Syd Fields framework is basically Aristotle’s framework but built specifically for film. It is technically a 4 act structure, but as you’ll see, it is merely a 3 act structure in disguise. ACT 1: SET-UP The “opening image” sets the tone of the story that will be told. The “Inciting
BEGINNING, MIDDLE, END The three-act paradigm is the dominant model in modern movies, television and books. Once you see it, you’ll see it everywhere. Aristotle’s framework is simple. It all starts with a story having a beginning, a middle and an end. Here are the contents of the three acts
STORY STRUCTURE BASICS 3000 years ago, Aristotle wrote his first book on the structure of drama in “The Poetics”. Since then not much has changed. In the book, Aristotle defines story as having a beginning, middle and ending, Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3. It seems obvious at first
To really hammer home the importance of the change that occurs throughout a story we will look at the Emotional structure concept of Peter Dunne. Emotional Journey Over Plot Touching on characters, which would be a guide in and of itself, Peter Dunne keeps our 3 act structure. Beginning, middle
Not Just For Heroes Perhaps you’ve heard about The Hero’s Journey before, maybe you’ve even looked at it and thought “Hah!, I’m sure that works for Star Wars and The Matrix but clearly not for my story”. I am going to prove you wrong. The goal of this section is