Unit 4: Story Telling - Final Act Structure

Three Act Structure

ACT 1

The Setup

• An overcrowded factory floor is seen, a nervous man named Alastair separates from a crowd of machine operators carrying what appears to be a broken computer.

• Alastair steps aboard a lift & chooses the sixth floor – labelled “Jim Norton CEO”.

• Alastair enters the CEO’s pristine office; he creeps towards the middle of the room & places the broken computer on the desk.

Inciting Incident

• The CEO Jim Norton aka “the Tyrant” turns from his window view and glances at the computer and then glances with scorn at a nervous Alastair.

• Alastair runs out of the door in fear, “the Tyrant” signals “the Giant” bodyguard Andreas, who follows Alastair in a fury.

• Andreas picks up Alastair with one hand & throws him outside like a Javelin.

ACT 2

First Main Reversal

• Alastair begins plotting a revenge in his mind (thought bubble) – factory exterior + picking the lock + entering the elevator = Alastair confronting Norton face to face in a fight.

• Alastair returns to the factory at night, he begins picking the lock of the exterior factory door.

• The door opens to Alastair’s surprise, he steps through the door & is met by a giant fist, Alastair is knocked from the door.

The Increasing Conflict

• Alastair notices an open window on the third floor of the Controtech Factory; he throws a rappel hook & begins scaling the building.

• Alastair does not notice that Andreas is pulling him up to the window.

• Andreas cuts the rappel rope in front of Alastair.

• Alastair crashes toward the ground.

ACT 3

Pre-Climax Build

• Alastair returns dragging a massive contraption masked in assorted rags, he rummages under the rags to reveal a retractable viewfinder, he aims the viewfinder at the sixth floor window of the Controtech factory – CEO Norton’s Office.

• Alastair removes the rags from the contraption to reveal a life sized catapult.

Climax

• Alastair jumps on board the catapult and fires himself to the sixth floor of the Controtech factory.

• Alastair impacts the glass like a bug on a wind shield.

Anti Climax

• CEO Norton hears the impact on his window and turns noticing Alastair stuck.

• Norton smiles at Alastair before running back to his desk to finish writing his proposal for a revolutionary firewall which has now been entitled “Win-shield” - thanks to Alastair.

• Norton retrieves a camera and takes a picture of Alastair stuck on the window.

End

• Several months later the factory floor is working full force producing the new must have computer protection Software “Win-shield”.

• The image on the disc cover is of Alastair stuck to Norton’s window with the caption reading:

“Hit the trespassers where it hurts”.

END