THREE-ACT STRUCTURE-VARIATION II

A popular variation on the traditional three-act structure can be seen in Lawrence of Arabia and All About Eve.

 

Lawrence of Arabia

 

OS

U

MC

Z

IC

Z

SS

Z

 

All About Eve

 

OS

U

MC

Z

IC

Z

SS

Z

In both these examples, the Overall Story throughlines appear to be more segmented, seemingly more episodic than the traditional three-act structure. Their other throughlines, however, show a remarkable compliance with the bump-slide-bump form. Though more examples will need to be gathered to make anything more definitive, it's possible that this Variation II form is nearly as popular a screenplay form as the Variation I.

 

 

Copyright © 1994-2009 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Based on theories and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046