10 Second Stories

Virtually every successful story is built upon the Three Act Structure. There are variations on it and other approaches to narrative, but the three act structure has been around since humans could crawl and satisfies our natural tendency to create patterns while making our neurons very happy.

When you’re just starting out making movies, stick to this formula. You can’t go wrong.

It is very simple. Here’s how it works:

According to Scriptwriting Guru Syd Field, the three acts are separated by two plot points. A plot point, often called a “reversal,” is an event that thrusts the plot in a new direction, leading into a new act of the screenplay. Later screenplay gurus have built on Field’s theory by stating that Plot Point #1, which leads into Act II, is the moment when the hero takes on the problem.

Even though we are working with only 10 seconds of time, the three act structure still holds true, and is a very reliable way to structure your movies. As you watch movies, television, and commercials, look for this structure. It’s the backbone of storytelling.