Three Act Structure Explained — The Secret to Telling a Great Story

Summary by Krater

This video breaks down the traditional three-act screenplay structure into eight key beats, using examples from popular films like Jurassic Park, The Dark Knight, and Star Wars to explain how each story point functions.

From the video

Answers: What is the three-act screenwriting structure?

• Three-act structure
• Screenplay pacing
• Plot points in screenwriting
• Film story beats

What it concludes

• Structuring provides a framework into which a story can take many different forms and serves as a guideline for creating a resonant psychological transformation.
• The hook must answer why the audience should keep watching and act as the first domino leading into full immersion.
• The inciting event happens about 12 percent into the film and is when characters first brush up against the conflict.
• The first plot point occurs at about 25 percent into the film, marking a point of no return and full immersion in the conflict.
• Pinch points emphasize the antagonistic force and what is at stake for the protagonist in the second act.
• The midpoint acts as the moment of truth where the protagonist's perspective on the plot conflict completely changes and moves from reactive to proactive.