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3.4: Three-Act Structure

  • Page ID
    129720
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    Three-act structure

    The way acts are laid out in a television script and allow time for commercial breaks differs slightly from the traditional three-act dramatic structure: some broadcast and basic-cable sitcoms have only two acts. The concept of dramatic structure refers to a story based on action that falls into one of three acts, with plot points (or reversals) used to connect each act, and/or send the narrative into a different direction than it had previously been headed. The first and third acts cover roughly a third of the story each, and the second act is typically the longest, including a complication (an event or character that complicates the protagonist’s path to complete his or her goal) and a B-story (sub-plot).

    In the first act, the characters, themes, setting, and central conflict are established. At some point in the first act an inciting incident or catalyst occurs to set the story in motion. In the second act, the protagonist attempts to solve the central conflict but obstacles (often, the antagonist) get in their way. During the third act, the protagonist is able to resolve the central conflict of the story, defeat the antagonist, and achieve personal growth.

    Narrative Structure

    In the first act, the characters, themes, setting, and central conflict are established. At some point in the first act an inciting incident occurs to set the plot of the story in motion. In the second act, the protagonist attempts to solve the central conflict but obstacles (often the antagonist) gets in their way. During the third act, the protagonist is able to resolve the central conflict of the story, achieve personal growth, and defeat the antagonist.

    The subject matter of the film often determines how a documentary will be structured. The common storytelling techniques of a three-act structure applies to the beginning, middle and end of a story. The beginning of the documentary should grab the audience's attention. This is where you want to hook the audience and create a relationship with the subject. Documentaries often set up some kind of conflict or problem that needs to be resolved, which hooks the audience and keeps them wanting to know more about the conflict. The middle act is divided into numerous scenes that build on each other to reveal more details about the conflict. This is often where the protagonist of the documentary attempts to resolve the conflict and faces numerous obstacles, which builds tension for the audience. The final act is where all the tensions come to a head and the main question posed at the beginning of the film is either answered or left unresolved, prompting a call to action from the audience.


    This page titled 3.4: Three-Act Structure is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jennifer Vaughn (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)) .

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