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Film Structure Video: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

New video breakdown for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I hope to get back on a more regular posting schedule, but the work on the follow-up to Actions and Goals continues.  In the interim, enjoy the show! Be sure to hit that like button or drop your thoughts in the comments here or on YouTube.

Movie Structure Breakdown: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Format: Movie

Released: 2017

Written By: James Gunn

Directed By: James Gunn

Run Time: 127 minutes

Character(s): Peter “Star-Lord” Quill, Rocket “I’m not a raccoon” Raccoon, Yondu Udonta

With its multiple character arcs and split storylines, the second installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy is a bit more complex than the first. As such, the central plot is shared between Quill’s quest to know his father, and Rocket and Yondu’s connected journeys of redemption, all tied together by the central theme of family.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

The Guardians are having a hard time keeping their family together (the imperfect situation) and are still wanted by the Kree and the Ravagers (oppressive opposition) as they attempt to protect Anulax batteries for the Sovereign (initial goal). But when the Sovereign realize Rocket stole some of the batteries and come after them, (the disturbance) they are saved by a man claiming to be Quill’s father who invites them to his planet (the dilemma) to prove Quill is his son (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: The Guardians are realizing that keeping a family together is a bit more difficult than forming one. They bicker over minutiae. They’ve contracted themselves out to conceited douchebags, the Sovereign.

And that was when he learned the difference between left and right.

Initial Goal: The Guardians want to protect the Anulax batteries from an Abilisk for the Sovereign in exchange for Nebula.

Oppressive Opposition: The Kree and the Ravager’s are still after the Guardians. Gamora denies interest in Quill.

The look of love.

Rocket feels held back by Quill and the others.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: Start Time: 15 of 127 minutes (11.8%) – The Sovereign come after them after realizing Rocket stole some of the batteries. The Guardians are saved by a one-inch man but crash land on Berhart.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 22 of 127 minutes (17.3%) – On Berhart, the Guardians all argue. The one-inch man shows up and reveals himself as Quill’s father, Ego, who’s actually much taller than one-inch. He invites Quill, Gamora, and Drax to his home planet, while Rocket and Groot remain behind to repair the ship and guard Nebula. Quill must choose between remaining a fatherless orphan boy, or believing this aging anti-hero is his dad.

Meanwhile, on Contraxia, Yondu is shunned by his old Ravager buddies before being approached by the Sovereign’s high priestess, Ayesha, who offers him a million units to retrieve the batteries. Yondu must choose between his crew and his son.

The New Role: Quill assumes the New Role of Ego’s son and a member of a real family. Yondu assumes the New Role of Quill’s daddy, kinda.

Act End: On Ego’s ship, Quill takes out his picture of David Hasselhoff while Mantis puts Ego to sleep.

Act Run Time: 34 of 127 minutes (26.7%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 34 of 127 minutes (26.7%)

Quill, Gamora and Drax travel to Ego’s strange planet (the unfamiliar situation) while Rocket is attacked by Yondu’s ravagers on behalf of the Sovereign (incidental opposition) as he tries to fix the ship (transitional goal). But when Taserface’s mutinous Ravagers execute Yondu’s men, and Mantis reveals there’s more to Ego’s story than meets the eye, (the reality check) Yondu and Rocket formulate an escape plan to rescue Quill (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Quill, Gamora and Drax go to a strange planet with a man claiming to be Quill’s father. There they learn of celestials and other such craziness.

Meanwhile, Rocket, Groot and Yondu are captured and imprisoned by mutinous Ravagers.

Transitional Goal: Quill, Drax and Gamora want to figure out who this Ego and Mantis are. Rocket wants to fix the ship and guard Nebula.

Incidental Opposition: Rocket’s attempts to fix the ship are interrupted by Yondu’s Ravagers who want to collect the bounty offered by the Sovereign. Nebula helps them as a means of escaping captivity and going after Gamora. Ego and Mantis aren’t forthcoming with their true intention.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: Start Time: 48 Minutes (37.7%) – Taserface’s Ravagers begin executing Yondu loyalists. When Rocket insults Taserface, Nebula intervenes stating that both he and Rocket are worth more alive than dead. Given a ship by the Ravagers, she goes after Gamora.

Quill and Ego continue discussing Quill’s mom. Ego convinces Quill that he loved his mom and the two bond over a game of space catch.

Drax and Mantis discuss his family and she nearly tells him of Ego’s true motives before Gamora interrupts, asking to be shown to their quarters. On the way, Gamora confronts Mantis about what she was going to tell Drax and becomes suspicious when Mantis denies having anything to say.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 58 of 127 minutes (45.6%): Rocket and Yondu are thrown into the brig. Yondu reveals why he deserves to be exiled by the Ravagers; because he was dealing in children. Yondu comes up with an escape plan.

