More than ever, audiences are aware story structure, and the traditional format of how plots unfold, particularly in major studio movies. But as David Fincher observed, this classic structure can keep storytellers tied down, instead of allowing them to explore new ways to create tension and conflict. How do we, objectively, define the acts of a film? What are their driving forces? And are they necessary? At a time when Netflix opens the doors for new ways of unfolding narratives, these queries are more vital than ever.
In a detailed video essay, Lessons From The Screenplay uses “The Avengers” as a case study, breaking down the three act structure of the blockbuster. Finding inciting moments through exposition, conflict, and resolution, each act is detailed by actions that occur and the consequences that unfold. But what if the three act paradigm doesn’t apply to “The Avengers”? The video essay continues to challenge this idea by introducing the Five Act Structure. This concept is outlined defined by: Exposition, Complications, Climax, Falling Action, and Catastrophe.
As the video essay verges into the enigmatic, we’re left wondering — does a three act or five act structure even matter? What audiences can ultimately gauge may not be the structure itself but the quality of content in each act. Regardless of five acts, three acts, or eight sequence breakdown, each structure is simply an outline to make a writer better.