Many of the scripts that I read, mostly from beginning to intermediate writers, falter at the same moment in the story. It’s a moment with many names: The Point of Attack, The First Plot Point, The Break into Two, The First Act Turn, etc. The reason that writer’s seem to be missing the mark at this moment is a fundamental misunderstanding of its purpose.
Many new writers believe that the end of the first act is an event or series of events that alters the course of the protagonist’s life and thrusts him/her into the special world of Act 2. Not so.
The moment isn’t an event at all, but rather the protagonist’s reaction to that event. That is to say, the protagonist makes a decision in reaction to that event; a decision that alters the course of his or her life forever and propels him or her into the special world of Act 2. That’s why I call this pivotal moment The Decision.
In Star Wars Luke finally decides to go with Obi Wan after storm troopers murder his aunt and uncle. It began with a call to adventure (inciting incident/catalyst), followed by the refusal, and finally the new information (his aunt and uncle’s murder) that ultimately led to his decision to react.
In 40 Year Old Virgin title character Andy Stitzer (Steve Carrell) accidentally reveals to his new friends that he’s a virgin. This is the catalyst that gets the story going. He returns to work, gets teased by his colleagues, and runs away. His new friend (Paul Rudd) tries to convince Andy to go out with the boys, and Andy only perfunctorily agrees*.
After that, all he can think about is sex. He sees it everywhere. He even dreams about it. The last thing he hears before waking are his date’s words from the last time he ever attempted to have sex -- “You should just give up trying to have sex forever.”
That climactic event (dream sequence) is what leads Andy to make the Decision to go out with the boys and truly conquer his fear of sex.
In Blades of Glory, Act 2 begins after Jimmy (Jon Heder) and Chazz (Will Ferrell) decide to go for gold as the first male figure skating pair.
Remember, the protagonist’s reaction to events is what drives the story forward, not the events themselves.
*In my opinion, the film would have been stronger had Andy actually refused the first time Paul Rudd’s character invited him out.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