Act End: Yondu tells Rocket: “We’re gonna need your little friend.”

Act Run Time: 37 of 127 minutes (29.1%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 61 of 127 Minutes (48%)

The Guardians are placed at odds with Ego and the Sovereign (the central conflict) who have hired the Ravagers to capture the Guardians (intentional opposition) before they can rescue Quill (false goal). But when Taserface sends the Sovereign the coordinates of Yondu’s ship, and Quill and Gamora have a falling out (the turn) Gamora and Nebula reconcile and stumble on the remains of Ego’s progeny while Mantis reveals Ego’s true intentions to Drax and Yondu calls Rocket out on his flaws (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: The Guardians versus Ego the Living Planet and the Sovereign.

False Goal: Rocket and Yondu want to escape confinement and take back the ship. Gamora wants to figure out what’s really going on with Ego. Quill wants to get to know his dad.

Intentional Opposition: The Ravagers attempt to stop Yondu, Rocket and Groot from escaping.

He’s too adorable to kill… oh, he just killed someone.

Taserface gives Yondu’s coordinates to the Sovereign. Nebula arrives at Ego’s planet and attempts to kill Gamora. Ego reveals his true purpose to Quill, while Mantis reveals it to Drax and Gamora.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Start Time: 69 of 127 minutes (54.3%) – Taserface sends Yondu’s coordinates to the Sovereign. Rocket plugs in 700 jumps to get to Ego.

Gamora unsuccessfully tries to contact Rocket. Quill and Gamora dance to Sam Cooke then argue about their unspoken thing and how she thinks something doesn’t feel right about Ego’s planet. She storms out.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 74 of 127 minutes (58.2%) – Gamora goes into the fields to get a signal and is attacked by Nebula’s spaceship. Gamora rescues Nebula from the wreckage of her ship only to be attacked again. When Nebula realizes she has Gamora beaten she admits all she ever wanted was a sister.

Ego approaches Quill and tells him how they’re the sailor in Brandy by Looking Glass before asking him to come with him.

Mantis, overhearing Ego and Quill’s conversation, wakes a sleeping Drax up about Ego’s true plan. Nebula and Gamora stumble upon the bones of all Ego’s other progeny who failed to show a connection to the light while Ego hits Quill with the light treatment, giving him blue space sclera and bringing him to his side to take over the universe.

Yondu and Rocket arrive at Ego’s planet and Yondu calls him out on how he pushes everyone away because he’s afraid of being hurt.

Act End: Yondu informs Rocket that they’re about to fight a planet. Rocket says “Fight a what?”

Act Run Time: 24 of 127 Minutes (18.8%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 85 of 127 Minutes (66.9%)

Everyone attempts to rescue Quill (the doomed plan) bringing the wrath of Ego upon themselves (self-inflicted opposition) as they attempt to flee the planet (penultimate goal). But when Ego reveals he gave his mother brain cancer to Quill and smushes his Walkman (the lowpoint) Gamora, Yondu and Rocket smash Ego with their ship and Quill reveals Ego’s master plan to destroy the universe (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: The Guardians want to rescue Quill and leave the planet, but soon find out that Ego intends to destroy the universe and they must stop him.

Penultimate Goal: Rescue Quill from Ego. Meanwhile, Quill attempts to help his dad with the Expansion.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Rocket, Yondu, Gamora et al willingly go to fight a planet to save Quill. Ego turns on his dad when he realizes he killed his mom and subsequently suffers the consequences.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: Start Time: 88 of 127 Minutes (69.2%) – Ego tells Quill he gave his mother cancer, before impaling him on an energy spear and using him as a battery for the expansion. Rocket and Yondu arrived and contact Gamora.

Ego smushes Quill’s Walkman. Those are antiques! You can’t buy them anymore. On Earth and across the galaxy the Expansion begins.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 92 of 127 Minutes (72.4%) – Gamora, Drax and Mantis burst into Ego’s chamber just before Rocket and Yondu crash into Ego, seemingly destroying him. They all board the ship and Quill tells everyone they have to kill Ego and can’t just leave. Mantis reveals that Ego’s core is in the caverns beneath the surface. Quill and Yondu reconnect and bond as they fix the ship and drill into the surface of the planet.

Act End: As they fly into Ego’s core, Mantis declares, “The crabby puppy’s so cute he makes me want to die!”

