Post by Mike Scherer on Dec 19, 2012 9:47:32 GMT -5
Want an invaluable guide to the latest thinking on screenplay structure? Take a minute to join the screenwriting community, Script Boutique (scriptboutique.co.uk/. Currently based in the UK, but soon to be active in the US.
For signing up you will receive the PDF document, Scriptwriter Guide, with a terrific overview of all types of screenplay structures. From the table of contents:
2. Story Structures ................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 Three-Act Structure ..................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
2.2.2 Act One (Setup / Exposition).................................................................................................... 3
2.2.3 Act Two (Complication / Obstacles / Confrontation) .............................................................. 4
2.2.4 Act Three (Resolution) ............................................................................................................. 6
2.3 Freytag’s Pyramid (Five-Act Structure) ........................................................................................ 7
2.3.1 Act One (Exposition / Introduction) ......................................................................................... 7
2.3.2 Act Two (Rising Action) ............................................................................................................ 8
2.3.3 Act Three (Climax).................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.4 Act Four (Falling Action) .......................................................................................................... 8
2.3.5 Act Five (Dénoument / Resolution) ......................................................................................... 8
2.4 Syd Field’s The Paradigm ............................................................................................................. 8
2.4.1 Syd Field’s Checkpoints for Writing a Better Script ................................................................. 9
2.5 Robert McKee’s Central Plot and The Quest ............................................................................... 9
2.5.1 Central Plot .............................................................................................................................. 9
2.5.2 The Quest ...............................................................................................................................10
2.6 Linda Seger’s Story Spine ...........................................................................................................10
2.7 John Truby’s Twenty-Two Building Blocks .................................................................................11
2.8 Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth ...................................................................................................12
2.9 Christopher Vogler’s The Hero’s Journey ..................................................................................13
2.10 Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Plot Structure ..................................................................................16
2.10.1 Outer Journey ....................................................................................................................16
2.10.2 Inner Journey .....................................................................................................................17
2.10.3 Hero Qualities ....................................................................................................................17
2.11 Dramatica’s Act Structure ..........................................................................................................18
2.11.1 The Story Mind ..................................................................................................................19
2.11.2 Big Picture Throughline .....................................................................................................19
2.11.3 The Main Character Arc .....................................................................................................19
2.11.4 The Impact Character Arc ..................................................................................................20
2.11.5 Relationship Throughline ...................................................................................................20
2.12 Linda Aronson’s Parallel Narrative Structures ...........................................................................20
2.12.1 Large Cast, Multiple Linear Storylines ...............................................................................21
2.12.2 Non-linear Flashbacks, Time Jumps and Fractured Storylines ..........................................23
2.12.3 Reminders from Linda Aronson .........................................................................................25
Give it a shot and always,
Keep Writing!
For signing up you will receive the PDF document, Scriptwriter Guide, with a terrific overview of all types of screenplay structures. From the table of contents:
2. Story Structures ................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 Three-Act Structure ..................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
2.2.2 Act One (Setup / Exposition).................................................................................................... 3
2.2.3 Act Two (Complication / Obstacles / Confrontation) .............................................................. 4
2.2.4 Act Three (Resolution) ............................................................................................................. 6
2.3 Freytag’s Pyramid (Five-Act Structure) ........................................................................................ 7
2.3.1 Act One (Exposition / Introduction) ......................................................................................... 7
2.3.2 Act Two (Rising Action) ............................................................................................................ 8
2.3.3 Act Three (Climax).................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.4 Act Four (Falling Action) .......................................................................................................... 8
2.3.5 Act Five (Dénoument / Resolution) ......................................................................................... 8
2.4 Syd Field’s The Paradigm ............................................................................................................. 8
2.4.1 Syd Field’s Checkpoints for Writing a Better Script ................................................................. 9
2.5 Robert McKee’s Central Plot and The Quest ............................................................................... 9
2.5.1 Central Plot .............................................................................................................................. 9
2.5.2 The Quest ...............................................................................................................................10
2.6 Linda Seger’s Story Spine ...........................................................................................................10
2.7 John Truby’s Twenty-Two Building Blocks .................................................................................11
2.8 Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth ...................................................................................................12
2.9 Christopher Vogler’s The Hero’s Journey ..................................................................................13
2.10 Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Plot Structure ..................................................................................16
2.10.1 Outer Journey ....................................................................................................................16
2.10.2 Inner Journey .....................................................................................................................17
2.10.3 Hero Qualities ....................................................................................................................17
2.11 Dramatica’s Act Structure ..........................................................................................................18
2.11.1 The Story Mind ..................................................................................................................19
2.11.2 Big Picture Throughline .....................................................................................................19
2.11.3 The Main Character Arc .....................................................................................................19
2.11.4 The Impact Character Arc ..................................................................................................20
2.11.5 Relationship Throughline ...................................................................................................20
2.12 Linda Aronson’s Parallel Narrative Structures ...........................................................................20
2.12.1 Large Cast, Multiple Linear Storylines ...............................................................................21
2.12.2 Non-linear Flashbacks, Time Jumps and Fractured Storylines ..........................................23
2.12.3 Reminders from Linda Aronson .........................................................................................25
Give it a shot and always,
Keep Writing!