How to Find Plot Point I - Story Structure - With Film Examples - Screenwriting

[@chrislindsay100]

This was a mind-expanding video.

[@ScriptwritingTips]

Happy to hear that!

[@girjeshchoudhary1758]

Very nice.....explaining very well ❤

[@amartin9293]

Thank you for doing this

[@강준혁-w7b]

thanks for big help and tips!

[@mr.diluaa8941]

Thanks for this...

[@danielburns1556]

hi and happy new year. so sometimes the first plot point/cause can flow right into the reaction/result, and sometimes there can be time between the first plot point and the start of act 2? Also, would in harry potter and the sorcerer's stone book, would the inciting incident be the letters/owls, and the first plot point be Hagrid coming to the Dursley's hut to get harry and harry making the decision to go with him? in the movie he goes with Hagrid which would be the start of act 2 - diagon alley and boarding the train to go to Hogwarts. in the book, after Hagrid shows up, he does go back home with the Dursleys and does go shopping in diagon alley and basically there is a chapter or some scenes after Hagrid shows and and before he gets on the train. lastly, does the decision/reaction to the first plot point need to be thematically sound and regard a character's internal makeup? if the theme is bravery or courage, and a character is naturally nervous, should his nervousness contribute to the kind of decision/reaction he makes about the first plot point? meaning towards the end of the movie or book he will have learned not to be nervous? we should keep internal character and theme in mind at each turning point? or are turning points more external plot related. please help

[@ScriptwritingTips]

Hello! Happy new year! I'll try to answer your questions in the same order. 1) Yes, most of the times the first plot point sends us immediately to act 2 but other times there can be some time in between. However, it's just screen time, nothing really important happens in between. 2) I don't remember the book very well right now, many times you will see lots of differences between a book and its movie. The plot points I mentioned were based on the movie. Books often take there time to do things, but I would still root for Hogwarts to be the "second act" because there is also a huge change of scenery for Harry there. I'd say, that shopping in the diagon alley is a kind of preparation of the protagonist for his journey. 3) That's a very in-depth question, thank you for asking that! I'll try to make an episode on this. Yes, all reactions that your protagonist has must be in agreement to his/her character. If he/she has not courage, he/she will try to avoid to do things that take courage. However, your job, as a screenwriter, is to make it really difficult for him/her to avoid it. That means you put there the kind of obstacles that push your protagonist to do something no matter if they want it or not and in this way, he/she will find out at some point that he/she has the inner strength to do all this. The protagonist will slowly realise that this is who he/she really is, in a deeper level. A person he/she thought that he/she wasn't at the beginning of the journey. So, in your example, at the beginning the protagonist thinks he is not brave, so he acts like this, he acts nervously, but by the end of the journey he has found out that in a deeper level he is a brave person. Turning points are definitely external plot related points (don't forget that) but most of them and most of the obstacles in the journey must push the protagonist to find out who he/she really is. I hope this helps for now, but I'm gonna try and make a more detailed episode on that. :-)

[@danielburns1556]