Act Run Time: 10 of 127 Minutes (7.8%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 95 of 127 Minutes (74.8%)

The Guardians travel into Ego’s (the longshot) and face off with Ego and the Sovereign drone fleet (ultimate opposition) as the attempt to kill Ego (ultimate goal). But when Ego overpowers everyone and reconnects Quill to the light (all is lost), Quill taps into his celestial powers and battles his old man for long enough to allow Groot to plant the bomb (the final push).

Hodor!

The Longshot: The group travels deep into the planet to find Ego’s core and destroy him.

Ultimate Goal: Kill Ego to stop him from destroying the universe.

Ultimate Opposition: The Guardians and co. face off with a living planet, on the living planet. They are simultaneously attacked by the Sovereign.

“Mantis, look out!!”

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Start Time: 107 of 127 Minutes (84.2%) – Kraglin arrives with the Quadrant, but Ego’s rock/energy tentacles ensnare it. Ego reforms his human body as his tentacles overpower Rocket, Yondu, Gamora, Nebula, Drax and Baby Groot. He then reconnects Quill to his Expansion batteries and recommences taking over the universe.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 110 of 127 Minutes (86.6%) – Quill taps into his inner celestial to go toe-to-toe with his old man, allowing Groot to plant the bomb and the other Guardians to escape. Yondu sacrifices himself to save Quill, who realizes that the reason Yondu kept him was to spare him from the fate of Ego’s other progeny, and that Yondu was Quill’s true “daddy”.

Act End: Yondu freezes to death in Quill’s arms as dramatic music plays.

Act Run Time: 23 of 127 Minutes (18.1%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 118 of 127 Minutes (92.9%)

The New Situation: The Guardians have proven they are a true family. Nebula and Gamora reconcile.  The group has a funeral for Yondu. Prompted by Rocket informing them of Yondu’s last deeds, his old Ravager buddies come to throw Yondu a proper Ravager funeral proving they have forgiven him. Quill is named the new captain of Yondu’s Ravagers. Gamora and Nebula hug. Drax and Groot hug. Gamora and Quill hug. Everybody get your hug on. Oh, the feels!

“I am Groot!”

Act Run Time: 9 of 127 Minutes (7%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

 

Film Structure Breakdown: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Format: Movie

Released: 2017

Written By: James Gunn

Directed By: James Gunn

Run Time: 127 minutes

Character(s): Peter “Star-Lord” Quill, Rocket “I’m not a raccoon” Raccoon, Yondu Udonta

With its multiple character arcs and split storylines, the second installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy is a bit more complex than the first. As such, the central plot is shared between Quill’s quest to know his father, and Rocket and Yondu’s connected journeys of redemption, all tied together by the central theme of family.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

The Guardians are having a hard time keeping their family together (the imperfect situation) and are still wanted by the Kree and the Ravagers (oppressive opposition) as they attempt to protect Anulax batteries for the Sovereign (initial goal). But when the Sovereign realize Rocket stole some of the batteries and come after them, (the disturbance) they are saved by a man claiming to be Quill’s father who invites them to his planet (the dilemma) to prove Quill is his son (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: The Guardians are realizing that keeping a family together is a bit more difficult than forming one. They bicker over minutiae. They’ve contracted themselves out to conceited douchebags, the Sovereign.

And that was when he learned the difference between left and right.

Initial Goal: The Guardians want to protect the Anulax batteries from an Abilisk for the Sovereign in exchange for Nebula.

Oppressive Opposition: The Kree and the Ravager’s are still after the Guardians. Gamora denies interest in Quill.

The look of love.

Rocket feels held back by Quill and the others.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: Start Time: 15 of 127 minutes (11.8%) – The Sovereign come after them after realizing Rocket stole some of the batteries. The Guardians are saved by a one-inch man but crash land on Berhart.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 22 of 127 minutes (17.3%) – On Berhart, the Guardians all argue. The one-inch man shows up and reveals himself as Quill’s father, Ego, who’s actually much taller than one-inch. He invites Quill, Gamora, and Drax to his home planet, while Rocket and Groot remain behind to repair the ship and guard Nebula. Quill must choose between remaining a fatherless orphan boy, or believing this aging anti-hero is his dad.

Meanwhile, on Contraxia, Yondu is shunned by his old Ravager buddies before being approached by the Sovereign’s high priestess, Ayesha, who offers him a million units to retrieve the batteries. Yondu must choose between his crew and his son.

The New Role: Quill assumes the New Role of Ego’s son and a member of a real family. Yondu assumes the New Role of Quill’s daddy, kinda.

Act End: On Ego’s ship, Quill takes out his picture of David Hasselhoff while Mantis puts Ego to sleep.

Act Run Time: 34 of 127 minutes (26.7%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 34 of 127 minutes (26.7%)

Quill, Gamora and Drax travel to Ego’s strange planet (the unfamiliar situation) while Rocket is attacked by Yondu’s ravagers on behalf of the Sovereign (incidental opposition) as he tries to fix the ship (transitional goal). But when Taserface’s mutinous Ravagers execute Yondu’s men, and Mantis reveals there’s more to Ego’s story than meets the eye, (the reality check) Yondu and Rocket formulate an escape plan to rescue Quill (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Quill, Gamora and Drax go to a strange planet with a man claiming to be Quill’s father. There they learn of celestials and other such craziness.

Meanwhile, Rocket, Groot and Yondu are captured and imprisoned by mutinous Ravagers.

Transitional Goal: Quill, Drax and Gamora want to figure out who this Ego and Mantis are. Rocket wants to fix the ship and guard Nebula.

Incidental Opposition: Rocket’s attempts to fix the ship are interrupted by Yondu’s Ravagers who want to collect the bounty offered by the Sovereign. Nebula helps them as a means of escaping captivity and going after Gamora. Ego and Mantis aren’t forthcoming with their true intention.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: Start Time: 48 Minutes (37.7%) – Taserface’s Ravagers begin executing Yondu loyalists. When Rocket insults Taserface, Nebula intervenes stating that both he and Rocket are worth more alive than dead. Given a ship by the Ravagers, she goes after Gamora.

Quill and Ego continue discussing Quill’s mom. Ego convinces Quill that he loved his mom and the two bond over a game of space catch.

Drax and Mantis discuss his family and she nearly tells him of Ego’s true motives before Gamora interrupts, asking to be shown to their quarters. On the way, Gamora confronts Mantis about what she was going to tell Drax and becomes suspicious when Mantis denies having anything to say.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 58 of 127 minutes (45.6%): Rocket and Yondu are thrown into the brig. Yondu reveals why he deserves to be exiled by the Ravagers; because he was dealing in children. Yondu comes up with an escape plan.

Act End: Yondu tells Rocket: “We’re gonna need your little friend.”

Act Run Time: 37 of 127 minutes (29.1%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 61 of 127 Minutes (%)

The Guardians are placed at odds with Ego and the Sovereign (the central conflict) who have hired the Ravagers to capture the Guardians (intentional opposition) before they can rescue Quill (false goal). But when Taserface sends the Sovereign the coordinates of Yondu’s ship, and Quill and Gamora have a falling out (the turn) Gamora and Nebula reconcile and stumble on the remains of Ego’s progeny while Mantis reveals Ego’s true intentions to Drax and Yondu calls Rocket out on his flaws (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: The Guardians versus Ego the Living Planet and the Sovereign.

False Goal: Rocket and Yondu want to escape confinement and take back the ship. Gamora wants to figure out what’s really going on with Ego. Quill wants to get to know his dad.

Intentional Opposition: The Ravagers attempt to stop Yondu, Rocket and Groot from escaping.

He’s too adorable to kill… oh, he just killed someone.

Taserface gives Yondu’s coordinates to the Sovereign. Nebula arrives at Ego’s planet and attempts to kill Gamora. Ego reveals his true purpose to Quill, while Mantis reveals it to Drax and Gamora.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Start Time: 69 of 127 minutes (54.3%) – Taserface sends Yondu’s coordinates to the Sovereign. Rocket plugs in 700 jumps to get to Ego.

Gamora unsuccessfully tries to contact Rocket. Quill and Gamora dance to Sam Cooke then argue about their unspoken thing and how she thinks something doesn’t feel right about Ego’s planet. She storms out.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 74 of 127 minutes (58.2%) – Gamora goes into the fields together a signal and is attacked by Nebula’s spaceship. Gamora rescues Nebula from the wreckage of her ship only to be attacked again. When Nebula realizes she has Gamora beaten she admits all she ever wanted was a sister.

Ego approaches Quill and tells him how they’re the sailor in Brandy by Looking Glass before asking him to come with him.

Mantis, overhearing Ego and Quill’s conversation, wakes a sleeping Drax up about Ego’s true plan. Nebula and Gamora stumble upon the bones of all Ego’s other progeny who failed to show a connection to the light while Ego hits Quill with the light treatment, giving him blue space sclera and bringing him to his side to take over the universe.

Yondu and Rocket arrive at Ego’s planet and Yondu calls him out on how he pushes everyone away because he’s afraid of being hurt.

Act End: Yondu informs Rocket that they’re about to fight a planet. Rocket says “Fight a what?”

