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Writing For Film Day 2 Notes

We discussed the three act structure in detail, along with forming a b...
Course

Writing For Film And Video (COMM 3765)

3 Documents
Students shared 3 documents in this course
Academic year: 2022/2023
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Fitchburg State University

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Screenplay Structure 2/6/23 (Day 2)

Overview of Screenplay Structure - Screenplay is structure - Commercial screenplays follow a standard form - 90-110 pages - Classical structures - Learn the rules first, then feel free to break them

Act 1 - Opening Image: page 1 - First impressions of the film: tone, mood, genre, and scope of the story - Shows the audience the starting point of the hero; it gives us a “before” snapshot - Theme Stated: page 5 - Somewhere in the first five minutes someone (usually not the main character) will pose a question or make a statement (usually to the main character) that states the thematic premise of the film - A good screenplay is an argument posed by the writer about the pros/cons of living a particular kind of life, or pursuing a particular goal - Set Up: pages 1- - Sets up the character’s world / status quo before the main conflict is introduced - Shows how and why the character will need to change in order to achieve their goal – every character tic, behavior, etc. that will need to be addressed later on - Catalyst: page 12 - Now that you have set up the character’s world, this moment is the first step in knocking it all down - Sets up the larger conflict and the action the character will need to take at the end of act one - Debate: pages 12- - Now that the conflict has started to become apparent to the character, they need to decide what to do - The debate section is just that – a debate. Character needs to consider what to do next - It's the last chance for the character to say “this is crazy” - By the end of act one, the character will take action - Break Into Two: page 25 - Major plot points – the character’s world is turned upside down - Act 1 is the thesis; Act 2 is the antithesis - The character must confront the conflict

Act 2

  • B Story: page 30
    • Subplot that carries the theme of the movie; the B story may include new characters
  • Fun and Games: pages 30-
    • Heart of the movie; provides the promise of the premise
    • The character’s initial understanding of the conflict is incomplete; their first attempt to solve the problem won’t work
    • Throughout this section, the character learns more about the conflict and starts to understand what they will need to do to be successful
  • Midpoint: page 55
    • Fun and games are over, the stakes are raised
    • The hero seemingly peaks (though it is a false peak) or the world collapses all around the hero (though it is a false collapse)
  • Bad Guys Close In: pages 55-
    • Forces aligned against the hero (internal and external) tighten their grip
  • All is Lost: page 75
    • Opposite of the midpoint
    • All aspects of the hero’s life are in shambles
    • The whiff of death
      • The old world, the old character, the old way of thinking dies
      • Clears the way for the fusion of the thesis (what was) and the antithesis (the upside down version of what was) to become synthesis, that beginning a new world, a new life
  • Dark Night of the Soul: pages 75-
    • The point just before the hero reaches deep down and pulls out the last, best idea that will save themselves and everyone around them
    • However, at this moment, the idea is nowhere in sight
  • Break Into Three: page 85
    • The climax of the story
    • A story and B story meet and intertwine
      • Thanks to the character and conversations discussing theme in the B story
      • And the hero’s last best effort to discover a solution to reach their goal, a solution is in sight
    • Now all the hero has to do is apply it

Act 3 - Finale: pages 85- - The lessons learned through the conflict are applied - Turning over of the old world and a creation of a new world order - All thanks to the hero and their actions - The finale is where a new society is born - Not enough for the hero to triumph, they must change their world

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Writing For Film Day 2 Notes

Course: Writing For Film And Video (COMM 3765)

3 Documents
Students shared 3 documents in this course

University: Fitchburg State University

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Screenplay Structure 2/6/23 (Day 2)
Overview of Screenplay Structure
- Screenplay is structure
- Commercial screenplays follow a standard form
- 90-110 pages
- Classical structures
- Learn the rules first, then feel free to break them
Act 1
- Opening Image: page 1
- First impressions of the film: tone, mood, genre, and scope of the story
- Shows the audience the starting point of the hero; it gives us a “before” snapshot
- Theme Stated: page 5
- Somewhere in the first five minutes someone (usually not the main character) will
pose a question or make a statement (usually to the main character) that states
the thematic premise of the film
- A good screenplay is an argument posed by the writer about the pros/cons of
living a particular kind of life, or pursuing a particular goal
- Set Up: pages 1-10
- Sets up the character’s world / status quo before the main conflict is introduced
- Shows how and why the character will need to change in order to achieve their
goal – every character tic, behavior, etc. that will need to be addressed later on
- Catalyst: page 12
- Now that you have set up the character’s world, this moment is the first step in
knocking it all down
- Sets up the larger conflict and the action the character will need to take at the
end of act one
- Debate: pages 12-25
- Now that the conflict has started to become apparent to the character, they need
to decide what to do
- The debate section is just that – a debate. Character needs to consider what to
do next
- It's the last chance for the character to say “this is crazy”
- By the end of act one, the character will take action
- Break Into Two: page 25
- Major plot points – the character’s world is turned upside down
- Act 1 is the thesis; Act 2 is the antithesis
- The character must confront the conflict
Act 2

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