I was just randomly shot through with a novel idea and I’ve been drafting the story all morning. This video seriously helped me understand the story in terms of acts and has helped me a ton with organizing it.
Many Shakespeare plays end up with more of a; “normalcy is established, antagonists scheme, the protagonists suffers the consequences, the protagonists set a scheme into motion, all the schemes intertwine so the antagonists think they’ve caused their own suffering before the reveal.” Similar to what you said, but the fourth stage actually has the counter plots and some of their effects, rather than preparation. Most structures use “order, chaos, new order” as their structure, how it is spread out and how many points where a new established order exist determines the number of acts I suppose.
That is a very good explanation. As a Shakespeare fan, I would only add that it allows for deeper characterization of the major characters, and more extensive subplots, and the story tends to be more epic, like Shakespeare's.
Just found your video looking up about Kabuki plays for quriosity of how or when the 5 act structure play out in one piece ( up to date) and it hits home so close to how it has played out in act 3 now.
So would Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood be considered to be a 5 act structure? They did separate each segment into parts as oppose to seasons which is usually how TV and most anime are measured. And it pretty much follows the criteria for a 5 act structure 🤔
Choose a sad topic and go through the stages. Have it about a man who has a pregnant wife that looses the baby at birth. She shortly after is diagnosed with fatal cancer amd dies in weeks. He goes throufh two funerals and book ends with him killing himself.
@@codeypendent1899 That kind of seems like predictable grief porn, though. I phrased my question pretty poorly. I meant how, in a comedy or a horror, you have a little bit of a roller coaster so that people don't get burnt out on the emotion? Not every seen in a horror is scary, and comedies aren't ridiculous every second. And you have tools like the straight man in a comedy to point out the absurdity when it does happen, or false jump scare in a horror (jeeze dude, why are you freaking out it's just the cat), etc. Still being long winded and vague. Uhm. How do I not burn people out on sadness?
@@DeDraconis have your sad conflict then be sure to either not fully resolve the conflict or have a new problem arise immediately after resolution has settled. This happens but this happens, so this happens but this happens so this happens and so on. He says vaguely lol
Been reading Greek Tragedies? Using the Greek Tragedy structure (in 5 parts): prologue, parados, episode, stasimon, and exodus. I was just thinking of someone who kills (not knowing he was) his father, and then marries his mother, then when he discovers it he kills himself... something like that.
@ DeDraconis Shame and blame are your friends here. They can lead to your character's self-consolation, resentment, guilt, grief... you name it. All give layers to your character's behavior. Also, Much like how setting a scene outdoors can add breathability to stories with stuffy interior-settings, a paragraph or scene exploring 'joy' expected/recollected could set up scenes and stakes by harsh comparison. Hope grants a further fall, but also a solid pay-off if they're are hard-won. @ David Stewart I'd also love to hear how you'd tackle this. Could there be elements and placements within the structure to maximize these flavors plot-wise?
Interesting to hear that Muromasa uses the five act structure! My notes claim that you said CBS used a 2-act structure, and NBC used a 3-act one, is that right? I've never liked the 3-act structure of films but couldn't fully articulate why it feels so dissatisfying. Could you compare the five act structure of a book like Jurassic Park with the film adaptation? I didn't like how the film ended with everyone getting back into the helicopter, and even as a kid I would've preferred to see them held in detention by the Costa Rican government. What I like best about Shakespeare is that downtempo fourth act in 'Julius Caesar' and 'Romeo & Juliet' that no film director can ever give full voice to. The book 'Araki on Manga' also discusses the use of a 4-act structure called KI-SHO-TEN-KETSU. Can you apply the five act structure to Thomas Covenant? ua-cam.com/video/7gG2r9sdA_A/v-deo.html
I’d say Endgame was 3 act structure with a prologue (I haven’t seen Infinity War recently enough to talk about that. Prologue- The Death Of Thanos Act 1- The aftermath up until the inciting incident of Ant Man’s return. Act 2- The time heist Act 3- The final battle
That's one powerful pinky nail. Some say such a nail can only be forged by the ancient Dwarves of the Lost Kingdoms . Others still--as told in traditional folklore passed down from the mouths of fathers to the ears of their children--claim it is a shard of the Original Earth; a piece of geological shrapnel left over from when the Old World was destroyed in order to from the New Continent. Perhaps these are merely stories, or superstitions. Perhaps there is truth in the tales, or nuggets thereof.
I prefer stories in games to stories in movies, since in games you can use ANY plot structure you want, and if the game is fun, no one will care. Ratchet & Clank 1 and Jak 2 have great plots.
This is good to know. People usually hear about the three act structure and don’t hear about any other story structures often. Thank you David.
I was just randomly shot through with a novel idea and I’ve been drafting the story all morning.
This video seriously helped me understand the story in terms of acts and has helped me a ton with organizing it.
Ok now I feel a bit better about my story, since I think it naturally fits this mold much more than the three-act structure.
Many Shakespeare plays end up with more of a; “normalcy is established, antagonists scheme, the protagonists suffers the consequences, the protagonists set a scheme into motion, all the schemes intertwine so the antagonists think they’ve caused their own suffering before the reveal.”
Similar to what you said, but the fourth stage actually has the counter plots and some of their effects, rather than preparation.