​@@ScriptwritingTips Thank you so much for your thoughtful and in-depth response! It will really help me out, and I think it will help lots more who view it. In the video you are preparing regarding the character/protagonist approaching events with their current nature and outlook and flaws with them at some point realizing that they need to change, and them slowly understanding (through obstacles and challenges and opportunities that present themselves (or are caused by the character!) in the story), can you please consider including when/where in stories we writers might want to put these realizations/changes? For example, one of the confusing parts for me (and feel free to answer with your insights here as it will greatly help me :) is where does the protagonist begin to realize they need to change? At the midpoint? And if it is at the midpoint (or because of the event of the midpoint), and they know they need to change (nervous to brave), then what do the other plot points accomplish regarding the character's change? I often read two things that conflict or maybe I am just not understanding them clearly; that characters become aware they need or want to do things differently beginning with the midpoint event - something happens at the midpoint that makes them understand that their way of doing things hasn't been working or perhaps because of what happens at the midpoint, they then know they have to summon their courage and act (instead of react, which will require change on their part) - which means they have to change (become brave as opposed to timid). But I also read that it's the second turning point/plot point 2 where they hit a low moment and it's that devastation or loss or self reflection at the second plot point that makes them realize they need to change, it makes them know what they must do, which they can then do at the climax. Basically, I don't know if the character changes at the midpoint and begins progressing through act 2 part 2 with new growth, or, if they change at the second plot point due to the black moment/dark night of the soul. Please clarify if you can! Bilbo in the hobbit, at the mid point, his dwarf friends get captured by spiders and it's then he realizes he is going to have have to be brave and rescue them if they are going to be able to continue on their journey. they are very happy with him and compliment him after he saves them - because until then, in their minds, he hasn't seemed very brave/competent. I am not sure what the second plot point is, maybe Smaug getting loose? Harry Potter at the midpoint, discovers that the grubby little package that was almost robbed from the vault, is being kept in Hogwarts. He doesn't know it's the sorcerer's stone yet, but this new information of knowing the package is at school raises the stakes in the story because whoever is after the package will now be attempting to get it there/makes things unsafe. It also makes Harry more proactive instead of reactive. But, I don't think he has a major character change at the midpoint - I could be wrong. I suppose at this point in the story, he has achieved belonging to his new home and friends and family and therefore choosing to be more proactive about the package means he wants to defend and protect the place and people he now belongs to. I think the second plot point is where he meets the shade of Voldemort tin the dark forest and also learns Dumbledore is away, meaning it was up to the kids to stop Snape from getting the stone - though I'm not sure because I don't think Harry rebounded from nor had a low point. Maybe it was almost being killed by the dark lord in the woods? In the fellowship of the ring, Frodo, at the midpoint, realizes he needs to be the one to bring the ring to Mordor, he knows it's addictive and evil power personally and sees the others arguing and knows only he can bare the burden so he takes responsibility. I think the second plot point might be where Gandalf falls, giving Frodo and the gang a horrible loss of a friend, mentor and worsens their change at achieving the goal without such their skilled and knowledgeable and caring companion. Well, something I think will really help is knowing when and where a character changes. :) because from everything I read, a character changes the the most it seems in either the midpoint or plot point 2. I like your videos, they are all so helpful. I am taking lots of notes! I appreciate you making them for us writers and storytellers.

[@ScriptwritingTips]

​@@danielburns1556 Hello! You'd better try to see change of a character as it is in real life. People don't like change. People have fear of change. People don't change overnight. So why would a character in a film would change in one particular moment? In the first act we see the protagonist before she/he starts changing. Then, your protagonist starts going back and forth. I'll try to be more specific in the video, but also bear in mind that none of that is written in stone. All of these we're saying are just guidelines. Your story will reveal to you what you need to do, what it's better for this story, but you need to listen carefully. Every story is unique from some perspective. :-) I'll try to rewatch the films you've mentioned, so I can answer to you with more certainty.

[@mikewright3029]

so he bribed them. money got them to leave their normal world and go to Jurassic park. lol. i love these examples. thank you. thank you. thank you. XD you make it so clear. you're very right, going backwards helps.

[@ScriptwritingTips]

😆

[@luizantoniosouza2767]

Very good! Thank you, ma'am!

[@aiden5478]

what happens if the story starts with the inciting incident? when does the second act should happens? after it or at the 25% like most screenplay books recommend

[@ScriptwritingTips]

In every story first comes the inciting incident and then the Plot Point 1 and after that we pass to Act 2. So, to answer your question yes, Act 2 is always near the 25%. It's better to be near there because it gives an overall harmony to your storytelling.

[@elplacerdelsintagma6572]

thanks for your videos!!

[@ScriptwritingTips]

And I thank you for your comment! If there's something particular you'd like to watch, feel free to ask for it!

[@elplacerdelsintagma6572]

@@ScriptwritingTips i watch all Naked gun movies to find this concepts... tell me if im rigth... In "Naked gun 2 1/2": Inciting incident: atempting of asassination with a bomb. Plot point Act 1: Frank discovers that Savage's red van is registered to Quentin Hapsburg.

