Finding a Third Act: Mark's Resource Roundup
- Mark Bedard
- Jan 12, 2018
- 1 min read
Three act structure, love or hate it, we as writers have to deal with it. Ideally, in a well-written screenplay, the story is seamless. We don’t need no stinkin’ act breaks! Third acts in screenplays are like third acts in life, they’re only possible if you know where to look for them.
As we look back on our lives we look at the roadblocks we encountered along the way. Did we overcome them? Were they resolved in a way that was satisfactory? Our own personal “third act” is where we can right some wrongs and take actions that resolve those things that feel incomplete in some way. It’s the same for screenplays. A basic definition of a third act is:
The Protagonist heads towards the third act deliverance where the final decision is made and the action is resolved. Often, this allows the theme of the story to be revealed. The third act must accomplish three things:
Resolve the central action line
Reveal the final image of the Protagonist---has he/she changed? How? Why? What is this new identity?
All that is set up must be paid off now.
The key to a satisfying third act is to remember the setup must occur in the first act. Endeavor to form a good third act in life as well as your writing. You are what you create, so write a great third act.
Keep writing,
Mark
Resource Links:
Parting Thought:
“Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act.” ― Truman Capote
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