Screenplay Structure

Plot structure simply determines the sequence of events that lead the hero toward this objective. And here's the good news: whether you're writing romantic comedies, suspense thrillers, historical dramas or big budget science fiction, all successful Hollywood movies follow the same basic structure.

In a properly structured movie, the story consists of six basic stages, which are defined by five key turning points in the plot. Not only are these turning points always the same; they always occupy the same positions in the story. So what happens at the 25% point of a 90-minute comedy will be identical to what happens at the same percentage of a three-hour epic. (These percentages apply both to the running time of the film and the pages of your screenplay.)

STAGE I: The Setup
The opening 10% of your screenplay must draw the reader, and the audience, into the initial setting of the story, must reveal the everyday life your hero has been living, and must establish identification with your hero by making her sympathetic, threatened, likable, funny and/or powerful.

TURNING POINT #1: The Opportunity (10%)
Ten percent of the way into your screenplay, your hero must be presented with an opportunity, which will create a new, visible desire, and will start the character on her journey.

Notice that the desire created by the opportunity is not the specific goal that defines your story concept, but rather a desire to move into...

STAGE 2: The New Situation
For the next 15% of the story, your hero will react to the new situation that resulted from the opportunity. He gets acclimated to the new surroundings, tries to figure out what's going on, or formulates a specific plan for accomplishing his overall goal

In most movies, the hero enters this new situation willingly, often with a feeling of excitement and anticipation, or at least believing that the new problem he faces can be easily solved. But as the conflict starts to build, he begins to realize he's up against far greater obstacles than he realized, until finally he comes to...

TURNING POINT #2: The Change of Plans (25%)
Something must happen to your hero one-fourth of the way through your screenplay that will transform the original desire into a specific, visible goal with a clearly defined end point. This is the scene where your story concept is defined, and your hero's outer motivation is revealed.

Outer motivation is my term for the visible finish line the audience is rooting for your hero to achieve by the end of the film.

Please don't confuse outer motivation with the inner journey your hero takes. Because much of what we respond to emotionally grows out of the hero's longings, wounds, fears, courage and growth, we often focus on these elements as we develop our stories. But these invisible character components can emerge effectively only if they grow out of a simple, visible desire.

STAGE III: Progress
For the next 25% of your story, your hero's plan seems to be working as he takes action to achieve his goal ... This is not to say that this stage is without conflict. But whatever obstacles your hero faces, he is able to avoid or overcome them as he approaches

TURNING POINT #3: The Point of No Return (50%)
At the exact midpoint of your screenplay, your hero must fully commit to her goal. Up to this point, she had the option of turning back, giving up on her plan, and returning to the life she was living at the beginning of the film. But now your hero must burn her bridges behind her and put both feet in. (And never let it be said that I can't work two hackneyed metaphors into the same sentence).

STAGE IV: Complications and Higher Stakes
For the next 25% of your story, achieving the visible goal becomes far more difficult, and your hero has much more to lose if he fails. This conflict continues to build until, just as it seems that success is within your hero's grasp, he suffers...

TURNING POINT #4: The Major Setback (75%)
Around page 90 of your screenplay, something must happen to your hero that makes it seem to the audience that all is lost ... These disastrous events leave your hero with only one option: he must make one, last, all-or-nothing, do-or-die effort as he enters

STAGE V: The Final Push
Beaten and battered, your hero must now risk everything she has, and give every ounce of strength and courage she possesses, to achieve her ultimate goal ... During this stage of your script, the conflict is overwhelming, the pace has accelerated, and everything works against your hero, until she reaches

TURNING POINT #5: The Climax (90-99%)
Several things must occur at the climax of the film: the hero must face the biggest obstacle of the entire story; she must determine her own fate; and the outer motivation must be resolved once and for all. ... Notice that the climax can occur anywhere from the 90% point to the last couple minutes of the movie. The exact placement will be determined by the amount of time you need for

STAGE VI: The Aftermath
No movie ends precisely with the resolution of the hero's objective. You have to reveal the new life your hero is living now that he's completed his journey. ... So the climax occurs near the very end of the film. But in most romantic comedies, mysteries and dramas, the aftermath will include the final five or ten pages of the script.