Structure

In the preceding example, we took a pretty boring chain of events and turned them into a story by giving our main character a goal. However, we did something else as well: we gave the story a structure. If you look at the second story, you’ll see that it has a very definite beginning, middle, and end.In the beginning, we learn that Mary has a problem: she’s stir crazy. In the middle, we see her go to a store, which is normally comforting, but this doesn’t solve her problem. Perhaps her problem is worse than she realized. In the end, she finally finds a comfortable place to be and is no longer stir
 crazy. Learning this simple structure will do more than anything else to help you tell better stories and make better movies. Not only will you be able to create movies that are more interesting to your audience, but by following this structure, you’ll also have an easier time finding your way through the writing, shooting, and editing of your movie. This beginning/middle/end structure is commonly referred to as the three-act structure,and it is the basis for all Hollywood movies. If “beginning, middle, and end” is too abstract, think of the three sections as setup, complication, andpayoff.In our story about Mary, the setup was that she was stir crazy, the complication was that her usual way of calming down didn’t work, and the payoff was that she finally found peace. Failure to deliver on any of these parts results in very predictable audience reactions. Projects that have a weak first act (the setup) are usually perceived as boring; projects with a weak second act (the complication) are usually seen to be lacking in substance; and projects with a weak third act (the payoff) are typically regarded as pointless. This beginning/middle/end structure can be applied to any type of production. Even if you’re doing a simple corporate training video that is nothing more than a talking head, what that head says should have a discernible structure. Remember, a three-act structure is designed to keep your audience engaged and compelled.