FA7-THE THREE-ACT STRUCTURE AND FILM CRITICISM

It is the heart of any good film.

Story

This is the part where it brings some kind of catharsis in the story.

Resolution

This is the big moment to which you’ve been building up all along – the final battle.

Finale

The study, interpretation, and evaluation of a film and its place in cinema history.

Film Criticism

This usually offers interpretation of its meaning, analysis of its structure and style, judgement of its worth by comparison with other films, and an estimation of its likely effect on viewers.

Film Criticism

A range of different tools that you can use to explain how film works

Film Theory

The idea that the director is the single misunderstood artistic genius responsible for creating a movie, instead of the thousands of other people typically involved.

Auteur theory

Using science such as neuroscience and psychology to help explain how audiences watch and understand films.

Cognitive theory

Not simply dismantling films but dismantling the ways you think about and interpret them.

Deconstruction

Study of film as an element of patriarchy, or structural male superiority over women.

Feminism

Focusing on the formal properties of film to understand how it’s different from other artistic media.

Formalism

Part of the story where characters, setting and genre established.

Start

The study of how film works like a language, using signs symbols and formal structures to convey meaning.

Semiotics

Part of the story where problems are encountered.

Middle

Part of the story where the problems are solved, and equilibrium is resolved.

End

An old principle widely adhered to in storytelling today.

3-Act Structure

This man made the ancient storytelling tool unique for screenwriters in 1978 with the publishing of his book, Screenplay.

Syd Field

This involves introduction of the characters, their story world, and some kind of inciting incident.

Setup

This is the main chunk of the story and often leads us to the worst possible thing that can happen to the character.

Confrontation

This character comes into focus on the 2nd act then will later help the protagonist to learn the theme.

B Story Character