MONDAY'S SCRIPT TIP:
THREE ACT CONFLICT
I am a strong believer in "tools, not rules". There are no rules in screenwriting, the only
thing that matters is that your screenplay works. The 3 Act Structure is a tool that has
been around for at least 2,400 years in storytelling - and it has lasted so long because it
works. But the purpose of the 3 Act Structure is not to make sure that you have a major
plot point halfway down page 27, it's to make sure your story IS a story... not just a
collection of events that concern a protagonist. One of the Three Greek Unities is Unity
Of Event - your story has to be about ONE event rather than a series of events. Some
think of the Three Acts as "beginning, middle, and end" as a way to target a single
event... to make sure the story IS a story.
But "beginning, middle, and end" can become confusing when you're dealing with films
like MEMENTO that begins at the end. But even though it runs backwards,
MEMENTO's act 1 (first quarter of the film) introduces the conflict and it's act 3 (last
quarter of the film) resolves the conflict... so I prefer to think of the 3 Act Structure as:
Act 1: Introduction of Conflict
Act 2: Conflict and Escalation of Conflict
Act 3: Resolution of conflict.
The 3 Act Structure is a great tool for making sure your story actually has conflict,
enough conflict, and a focused central conflict. Story IS conflict - without it, you just
have boring incidents. You may give your character a goal, and have them spend pursuing that goal...
but still end up with a boring script. Knowing what your character wants doesn't matter unless you
also know why they can't have it (conflict). Your story may have a beginning, middle and end, but
what really matters is the conflict... here's why:
Act 1: What Protag wants - a piece of pecan pie.
Act 2: How does he go after it? - Orders from waitress.
Act 3: How does he get it - she returns in about 5 minutes with the pie.
No conflict, dull story.
But what if he doesn't have any money and wants to STEAL the piece of pecan pie...
and the pie case is behind the counter where all of the waitresses are.
Act 1: Wants a piece of pecan pie, has no money. (establishes conflict).
Act 2: Waits until no one is looking and sneaks behind counter to get pie... but a
waitress comes back and he has to hide in a cupboard under the counter. Another
waitress goes behind the counter and the two waitresses have a conversation. Our hero
in the cupboard feels his leg beginning to cramp... has to figure out how to work out the
cramp without the waitresses hearing his movements. Our hero feels something
crawling on his leg... a big ugly cockroach! (escalation of conflict).
Act 3: He opens cupboard door enough to toss cockroach onto a waitress' foot. She
screams, both waitresses run away. Hero rolls out from cupboard, grabs a slice of pie
and crawls to the other end of the counter and escapes. (resolution of conflict due to
protagonist's actions).
Conflict makes it a story. It's not so much what the protagonist wants, but why he can't
have it... the conflict. Conflict doesn't mean it's going to be car chases and fist fights,
the conflict can be wanting to get laid before you graduate high school (and having not
a single taker) or wanting to hook up with a guy who lives in Seattle when you live on
the other side of the country. Those are conflicts.
The 3 Act Structure is a great tool for making sure your script has conflict, that it has
enough conflict, and that the conflict is focused. So what does your protagonist want...
and why can't he have it? The struggle to overcome the conflict and achieve the goal is
what Act 2 is all about... what your STORY is all about. Use your tools to create the best screenplay possible.
MY BLOG!
SCRIPT SECRETS STORE - time to monkey around!
Is PRINCE CASPIAN even better than LION, WITCH & WARDROBE?
Was SPEED RACER more like MATRIX 2 & 3 than MATRIX 1... too much talk, not enough cool stuff? Did FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL have about 5 penis shots too many for you?
Be heard:
Movie Discussion!
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