24.09.13

Classical Hollywood Narrative - 3 Act Structure, Cause and Effect, Hero's Journey

Classical Narrative Structure: It's called this because it is the way most movies are made in Hollywood. It's the most common structure of story telling in mainstream films. It's based on a three act format that organises story in the following way:

Act 1 - The setup:

The main characters are introduced in the story, as well as their goals and the obstacles that they are likely to face. The main antagonist (villain) is also introduced.

Act 2 - The Development (Disruption):

Plot complications are added to the story. Main characters encounter the obstacles that stand in the way. That's Midway through the story.


Act 3 - The Resolution:

The final segment of the film, the results of the story's main conflict come to a dramatic confrontation, which is called the Climax of the story.

3 Main Phrases

• Equilibrium (Act 1)
• Disruption (Act 2)
• Equilibrium Re-established (Act 3) OR Positive Resolution