Dramatic Structure of Films

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Dramatic Structure of Films
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• Know Your Ending!
• Know Your Plot Points!
• You must know where you are going so you know
  what needs to happen to get there.

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Act 3
Act 1
Act 2
Setup (pp. 1-30)
Confrontation (pp. 30-90)
Resolution (pp. 90-120)
Plot Point 1
Plot Point 2
Act 1 (setup) Dramatic context that holds the
content is introduced. Establishes the story,
characters, dramatic premise, relationships
between characters, and the situation.
Plot Point 1 (crisis) An incident that hooks
into the action and spins it in another direction
Act 2 (confrontation) main character encounters
obstacle after obstacle that keeps him from
achieving his or her dramatic need.
Plot Point 2 (climax) An incident that hooks
into the action and spins it toward the
climactic scene and resolution.
Act 3 (resolution) main character finally
overcomes obstacles to achieve dramatic need
other loose ends and relationships are tied up.
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Three Act Structure
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Dramatic Units
Sequence a series of scenes and bits tied
together by one single idea - each sequence
makes an individual point of plot in the story
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Dramatic Units
Bit 1 minute or so unit of action that moves
the plot along or reveals character
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Dramatic Units
Scene 3-4 minute unit that deals with emotions,
decisions or relationships usually has
dialog. - a scene needs to make a dramatic point
in an unequivocal manner.
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Dramatic Units

• Each bit and scene must have a point that aims
  towards the EVENT (ending)

Character development reveals a slight little
bit about your character or establishes dramatic
need of character
Dramatic situation reveals aspects about the
setting and location the circumstances
surrounding the action
Dramatic premise reveals what the story is
about sets up what is going to happen the rest
of the film
Dramatic situation reveals aspects about the
setting and location the circumstances
surrounding the action
Dramatic situation reveals aspects about the
setting and location the circumstances
surrounding the action
Antagonist development reveals actions of
antagonist or eludes to that something sinister
is going down or is about to happen
Moves the story along towards the plot points and
eventually the end
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The first 10 minutes

• The first 10 minutes (pages) of your movie
  determines whether the audience likes it or not.

• You must have bits and scenes that
• Develop the main character
• Identify the dramatic need
• Identify the dramatic situation
• Identify the dramatic premise
• Identify, or at least make known the existence
  of, the catalyst of the crisis of Plot Point 1
  (antagonist).