Week 3: Film Narrative Structure

I have always been fascinated by film narrative structure. Like many others stories in our lifes, films follow the same pattern as any normal story: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner, Beginning-Middle-End, Birth-Life-Death, or Morning-Noon-Night. In film though, the script is written in three acts each act playing its own role in the progression of the story. Those three acts are: Act I (The step up), Act II (the obstacles), Act III (the resolution)

Act I has been always fascinating. This is where we get to have an idea of who are the major characters, know the nature of protagonist(s) and antagonist(s). If I don't like the first part of the movie, the odds are I may not like the rest of the movie. Act I is supposed to get my attention. However, some trailors do a great job in introducing a movie even though the audience might not like the introduction of the film. Which means a good introduction and/or a good trailor might motivate many people to watch a particular film.

In Act II major characters are facing negative forces or obstacles and are struggling to solve their problems and achieve their goals. They are encouraged to adapt, grow, and learn new skills to be able to face their giants, even though they are being crushed and challenged consistantly.

Act III is one of my favorite. In the embedded YouTube video we are told that, protagonist learn that hardwork, honesty, and being a good person are the real ways to solve a problem. Ironically and congruently, violance (guns, sword, martial art) may be used to solve the problem as we have seen it in our favorite movies.