Three Act Structure
This act introduces the main characters, the setting, and the conflict.
What is Act One?
This type of character usually motivates the story's main conflict
What is the Protagonist
This type of narrative integrates past or future events to provide context and suspense
What is Flashbacks/Flash-Fowards
This point of view tells the story directly from the main characters eyes as we witness events and new information at the same time as the protagonist
What is First Person
Films usually avoid this type of ending
What is a Ambiguous Ending
This event is the turning point that takes the story from Act One to Act two
This trait shows the audience why the protagonist takes action in the narrative
What is Motivation
This narrative has multiple, usually unconnected storylines that run all at the same time
What is Parallel Storylines
This point of view tells the story from multiple viewpoints, allowing for hidden truths to be revealed and to have emotions clash with one another
What is Multiple POV's
Unanswered questions are usually ok if they are this
What are Minor Plot Points
This principle makes sure that the events are logically followed across all three acts
What is Cause and Effect Storytelling
In character driven narratives, conflicts come from clashes between this and external obstacles
What are Character Goals
This narrative tells the story from beginning to end
What is Reverse Chronology
This point of view gives limited perspective, allowing only for interpretation of character actions and outward speech
What is Third Person
Questions related to this are often shown by the consequences of actions
What is Morality
This moment in the structure represents the peak of the plot and causes for the most action from its characters
What is the Climax
This type of change is very common for protagonists by the end of the film
What is Character Growth
This is a highly disjointed and disrupted structure. Films such as Memento use this narrative structured
What is Fragmented Narrative
Films use multiple points of view to create a complex timeline but also use it to maintain this
What is Narrative Clarity
This cultural function is reinforced when films answer all major questions
What is Social Order
By having a clear beginning, middle, and end, what do films aim to minimize in the plot for their audience
What is Confusion
This type of motivation is rooted internally and often paired with emotion and desire
What is Psychological Motivation
This is where the story ends where it begins
What is Circular Structure
This is the main reason as to why films limit subjective point of view techniques
What is Avoiding Audience Confusion
This is the main reason why films usually don't leave large plot point unanswered
What is Audience Satisfaction