Most structures use “order, chaos, new order” as their structure, how it is spread out and how many points where a new established order exist determines the number of acts I suppose.
Interesting structure. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so glad I picked a 5 Act Structure over 4 years ago for my current novel. Thanks for the reassurance!
That is a very good explanation.
As a Shakespeare fan, I would only add that it allows for deeper characterization of the major characters, and more extensive subplots, and the story tends to be more epic, like Shakespeare's.
Thanks for the explanation. I had a hard time figuring out on my own and you cleared up the general purpose of each act.
Just found your video looking up about Kabuki plays for quriosity of how or when the 5 act structure play out in one piece ( up to date) and it hits home so close to how it has played out in act 3 now.
Should have thought more about Kabuki - there's so much there.
I bought Muramasa the other day! I think I'm still in the first act. Now I'm excited to study it as well as enjoy it. 😁
So would Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood be considered to be a 5 act structure? They did separate each segment into parts as oppose to seasons which is usually how TV and most anime are measured. And it pretty much follows the criteria for a 5 act structure 🤔
Ah this video is great!
I love you ❤
Glad you liked it!!
Interesting info David, I’m sure it’ll help when I put pen to paper 📝
Thanks a lot for this helpful instruction! I will credit you when my first novel hits worldwide fame! ;)
Thanks man
Hey David, any advice on writing sad stories? Not like, "a sad ending," but a story that is sad through out the same way horror is scary through out?
Choose a sad topic and go through the stages. Have it about a man who has a pregnant wife that looses the baby at birth. She shortly after is diagnosed with fatal cancer amd dies in weeks. He goes throufh two funerals and book ends with him killing himself.
@@codeypendent1899 That kind of seems like predictable grief porn, though. I phrased my question pretty poorly. I meant how, in a comedy or a horror, you have a little bit of a roller coaster so that people don't get burnt out on the emotion? Not every seen in a horror is scary, and comedies aren't ridiculous every second. And you have tools like the straight man in a comedy to point out the absurdity when it does happen, or false jump scare in a horror (jeeze dude, why are you freaking out it's just the cat), etc.
Still being long winded and vague. Uhm. How do I not burn people out on sadness?
@@DeDraconis have your sad conflict then be sure to either not fully resolve the conflict or have a new problem arise immediately after resolution has settled. This happens but this happens, so this happens but this happens so this happens and so on. He says vaguely lol
Been reading Greek Tragedies? Using the Greek Tragedy structure (in 5 parts): prologue, parados, episode, stasimon, and exodus. I was just thinking of someone who kills (not knowing he was) his father, and then marries his mother, then when he discovers it he kills himself... something like that.
@ DeDraconis
Shame and blame are your friends here. They can lead to your character's self-consolation, resentment, guilt, grief... you name it. All give layers to your character's behavior.
Also,
Much like how setting a scene outdoors can add breathability to stories with stuffy interior-settings, a paragraph or scene exploring 'joy' expected/recollected could set up scenes and stakes by harsh comparison.
Hope grants a further fall, but also a solid pay-off if they're are hard-won.
@ David Stewart
I'd also love to hear how you'd tackle this.
Could there be elements and placements within the structure to maximize these flavors plot-wise?
Interesting to hear that Muromasa uses the five act structure! My notes claim that you said CBS used a 2-act structure, and NBC used a 3-act one, is that right? I've never liked the 3-act structure of films but couldn't fully articulate why it feels so dissatisfying. Could you compare the five act structure of a book like Jurassic Park with the film adaptation? I didn't like how the film ended with everyone getting back into the helicopter, and even as a kid I would've preferred to see them held in detention by the Costa Rican government. What I like best about Shakespeare is that downtempo fourth act in 'Julius Caesar' and 'Romeo & Juliet' that no film director can ever give full voice to. The book 'Araki on Manga' also discusses the use of a 4-act structure called KI-SHO-TEN-KETSU.
Can you apply the five act structure to Thomas Covenant?
ua-cam.com/video/7gG2r9sdA_A/v-deo.html
Could you say that Infinity War + Endgame could fit loosely into this kind of structure?
I’d say Endgame was 3 act structure with a prologue (I haven’t seen Infinity War recently enough to talk about that.
Prologue- The Death Of Thanos
Act 1- The aftermath up until the inciting incident of Ant Man’s return.
Act 2- The time heist
Act 3- The final battle
@@BenjiH23
Hmmm, one way of looking at it I guess. Forget to consider Prologues and Epilogues as bookends.
I think that most anime have this structure?
That's one powerful pinky nail. Some say such a nail can only be forged by the ancient Dwarves of the Lost Kingdoms . Others still--as told in traditional folklore passed down from the mouths of fathers to the ears of their children--claim it is a shard of the Original Earth; a piece of geological shrapnel left over from when the Old World was destroyed in order to from the New Continent. Perhaps these are merely stories, or superstitions. Perhaps there is truth in the tales, or nuggets thereof.
Who can say for sure, save for the gods...
I prefer stories in games to stories in movies, since in games you can use ANY plot structure you want, and if the game is fun, no one will care. Ratchet & Clank 1 and Jak 2 have great plots.
Jak 2!!!
A damn fine time!
1:19 only bites nails on left hand; right are untrimmed and that pinkie nail - woah
its because he plays the guitar