Every story follows a similar structure just as every car follows a similar form. That doesn’t mean that you can create stories using a fixed formula, but that stories, by their definition, must follow certain forms to engage an audience and provide a satisfying conclusion. Every story is unique, yet every story follows a similar […]
What makes a movie good or bad isn’t the story, the plot, the actors, or the setting. What makes a good story is setting up events and then paying them off. Bad movies don’t set up events, so they appear unrealistic and come out of nowhere. Good movies set up our expectations and then surprise […]
Act III is all about confrontation with the villain. However, you can’t just throw the hero and the villain together right away. Instead, you have to drag it out and tease the audience. The seventh 15 minute segment of your story needs to show your hero taking the step to confront the villain and force […]
The final part of your movie is what people will remember the most. You have to give the audience a satisfying, yet surprising ending. Whatever the case, the hero almost never wins easily because nothing goes according to plan. The eighth 15 minute segment of a movie is when everything comes together and we finally […]