Story
Autopsy:
How I Wrote a Novel in Three Days And Then Adapted It Into
a Movie Starring Billy Crystal
Demystifying the
three-act structure
with Chris
Millis
The following is
an outline of Chris’s PowerPoint presentation delivered Friday, March 8 at the
2013 Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference in Boston, MA,
Stories are
about:
Changes
Significant Moments
Memorable Endings
Changes
Significant Moments
Memorable Endings
Real life
doesn’t need to make sense, but movies do.
ACT I
About 9-10 scenes
Ordinary world is established
Hero has Limited Awareness
About 9-10 scenes
Ordinary world is established
Hero has Limited Awareness
Thesis is presented
Introduce most Principal
Characters
Call to
Adventure
Departure for the Hero
Separation from comfort
Stasis is death
Departure for the Hero
Separation from comfort
Stasis is death
On average, a
screenplay is about 110 pages long.
That works out to roughly one minute of screen time per page.
That works out to roughly one minute of screen time per page.
Quick math:
Take a theoretical 110 page screenplay:
Midpoint = Page 55
Act I ends around Page 25-30
Act II ends around Page 85-90
Take a theoretical 110 page screenplay:
Midpoint = Page 55
Act I ends around Page 25-30
Act II ends around Page 85-90
First 10 pages
is called The Set Up
Meet our hero,
or heroes, and learn about their:
Work
Home
Play
Work
Home
Play
Opening Image
What’s the first thing you see?
What’s the first thing you see?
Statement of the
Theme
Often happens around the five minute mark
Doesn’t necessarily come from the Hero or another Principal Character
Often happens around the five minute mark
Doesn’t necessarily come from the Hero or another Principal Character
What is a “Save
the Cat” moment?
Catalyst or Inciting Incident
Usually around the 12-15 minute mark
What draws the Hero into the story? What Forces him to choose between the known and the unknown?
Usually around the 12-15 minute mark
What draws the Hero into the story? What Forces him to choose between the known and the unknown?
Refusal of
the Call
Individual vs. Systemic problems
Debate:
“I don’t want to change.”
“I must change.”
Individual vs. Systemic problems
Debate:
“I don’t want to change.”
“I must change.”
Introduction of
the Mentor
Supernatural Aid
Supernatural Aid
A Decision
is made
Crossing the First Threshold into the Belly of the Whale
Crossing the First Threshold into the Belly of the Whale
“Small
Apartments”: Franklin Decides to Move the Body
Break into
Act II
Something BIG happens.
In a 110-page script: around Page 25-30
The Hero can’t go back to his old life. Can only go forward.
Something BIG happens.
In a 110-page script: around Page 25-30
The Hero can’t go back to his old life. Can only go forward.
“Small
Apartments”: Franklin Tries to Make It Look Like a Suicide
Act II
About 10 scenes
Antithesis
Descent/Initiation
The New World of the story
The Road of Trials
About 10 scenes
Antithesis
Descent/Initiation
The New World of the story
The Road of Trials
The first half
of Act II delivers the Promise of the Premise
Includes “set pieces”
Visually embodies the film’s concept (trailer moments)
Includes “set pieces”
Visually embodies the film’s concept (trailer moments)
The B-Story begins
About page 30-35
Love Interest
Meeting the Goddess
Woman as Temptress
About page 30-35
Love Interest
Meeting the Goddess
Woman as Temptress
Characters begin
to bond
Hero accumulates power and information
Hero accumulates power and information
Hero is tested
Begins acquiring Allies and Enemies
Conflict intensifies
Begins acquiring Allies and Enemies
Conflict intensifies
“Small
Apartments”: Burt Walnut Investigates
Introduction of New
Character
Usually right before, or as a part of, the Midpoint Sequence
Usually right before, or as a part of, the Midpoint Sequence
Midpoint
About Page 55
The Supreme Ordeal for the Hero
Big Change
Reversal of Momentum
Hero struggles with a Tangible vs. Spiritual goal
About Page 55
The Supreme Ordeal for the Hero
Big Change
Reversal of Momentum
Hero struggles with a Tangible vs. Spiritual goal
Second Half
of Act II
About 9-10 scenes
Ideas fail
Desperation grows
Argument and Indecision
Friends abandon the Hero
About 9-10 scenes
Ideas fail
Desperation grows
Argument and Indecision
Friends abandon the Hero
Bad guys – or,
if it’s an Anti-Hero – good guys gain ground
Consequences from earlier actions start closing in on the Hero
Consequences from earlier actions start closing in on the Hero
“Small
Apartments”: Burt Walnut Interviews Mr. Allspice
All is Lost
About Page 75
Also called the Death Beat or “whiff of death”
Atonement with the Father
About Page 75
Also called the Death Beat or “whiff of death”
Atonement with the Father
The Death Beat
is often a “false” victory or defeat that will mirror the film’s climax
The Death Beat
also often signals the death of the Mentor, whether physically or in
spirit
Rock Bottom
“Dark Night of the Soul”
Around Page 75-85
Resurrection
Hero must regroup for the final push that will carry him into Act III
“Dark Night of the Soul”
Around Page 75-85
Resurrection
Hero must regroup for the final push that will carry him into Act III
Act III
Around Page 85
15-25 pages long
Synthesis
The Ultimate Boon
Going to combine knowledge and mistakes so far to make a New Plan
Around Page 85
15-25 pages long
Synthesis
The Ultimate Boon
Going to combine knowledge and mistakes so far to make a New Plan
The Return
The Magic Flight
Rescue From Without
The Magic Flight
Rescue From Without
The Five Step
Finale
Step One:
Gather the team
Gather the team
Step Two:
Execute the plan
Execute the plan
Step Three:
Beat the Ticking Clock
Overcome the “Surprise”
Beat the Ticking Clock
Overcome the “Surprise”
Step Four:
Dig deep for the New, New Plan
Complete all Character Arcs (usually three beats)
Dig deep for the New, New Plan
Complete all Character Arcs (usually three beats)
Crossing the Return
Threshold
Step Five:
The Climax
It’s all led up to this.
Pull off the New, New Plan
Surprising, yet inevitable
It’s all led up to this.
Pull off the New, New Plan
Surprising, yet inevitable
Denouement or Coda
Master of Two Worlds
Freedom to Live
Master of Two Worlds
Freedom to Live
Final Image
Opposite of Opening Image
Recommended Reading List:
Opposite of Opening Image
Recommended Reading List: