The first half of Act II is where the hero enters a new world, gradually masters it, and achieves a goal — only to find out that it still hasn’t gotten him what he really wants. By the end of Act I, the hero either voluntarily or is forced to take some action and enter […]
What makes a movie good isn’t necessarily what the story is about, but how the story is told. Bad movies tell one story where all the other characters exist solely to advance the plot. Good movies tell multiple stories where every character has a goal of their own. Look at “Jaws” and you’ll see a […]
Act III is what your movie is really all about — the battle between the hero and the villain. This is where the hero and the villain’s paths physically cross and only one can emerge victorious. Act III is the final part of your screenplay and needs to end with a memorable bang that the […]
“Finding Nemo” demonstrates the distinct parts of a typical movie based on the 15 Minute Movie Method. “Finding Nemo,” like all good movies, consists of approximately eight distinct mini-stories that all tie together. First, break up an entire story into four acts.\r\n\r\nAct I provides the exposition. Act IIa provides rising action, typically positive. Act IIb […]
The three elements of a story appear infused throughout an entire screenplay. If you omit these crucial elements of a story, you risk boring your audience. Every screen play consists of three Acts where Act I introduces us to an Inciting Incident, which is something that starts the story going. Act II contains the Rising […]