Lesson 6

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s 3-Act Structure

What I learned… while it’s true, “Most of the answers to the structure already exist in your three tracks”, I found that this next step was vital to lasso all these wild action scenes and bring them into the corral. It was another step to help shape and bring clarity to the story. While I’m not thrilled with it, yet, it’s getting there. Wonderful.

Opening – An action scene, starring Jimmy Blazer, an American action movie star, is filmed on location in a foreign country.

Inciting Incident – Titan, a foreign secret agent, receives an assignment but refuses to accept the mission. He goes dark and tries to move his secret family whose location is dead center of the attack.

First Turning Point at the end of Act 1 – Titan is a doppelganger of action movie star Jimmy Blazer. He incapacitates and then convinces Jimmy to lay low while he takes over his action movie star persona.

Mid-Point – Titan learns that his boss, Cal, has ulterior motives – that the attack is not for his country, but for his own personal gain. Titan decides to actively sabotage the mission and goes after the codes necessary to carry out the attack.

Second Turning Point at the end of Act 2 – Jimmy returns to the set on the same day that Titan’s agency has ascertained Titan’s location. Jimmy is apprehended by the agency.

Crisis – Cal goes to the movie set and poisons Titan. Cal captures Titan’s family and kills Titan’s friend.

Climax – The attack is set in motion. Titan thwarts the attack, saves his family, and kills Cal.

Resolution – Titan rescues Jimmy. Jimmy offers Titan the opportunity to take over as Jimmy Blazer, which he accepts.

[ray Moore]

Ray’s 3 Act Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is focusing on a 3 Act Structure. This structure sets the pace of a thrilling action ride.

1. Opening: The hero is in pursuit of a mark running in the sewer tunnels searching for evidence in his father’s murder case and runs into the middle of a skin trade.

2. Inciting Incident: The hero learns that his mentor has been murdered.

3. First Turning Point at end of Act 1: Several more bounty hunters are killed. The hero makes a conscious decision to find out who is killing the bounty hunters. The hero gains an ally in an enhanced human.

4. Mid-Point: The alien inhabits the villain. Not only are bounty hunters being hunted but the whole planet is in jeopardy.

5. Second Turning Point at end of Act 2: The hero’s mother is attacked and his wife and child kidnapped.

6. Crisis: The Police Headquarters is blown up and the hero’s partner is killed. The villain gains an ally in an enhanced human.

7. Climax: The alien army comes through the portal to take over the planet.

8. Resolution: The hero’s enhanced human defeats the villain’s enhanced human. The hero overpowers the villain. The hero drives the aliens back into the portal and the portal is closed. The villain and his Hit Squad are imprisoned.

[CJ Lyons]

CJ’s Action structure:

What I learned from this assignment was that my previous plot was too complicated but by weaving the villain and hero’s missions together it became a more streamlined story with a clearer emotional journey without sacrificing the action

Opening: Lucy’s Pittsburgh team intercepts a Bratva drug deal only to realize it’s an ambush, Lucy’s quick-thinking saves her team

Inciting Incident: that same night, the Bratva kill Lucy’s husband as a message to Lucy to back off (this also serves Bratva’s plan to get case moved to Homeland where they have a mole)

First Turning Point at end of Act 1: Lucy and her daughter go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Lucy wants to find a retired Homeland Security analyst who might know the identity of man who killed her husband. Before she can, they witness a gas attack on a parade which leads to panic and terror. She rescues her daughter and civilians, BUT sees something that makes her suspect the Bratva is already here in NOLA and she’s just brought her daughter into danger

Mid-Point: Lucy rescues the analyst from the Bratva but they’re chased into the 911 center’s garage where a desperate gunfight ensues with the analyst taken by the Bratva and 911 operators held hostage, surrounded by bombs, forcing Lucy to decide between following the analyst in the hopes of saving him and getting the answers about her husband’s murder OR rescuing the 911 operators

Second Turning Point at end of Act 2: Bratva find Lucy’s daughter and capture her, demanding Lucy’s surrender or they’ll kill her

