hitchcock. It’s older than Greek dramaturgy. Hollywood and Broadway use it well. It’s irrefutable and bullet-proof, so to speak.

Though quite simple, the 3-act structure has proven to be a valuable weapon in the arsenal of any screenwriter. Yes, there are alternatives to telling a story. But the 3-act structure is a highly accepted and greatly successful method. Any alternative will cause shock and, quite possibly, disappointment.

The 3 acts are labeled as:

Act I: Setup

Act II: Confrontation 

Act III: Resolution

Act I: The Setup

The first act is where all the major characters of the story are introduced, plus the world where they live in, and the conflict that will move the story forward. In Act I, the writer has the freedom to create any setting and reality that he so wishes. It’s in the first pages of the script that he defines the reasoning and logic of the story. This early in the script, anything is possible. Act 1 ends with inciting incident or a plot point.

Inciting Incident

The inciting incident is the event the changes your character life forever and propels him to act and do something that he does not want to do. At this point the story begins in the film.

Act II: Confrontation

The second act is by far the longest, encompassing half of the movie and taking place between the first and third acts. For some screenwriters, Act II is the hardest one to squeeze out. This happens because after the initial boost of a new story, the writer is left without plot elements to introduce. The story, its characters and conflict are all established. Act 2 sees your character fight his way through obstacles to achieve his wants and goals. In the middle of act 2 is the mid point. Act 2 ends with a plot point called the climax.

Mid Point

The mid point in act 2 is not really in the middle exactly but its basically a point where your character goes through a challenge that will change him or his goals. This point we also see how far he is willing to sacrifice for the cause, the hero is on the fence and do not know what to do, the stakes get higher. This point may also change the course of the story. A decision is critical.

Act III: Resolution

The last act, Act III presents the final confrontation of the movie, followed by the dénouement. This act is usually the shortest in length because quickly after the second turning point of the script, the main character is face to face with the villain or just about. Showdown ensues and then conclusion.