In contemporary storytelling, screenwriters and authors often draw from a variety of structural models, including the traditional three-act structure, to shape their narratives. This is the most common and basic structure for a new writer to get started to understand the foundations of constructing a story. Once you go deeper, you will find many such structures to choose from. One such is the successor to the classic three-act structure called the five-act structure. It also has roots in classical dramatic theory and has been utilized by playwrights and theorists over the centuries. It is widely believed that Gustav Freytag, the German playwright in the 1800s is the one to have first formulated it. However, one contemporary proponent of the five-act structure, particularly in the context of screenwriting, is John Yorke. Yorke is a British television producer, author, and screenwriter, and he has explored and popularized the concept in his book “Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story.
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Taking a cue from that, let’s dive into the pillars that form the five-act structure. We will look at two popular movies in their respective film industries (The Dark Knight, Dil Chahta Hai) to understand its application.
Act 1 – Inciting Incident: Setting the Stage
The journey commences with the Inciting Incident, a moment that propels characters into uncharted territory. Unlike traditional setups, the Five-Act Structure demands a more nuanced introduction, establishing not only characters but also the thematic underpinnings and the emotional landscape of the narrative. It’s the canvas upon which the intricate tapestry of the story begins to unfold.
| The Dark Knight | Dil Chahta Hai |
| Bank Robbery and Introduction to the Joker: The inciting incident is the Joker’s bank robbery, which sets the story in motion and introduces the main antagonist. | Introduction to Characters: The inciting incident is the introduction of the characters and the initial harmony in their friendship. |
Act 2 – Rising Action: Navigating the Complexity
As the narrative progresses, the Rising Action takes center stage. This act is not a mere sequence of events but a dynamic exploration of characters’ internal conflicts, individual journeys, and the revelation of deeper layers within the narrative. It provides the groundwork for the story to unfold in unexpected ways, embracing the complexity that arises when characters confront their inner demons.
| The Dark Knight | Dil Chahta Hai |
| Batman’s Response and Alliance: Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and Harvey Dent ally to combat the Joker. The rising action includes various encounters with the Joker and the escalation of his attack. Midpoint Revelation: The midpoint reveals the Joker’s true plan involving Rachel and Harvey Dent. | Individual Conflicts and Tensions: The rising action involves the individual conflicts of Sameer, Siddharth, and Aakash. Their romantic entanglements contribute to the escalating tension within the group. Midpoint Revelation: The midpoint is marked by the revelation of Aakash’s feelings for Shalini, leading to the fracture in the friendship. |
Act 3 – Climax: The Emotional Apex
The Climax, often viewed as the pinnacle of tension, transcends the conventional. It’s not solely a moment of external conflict resolution; it’s the culmination of internal struggles, symbolic confrontations, and profound choices. Here, emotions reach their zenith, and characters grapple with the consequences of their actions, laying bare the intricate web of human experience.
| The Dark Knight | Dil Chahta Hai |
| Confrontation with the Joker: The climax involves the intense confrontation between Batman and the Joker. This includes the ferry experiment and the tragic events that unfold with Harvey Dent. | Road Trip Confrontation: The climax occurs during the road trip where the friends confront their emotions and face the consequences of their choices |
Act 4 – Falling Action: Unraveling and Resurrection
The Falling Action invites audiences to witness the aftermath of the climax, navigating the consequences and reflecting on the characters’ transformations. It’s not a mere descent into resolution; it’s a delicate unraveling of the narrative threads, allowing for introspection, redemption, and, in some cases, resurrection. Characters emerge from the shadows of the climax, forever changed.
| The Dark Knight | Dil Chahta Hai |
| Unraveling of Consequences: This act explores the consequences of the climax. It includes Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face and the impact on Gotham City. Resurrection: Batman’s decision to take the blame for Harvey Dent’s crimes can be seen as a form of resurrection, sacrificing his reputation for the greater good. | Consequences and Reflection: This act explores the fallout from the climax, focusing on the characters reflecting on their actions and the impact on their relationships. Resurrection: The characters go through a form of resurrection as they come to terms with their feelings and the changed dynamics of their friendship. |
Act 5 – Resolution: Crafting a New Equilibrium
The final act is not just about tying up loose ends; it’s about establishing a New Equilibrium. Characters, now evolved and enriched by their experiences, find themselves in a transformed state. This resolution is not a full stop but a transition, leaving room for contemplation and allowing the audience to carry the essence of the story beyond the screen or page.
