14. Beginning, middle, and end . . . not always in that order

Homework

Time to pick apart your favourite films or TV shows, ruining them for yourself completely! Just kidding – you’ll enjoy them in a whole new way. When you’re watching with a buddy, just sit in a cloud of your own smugness, knowing exactly why your friend is enjoying this certain scene so much.

Enjoy unravelling your enjoyment

In a few of your favourite movies/shows, identify:

• the inciting incident
• the midpoint and how it is marked by sex or death (literally or metaphorically)
• the act breaks
• the Total Mastery scenes at the end

Some easy movies to spot structure like the above are Disney movies.

Next step 

Shape your story into the three-act structure outlined in this lesson.