The document outlines the nine-act and three-act screenplay structures. The nine-act structure breaks a screenplay into nine sequential parts: Act 0 during opening credits, Act 1 introduces the setting, Act 2 introduces conflict, Act 3 introduces the protagonist, Act 4 is the commitment to action, Act 5 is a "dark moment" where the wrong goal is pursued, Act 6 is a reversal where the right goal is identified, Act 7 develops a new plan of action, and Act 8 wraps up loose ends. The three-act structure similarly divides a screenplay into setup, confrontation, and resolution acts.

1. By Kathi and Josh

2. What is it?
The Nine-Act Screenplay Structure is a basic framework often
followed in fiction stories, it’s a method by David Siegel (An American motion
picture screenwriter and director).
Act 0—During Opening Credits First 5 Minutes
Act 1—Opening Image—The Panoramic Crane Shot Next 5 Minutes
Act 2—Something Bad Happens 5 Minutes
Act 3—Meet Hero/Protagonist 15 minutes
Act 4—Commitment 5-10 Minutes
Act 5—Go for wrong goal Approx. 30 minutes
Act 6—Reversal 5-10 Minutes—Usually 70 Minutes into the Film
Act 7—Go for New Goal 15-20 Minutes
Act 8—Wrap it Up 5 minutes

3. ACT 0
Act 0 is the background of the film's characters and story. This
act is just as important as the other eight acts, but it is usually
unseen.

4. ACT 1
The opening of the film takes place, it’s often a
sweeping crane shot of the location the film will
take place in. However, it shows not only the
setting for the movie but also the tone.
For example: Master and Commander begins
with a ship at sea.

5. ACT 2
You can look for the conflict of the story to start
here in Act 2, usually within the first ten
minutes. This is a good time for a murder or
crime to happen in an action film, or something
mysterious or tragic in another. It may show the
evil villain planning a hideous crime upon an
unsuspecting world or a big shark attacking an
unwary swimmer like in Jaws.

6. ACT 3
This is when the audience meets the hero of the
story – the protagonist - who will fix the
problem introduced in Act Two. We also see
some character development for the hero. The
hero's objectives and the opposing forces are
revealed. Protagonist’s can range from eleven-
year-old Harry Potter to Jason Statham in The
Transporter.

7. ACT 4
Act 4 is considered to be the ‘commitment’ act. It’s
usually one scene and is a one-way door, no turning
back. In this act the hero commits to a course of
action. There are two ways to introduce such a
commitment. The first is when either good or bad
circumstances force the hero into the jump. The
second is when the hero herself sees this jump as
the only choice to make. For example, Act 4 in The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring would
be when Frodo offers to carry the ring.

8. ACT 5
This is the ‘dark moment’. Our hero must go
after the wrong goal, usually because she does
not have all the facts. This act ends with the
protagonist or hero at the lowest point in the
story, such as when Johnny English gets told he’s
no longer working on the case and keeps himself
locks himself in his apartment.

9. ACT 6
Act Six begins as Act Five ended: with everything
at its utter worst. Now suddenly the missing
pieces or clues come to the hero and cause the
reversal of goal to take place. The hero starts to
make sense of the information first offered to
him in the beginning of Act Two.

10. ACT 7
In Act Seven a new plan of action is developed.
Sometimes the plan is just demonstrated with a
small sentence or a nod of the head; however,
no matter how small the scene appears, its
importance to the plot is immense. Often good
luck or forgotten favours show up in this act,
bringing the plot rapidly to a satisfying victory.

11. ACT 8
Finally, Act Eight wraps up all the loose ends.
The authorities come and take the criminals
away.
For example: In James Bond films, James kisses
the girl and doesn't answer the ringing phone
with M on the other end.

13. What is it?
The three-act screenplay structure is similar to
the nine-act only, obviously, there’s less of them.
It’s another format screenplays can follow.
Act 1 – is the setup. This is where the audience
are introduced to characters and locations.
Act 2 – is the confrontation act. When the film
comes across an obstacle or conflict.
Act 3 – the resolution. Things are solved in this
act.

14. Act 1
At the end of Act 1 the protagonist can never go
back to the way things were. They have no
choice but to continue into Act 2.

15. Act 2
Act 2 can often be thought of in two different
parts. Part 2a and part 2b. Part 2a is the part of
the film where your protagonist is ‘reacting’ to
the pressures of their changed world. Act 2b
begins when things start going wrong for the
protagonist until they realise they know what to
do. They stop ‘reacting’ and take control of the
situation.

16. Act 3
This is like the restored equilibrium act where
the conflict has somehow been resolved or
ended.