| The Dark Knight | Dil Chahta Hai |
| New Equilibrium: The film concludes with a new equilibrium where Batman is on the run, Two-Face’s legacy is manipulated, and Gotham believes Batman is the villain. | New Equilibrium: The film concludes with the friends reuniting, establishing a new equilibrium in their friendship after the trials and tribulations they’ve faced. |
How is the Five Act Structure different from the Three Act Structure?
The Five-Act Structure distinguishes itself from the Three-Act Structure by offering a more intricate narrative canvas. While the Three Acts provide a streamlined beginning, middle, and end, the Five Acts delve deeper into character dynamics and plot complexity. The additional acts allow for nuanced character development with multiple turning points, creating a rhythm that engages audiences through moments of tension and release. Unlike the Three-Act Structure, where the climax typically occurs in Act 3, the Five-Act Structure distributes climactic moments across Acts 2, 3, and 4, resulting in a more layered and impactful narrative structure. This extended framework is particularly well-suited for genres that demand intricate storytelling. Let’s take a look at two movies from two different film industries (Titanic and Dangal) and understand the differences in breaking them down into three vs five acts.
Titanic Structure Breakdown:
Three-Act Structure:
| Act | Description |
|---|---|
| Act 1 (Setup) | Introduces Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater on the Titanic. Establishes the class divide and their budding romance. |
| Act 2 (Confrontation) | The love story intensifies as the ship hits the iceberg. The midpoint marks the critical point where the ship begins to sink. |
| Act 3 (Resolution) | Climax involves the sinking of the Titanic and the aftermath. The movie concludes with an elderly Rose reflecting on her past. |
Five-Act Structure:
| Act | Description |
|---|---|
| Act 1 – Inciting Incident | Jack and Rose’s encounter on the Titanic. The inciting incident is the revelation of the ship’s inevitable fate. |
| Act 2 – Rising Action | Develops the romance, intensifying with the iceberg collision. The midpoint is the pivotal moment when the ship starts sinking. |
| Act 3 – Climax | The climax involves the sinking of the Titanic and the characters’ struggles for survival. |
| Act 4 – Falling Action | Focuses on the aftermath, the rescue efforts, and the resolution of character arcs. |
| Act 5 – Resolution | Concludes with elderly Rose reflecting on her experiences. The resolution brings closure to the story. |
Dangal Structure Breakdown
Three-Act Structure:
| Act | Description |
|---|---|
| Act 1 (Setup) | Establishes the background of Mahavir Singh Phogat’s wrestling dreams and the birth of his daughters, particularly Geeta. |
| Act 2 (Confrontation) | Mahavir trains Geeta and Babita against societal norms. The midpoint is Geeta’s initial success and later defiance of her father. |
| Act 3 (Resolution) | Climax involves Geeta’s journey to the Commonwealth Games and the acceptance of Mahavir’s unconventional methods |
Five-Act Structure:
| Act | Description |
|---|---|
| Act 1 – Inciting Incident | Introduction to Mahavir’s wrestling aspirations and the birth of his daughters. |
| Act 2 – Rising Action | Mahavir’s training, the societal challenges, and Geeta’s initial success. The midpoint is Geeta’s defiance of her father. |
| Act 3 – Climax | Geeta’s journey to the Commonwealth Games, the conflicts, and the acceptance of Mahavir’s methods. |
| Act 4 – Falling Action | Post-competition aftermath, family dynamics, and the resolution of conflicts. |
| Act 5 – Resolution | Concludes with the acceptance of Mahavir’s methods, the success of Geeta and Babita, and the family’s united front. |
Ultimately, the five-act structure is just one of the many structural models you can use to construct your story. You can play around with it to see if this is what best helps you to outline. Scrite has a Structure feature where you can use existing templates or create your own and combine it with popular screenwriting methodologies like Save The Cat, and the like.