A really simple introduction to 3 act structure for screen

1. Structure

2. What is Plot?
• An arrangement of events to
achieve a particular effect.

3. 3 Act Structure
p44 Joseph McBride Writing in Pictures
ACT 1 Something Happens
Establishes the
characters and
situation
Act 2
The characters undergo
change
Conflict
Act 3
A situation or a set of relationships
undergoes development and usually
some kind of resolution, though some
films are more ‘open’ in their endings.
Not Everything has to be neatly tied up
at the end.
Resolution

4. ACT 1 ACT 2 ACT 3
Set Up Obstacles Vs Goal
Climax &
Resolutio
n
Plot
Point 1
Plot
Point 2

5. Exposition
• Strong opening.
• Is it visual?
• Set up a mystery/problem to be solved
• Make sure there is a dilemma.
• Build towards the first act/commercial break
• Make sure you have a hook to keep viewers watching.

6. Act 1
• How will you open at a place that
creates a hook?
• Themes introduced
• Is there a problem
• What takes us into act 2?

7. Act 2
• Are there plenty of internal & external
obstacles
• Does it have a sense of build
• Crisis taking us into act 3

8. Plot Problems
• Redundant scenes
• Plots without tension. This happens when story is
resolved too soon, too many explanations etc.
• Scenes where characters behave inconsistently or
make idiotic decisions
• Unsympathetic characters
• Scenes with lots of incidents, but no story development.

9. Act 3
• Pay Off - Goal achieved or failed
• What happens in the end
• Sense of resolution
• Themes covered

10. Make Every Scene
Count