The three-act structure is a common way to tell a story in film. It consists of three parts: the first act introduces characters and the problem, the second act presents obstacles, and the third act climaxes with the problem being solved. The first act is about 30 minutes, the second act is about 60 minutes, and the third act is about 30 minutes. The climax occurs when the hero defeats the villain, and the remaining story is a solution.
A three-act structure is a particular way in which a story can be told and is often employed when writing a screenplay for use in film. This basic format breaks the story into three parts, each called an “act,” and while some writers find it flawed, this structure works well for many scripts. The first act introduces the characters and the problem faced by them, presenting a moment when the protagonist gets in his way. In act two, this problem escalates and feels almost overwhelming, until a climax is reached and the problem is resolved in act three.
The first act of the three-act structure is typically described as the first quarter of a story; a 120-minute film would have a first act about 30 minutes in length. In this section the main and supporting characters are introduced and the basic problem of the story is presented. For example, if a hero needs to rid a land of a cruel tyrant, these characters are shown and the audience sees how evil the villain is. In a three-act structure, the first act ends with a plot point usually consisting of the hero taking up the problem, so in this example the hero might decide to find and defeat the evil king.
Following the plot point, the second act of a story in a three-act structure begins, as the hero sets off to solve the problem. This act is usually half of the story, so it could be the central 60 minutes of a 120-minute film. During the second act, numerous obstacles arise that prevent the hero from solving the problem, such as groups of creatures that must be defeated before reaching the evil king’s castle.
At one point in the second act, all hope seems lost and the characters believe that success cannot be achieved. This is often called the midpoint and falls about halfway through the story in a three-act structure. However, they emerge from it and continue to move with renewed intent towards the plot point that concludes the second act, such as when they reach the tyrant’s castle.
The final act within the three-act structure is the final quarter of the story, or approximately the last 30 minutes of a 120-minute film. In this third act, the issue climaxes at the moment of greatest dramatic tension, as the hero confronts the evil king in personal combat and defeats him. Once that occurs, the problem is basically solved, and the remaining story is a solution, like the hero returning home to be reunited with now freed loved ones. The rest of the three-act structure allows the audience to return to normal and enjoy the hero’s victory over the problem.
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