[@ScriptwritingTips]

​@@elplacerdelsintagma6572 Sorry for the delay, but I hadn't seen the movie, so I had to watch it first. So, a small summary of Act 1 is this: The President Bush announces that he will base his recommendation for the country's energy program on Dr. Meinheimer's advice, which will be announced in the following week. However, the heads of the coal and oil and nuclear industries are not happy with this, because Dr. Meinheimer is an advocate for renewable energy. After one or more days (it doesn't say but it's not important) Jane is working for Dr. Meinheimer, at his research institute, where a bomb blows up. And that's the reason Frank is being called to investigate the assassination attempt and there he also meets his ex again and her new boyfriend. That makes him jealous and eager to solve the mystery and win the girl back. Let's go backwards: 1) First thing is to find out where Act 2 begins. Frank is called to solve a new case. However, there, he meets his ex and her new boyfriend which makes him really jealous. All this is similar to Frank going to "a new world, an out of his ordinary world". After meeting his ex and her new boyfriend he really wants to win the girl back but soon he messes it up. So, then, he is committed to prove that her boyfriend is no good person and solve the mystery. This is where Act 2 begins because right there Frank's actual journey begins. 2) Then we find the Plot Point of Act 1: What is the event that leads Frank to this case? It's the assassination attempt with a bomb. So that's the Plot Point of Act 1. 3) The inciting incident is an incident that is responsible for starting everything. When it all started? It's when President Bush announced that he will base his recommendation on Dr. Meinheimer's advice. This is the inciting incident. It comes very early in this case, at the beginning of the movie but this announcement triggers everything. I hope this helps. I also liked the movie! Thanks!

[@elplacerdelsintagma6572]

@@ScriptwritingTips you are amazing! thanks for you answer. I choose a comedy movie because it is easier for me to understand all these concepts. I never thought that inciting incident could appear so early, thats why I get confused... again: thanks! I'll keep bothering you

[@ScriptwritingTips]

@@elplacerdelsintagma6572 Glad to help. Keep it coming! :)

[@xavierangulo841]

Is there a plot point for each Act 1 Act 2 Act 3

[@ScriptwritingTips]

Hi, happy new year! There are many plot points. The most important in Act1 are the inciting incident and the Plot point 1. In Act 2 the Midpoint and Plot point 2 and in Act 3 the Climax. You can check the relevant videos that I have. For example here's an explanation of Act 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYDUZImkabKEedU

[@shwetaraavi4007]

Nice..

[@hellocinema1034]

Why you said Catch Me if You Can is one of the rare cases where 1st turning point and act 2 are immediately connected, in most films it's like that only even in the movies which you have mentioned. Or it is because in this case the choice itself the 2nd act immediately when he starts reading. Like in the Matrix, the 1st turning point is when Morpheus offers Neo two pills, then Neo choses the Red Pill, so this extra step of Neo making the choice before waking up in the New World which is the Act 2, makes the Turning Point 1 and Act 2 not connected immediately. Likewise, The Godfather example which you have given I think, 1st turning point is Solozzo's man attacking Vito Corleone, then Michael reads it in the newspaper and makes the choice to reunite with his family to protect them. And then he calls Sonny, the actual 2nd Act begins when Michael enters the room, that is the new world.

[@ScriptwritingTips]

It's not important, but here is what I meant: In Catch Me if You Can, he learns that his parents are getting a divorce and he runs away from home, instead of choosing one parent over the other. And this happens in the same scene. In a different movie maybe he would learn about the parents' divorce and be miserable for 3 or 4 scenes and then he would decide to run away. In the Matrix, Morpheus offers the pill, Neo decides which one to take and then they take him to another room he starts feeling peculiar and then he wakes up. In the Godfather yes, there is the attack first, and then, Michael reads in the newspaper that his father is in danger and he visits him and tries to hide him in the clinic. He starts to protect his family in this way, so yes, that's Act 2. You have understood the concepts, so this is trivial. Don't bother with this.