Scribd
Upload
230 views35 pages

Structure of A Screenplay: Dr. Sailesh Kolanu

This document discusses the structure of a screenplay. It explains that a screenplay needs more than just interesting scenes joined together - it needs a clear structure to guide the audience from beginning to end. The document then outlines the typical three-act structure with a beginning, middle, and end, and identifies some key components or plot points within each act, such as the catalyst, plot point 1, pinch points, and the all-important resolution. The overall message is that understanding structure is important for crafting a compelling narrative arc for the screenplay.

Uploaded by

Hello
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
230 views35 pages

Structure of A Screenplay: Dr. Sailesh Kolanu

This document discusses the structure of a screenplay. It explains that a screenplay needs more than just interesting scenes joined together - it needs a clear structure to guide the audience from beginning to end. The document then outlines the typical three-act structure with a beginning, middle, and end, and identifies some key components or plot points within each act, such as the catalyst, plot point 1, pinch points, and the all-important resolution. The overall message is that understanding structure is important for crafting a compelling narrative arc for the screenplay.

Uploaded by

Hello
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 35

Structure of a Screenplay

Dr. Sailesh Kolanu

Y
DISCLAIMER

I AM NOT A SCREENPLAY
GURU
My Story
Realisation
• Screenplay needs a structure.

• It is just not interesting scenes


joined together with interesting
transitions.
Why do we need a
structure?

• Story is a maze.
• Structure = holding the
hand of your audience
and guiding them.
• Beginning, middle and an
end
Books
• Syd Field did not work for me when I
first picked it up.
• Lost the motivation of learning the craft.
• Blake Snyder changed it for me.
• Save the Cat
• Reading every book will make you
complete a screenplay.
• Adapt to Indian films.
Process

• Idea
• Incubation time
• Log line
• Execution
• Character biographies
• World and set up
• Beginning middle and end
• Plot points
Idea
• People
• News
• Books
• Music
• Photography
• Movies and TV shows
• Idea journal is an
amazing tool
Incubation time

• Cork Board and Index Cards


• Keep the idea running at the
back of the mind
• Shower / Swimming pool is
my green house
• Keep putting everything on
paper
• Have a lot of alone time
Log Line

• What is your movie in two or


three lines
• Components of a log line
• Who is the protagonist
• Who is the antagonist
• What happens in the
movie
• Beginning, middle and the
end of the movie
Character Biographies

• Internal and External


• Professional
• Personal
• Private
• Writing a back story for every character will
dictate their dramatic choices in the
screenplay
• Performance boundaries will depend on
biographies of each character in the
screenplay
World and Set Up

• The idea and the


story will decide
the world and set
up
• Stay true to the
world
• Uniqueness and
authenticity
Evolution of the structure

• Beginning and an End


• Beginning, Middle and an End
• Beginning, Middle and an End
(Not necessarily in the same
order)
• Beginning, Middle and End
(Not necessarily in the same
order and not necessarily of
the same length)
Three Act Structure
• Act 1 (Beginning)
• Act 2 (Middle)
• Act 3 (End)

• Not a rule to follow this structure


Act 1
• Beginning of a story
• Setting up of the characters and the world
• Organically lead to a conflict
• What to achieve in Act 1:
• Establish
• Make the audience root for the protagonist / antagonist
• By the end of Act 1, the protagonist should be in a riveting conflict from which
she/he can not walk out.
• There is no going back now
Key Components of Act 1
• Opening Image

• Catalyst

• Plot point 1

• Connect these anchors in an


engaging and emotionally indulging
way and you have the beginning of
your screenplay sorted
Setting up the
protagonist
Catalyst
Setting up the antagonist
Plot point 1
Act 2
• Middle of the story
• Generally the lengthiest part of your screenplay
• Puts the protagonist on a journey to try and solve the conflict
• Proactive protagonist will indulge in the audience
• What to achieve in Act 2:
• Effort of the protagonist
• Proactive characters addressing the conflict
• Propel towards resolution of the conflict
• Plot and the sub plots should nicely lead way to a resution
Key Components of Act 2
• Pinch 1

• Mid Point (The Dreaded Interval)

• Pinch 2

• Plot point 2
Pinch 1
Mid Point
Pinch 2
Plot Point 2
Act 3
• Ending of the story
• The plot and all the sub plots slowly start moving towards a satisfying
resolution
• Try to make it reasonably unpredictable
• What to achieve in Act 3:
• The protagonist needs to have a clear path for resolution
• This path should have maximum resistance in every possible way
• Protagonist can fall and raise
• The conflict is resolved
Key Components of Act 3
• Initial burst towards resolution – hope

• All is lost moment

• Rise (The Knight in the Golden Armor)

• Final conflict and ending image


Initial Burst
All is lost
Rise
Final conflict
Resolution
Ending Image
• Start with the anchors in each act
• Connect them using interesting sequences
• Understand what is the emotional drive of your
audience at each part of your script
Summary • Maintain the emotional drive
• Key is to have the audience glued to the narrative

• If you have an idea, START WRITING. Do not


procrastinate.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy