That Snit's Pretty Big
This household item becomes the catalyst for the couple’s escalating argument.
What is the Scrabble board?
In this part of the story, we get to meet the protagonist and their ordinary world before everything inevitably gets turned upside down.
What is the Exposition or Set Up?
this event kicks off the story when a mysterious figure waits ominously outside.
What is the inciting incident?
This is what a protagonist typically starts with—a conscious desire like fame, revenge, or being left alone.
What is a want or outer goal
Sometimes confused with a logline, this witty slogan advertises a finished film to moviegoers
What is a tagline?
While the couple argues, this global event unfolds unnoticed outside their home.
What is a nuclear war?
This is the event disrupts the normal world and launches the story into motion.
What is the catalyst or inciting incident?
This moment at 4:50 shows the protagonist engaging in the central narrative device (guessing who he is)
What is the Break into act 2 or beginning of act 2
By the end of most films, a protagonist shifts focus to this deeper, often emotional or moral goal.
What is a need or inner goal
This term describes a female character with no inner life, written solely to help the male protagonist feel emotions. She’s quirky. She has bangs.
What is a "manic pixie dream girl"
This quirky habit of the wife irritates her husband during their game.
shaking her eyes
The final confrontation between the protagonist and the main opposing force of the story.
What is the Climax?
Between 7:00 and 7:15, this major turning point shifts everything when a secret is revealed
What is the midpoint?
This term describes the emotional or psychological journey a protagonist goes through, often learning a life lesson along the way.
What is a character arc
This is the fancy screenwriting term for “something convenient happens and fixes the entire story because we’re out of time and budget.”
What is a Deus Ex Machina
This is the name of the husband’s favorite TV show, which he watches during the game.
What is Sawing for Teens?
At this point, the protagonist makes a choice to face the challenge ahead, officially beginning their journey.
What is the "Break into two" or Beginning of Act Two?
This is the climax of the film
When he finally admits who he is
In Iron Man (2008), Tony Stark starts off wanting to sell weapons and stay on top, but after a near-death experience, realizes he needs to do this instead.
Take responsibility for his actions
I ran out of questions. Pick a number between 1 and 5.
What is 2?
At the film’s conclusion, the couple steps outside to find this.
This event shifts the direction of the story, often with surprising consequences for the protagonist.
What is the Midpoint?
These are the two moments in the story that feature a collage of the protagonist’s life—one at the beginning, and one at the end.
What is the Opening Image and Final Image
In Breaking Bad, Walter White starts with a want to provide for his family after his death, but this is what he ultimately realizes he truly needed all along.
What is power and control
A frightened, withdrawn Philadelphia boy who communicates with the dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.
What is Jaws 2?