Crisis: after Lucy rescues daughter, Bratva up the ante, give up or they’ll fire a missile into the French Quarter potentially killing thousands of innocents, including Lucy’s daughter

Climax: Lucy faces Bratva leader in fight to the death, scuttles his narcosub, his plans, and he dies with them

Resolution: Lucy reunited with daughter, man responsible for her husband’s murder is now dead, justice served

[Pamela Rice]

PAM’S ACTION STRUCTURE

What I learned: Outlining the 3-Act Structure points really ties together the my previous 3 tracks so that they feel more meaningful and less like random bullet points.

Opening: RAY CASSIDY kidnaps CHARLIZE DELBIANCO, the beautiful wife of a plastic surgeon for the Boston mob. He tells her she’s in extreme danger, “Someone was hired to kill you!” Charlize initially does not believe him and puts up a fight. Ray manages to persuade her, and she gets her into his car. When she asks him again about the person who is trying to kill her, he finally tells her, “It was me.”

Inciting Incident: <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>(Two Days Earlier) Ray, a down-and-out Hitman, agrees to one last hit. He does reconnaissance on his target, waiting for the perfect moment to pull the trigger. But when she’s in his crosshairs, he can’t go through with the hit. He knows that there will be hell-to-pay — especially since he was paid upfront.

First Turning Point, end of Act 1: Ray and Charlize successfully evade and escape from the team of DR. DEVON DELBIANCO’S hired thugs. They settle into their hideaway: a small cabin on the Maine coast, while their heads remain on a swivel.

Midpoint: Ray comes to grips with the fact that, as much as he’s enjoying his burgeoning relationship with Charlize, it’s unlikely they could stay hidden forever. Ray decides to go back into the city, so that he can break into Dr. DelBianco’s office and get his patient files. If his shady surgical practice is exposed, Dr. DelBianco will likely be imprisoned.

Second Turning Point, end of Act 2: Dr. DelBianco surgically transforms the face of TONY THE THUG to look exactly like Ray. Tony commits several crimes, including killing a cop. He purposely gets his face caught on camera, which is all over the news. As Tony hides, Ray gets ambushed and apprehended for a crime he didn’t commit. Meanwhile, Dr. DelBianco discovers where Charlize is hidden. He’s on his way to Maine to kill her, with the help of Tony.

Crisis/Dilemma: Ray must decide the best way to get out of this situation. If he pleads Not Guilty, he would need his alibi (Charlize), but doesn’t want to involve her. If he pleads guilty, he will be locked away for a long time. He tells his lawyer the truth — but appears a bit unhinged — which becomes their planned defense. Ray gets sent to a Psych Ward for evaluation and escapes.

Climax: Ray breaks out of the Psych Ward and races to Maine. When he gets to the cabin, he gets into a gunfight with a most formidable and unsettling opponent: a copy of himself. He ultimately kills Tony. Meanwhile, Dr. DelBianco has forced Charlize up to the cliffs at gunpoint. Ray and Dr. DelBianco engage in hand-to-hand combat. He pushes Dr. DelBianco off of a cliff to save Charlize.

Resolution: Ray and Charlize can be together now. Ray is officially retired as a Hitman.

[karl gromelski]

What I learned doing this assignment is…?

Opening

Hero exposes scammers on his YouTube channel.

Inciting Incident

Hero’s home is raided by FBI task force.

First Turning Point at end of Act 1

Anon Girl helps Hero learn that he’s been designated a domestic terrorist.

Hero must run or risk getting captured.

Mid-Point

Hero breaks into secure Fed facility

Second Turning Point at end of Act 2

Anon Girl arrested. Put into prison at QB.

Crisis/Dilemma

Hero learns the true villain behind the chase & the villain’s ultimate plan.

Hero must decide whether to fight or flight.

Climax

Hero exposes the villains and their activities.

Resolution

Anon Girl released. Villain imprisoned at QB. Hero gets his life back.