Act Run Time: 24 of 127 Minutes (18.8%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 85 of 127 Minutes (66.9%)

Everyone attempts to rescue Quill (the doomed plan) bringing the wrath of Ego upon themselves (self-inflicted opposition) as they attempt to flee the planet (penultimate goal). But when Ego reveals he gave his mother brain cancer to Quill and smushes his Walkman (the lowpoint) Gamora, Yondu and Rocket smash Ego with their ship and Quill reveals Ego’s master plan to destroy the universe (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: The Guardians want to rescue Quill and leave the planet, but soon find out that Ego intends to destroy the universe and they must stop him.

Penultimate Goal: Rescue Quill from Ego. Meanwhile, Quill attempts to help his dad with the Expansion.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Rocket, Yondu, Gamora et al willingly go to fight a planet to save Quill. Ego turns on his dad when he realizes he killed his mom and subsequently suffers the consequences.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: Start Time: 88 of 127 Minutes (69.2%) – Ego tells Quill he gave his mother cancer, before impaling him on an energy spear and using him as a battery for the expansion. Rocket and Yondu arrived and contact Gamora.

Ego smushes Quill’s Walkman. Those are antiques! You can’t buy them anymore. On Earth and across the galaxy the Expansion begins.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 92 of 127 Minutes (72.4%) – Gamora, Drax and Mantis burst into Ego’s chamber just before Rocket and Yondu crash into Ego, seemingly destroying him. They all board the ship and Quill tells everyone they have to kill Ego and can’t just leave. Mantis reveals that Ego’s core is in the caverns beneath the surface. Quill and Yondu reconnect and bond as they fix the ship and drill into the surface of the planet.

Act End: As they fly into Ego’s core, Mantis declares, “The crabby puppy’s so cute he makes me want to die!”

Act Run Time: 10 of 127 Minutes (7.8%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 95 of 127 Minutes (74.8%)

The Guardians travel into Ego’s (the longshot) and face off with Ego and the Sovereign drone fleet (ultimate opposition) as the attempt to kill Ego (ultimate goal). But when Ego overpowers everyone and reconnects Quill to the light (all is lost), Quill taps into his celestial powers and battles his old man for long enough to allow Groot to plant the bomb (the final push).

Hodor!

The Longshot: The group travels deep into the planet to find Ego’s core and destroy him.

Ultimate Goal: Kill Ego to stop him from destroying the universe.

Ultimate Opposition: The Guardians and co. face off with a living planet, on the living planet. They are simultaneously attacked by the Sovereign.

“Mantis, look out!!”

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Start Time: 107 of 127 Minutes (84.2%) – Kraglin arrives with the Quadrant, but Ego’s rock/energy tentacles ensnare it. Ego reforms his human body as his tentacles overpower Rocket, Yondu, Gamora, Nebula, Drax and Baby Groot. He then reconnects Quill to his Expansion batteries and recommences taking over the universe.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 110 of 127 Minutes (86.6%) – Quill taps into his inner celestial to go toe-to-toe with his old man, allowing Groot to plant the bomb and the other Guardians to escape. Yondu sacrifices himself to save Quill, who realizes that the reason Yondu kept him was to spare him from the fate of Ego’s other progeny, and that Yondu was Quill’s true “daddy”.

Act End: Yondu freezes to death in Quill’s arms as dramatic music plays.

Act Run Time: 23 of 127 Minutes (18.1%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 118 of 127 Minutes (92.9%)

The New Situation: The Guardians have proven they are a true family. Nebula and Gamora reconcile.  The group has a funeral for Yondu. Prompted by Rocket informing them of Yondu’s last deeds, his old Ravager buddies come to throw Yondu a proper Ravager funeral proving they have forgiven him. Quill is named the new captain of Yondu’s Ravagers. Gamora and Nebula hug. Drax and Groot hug. Gamora and Quill hug. Everybody get your hug on. Oh, the feels!

“I am Groot!”

Act Run Time: 9 of 127 Minutes (7%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

 

Movie Structure Breakdown: Sicario

Format: Movie

Released: 2015

Written By: Taylor Sheridan

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Run Time: 115 Minutes

Character: Kate Macer, Alejandro Gillick

Before I begin the analysis can I just say how amazing that movie poster is? It looks like a Drew Struzan piece. But I digress.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Kate Mercer, an idealistic FBI agent in drug violence ravaged Arizona (imperfect situation) struggles to fight Mexican drug cartels gaining a foothold in the US (oppressive opposition) and rescue hostages the gangs have taken (initial goal). But when a routine kidnap raid uncovers dozen of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police officers (the disturbance), Kate is asked to join a covert operation to take down the Sonora cartel (the dilemma).

The Imperfect Situation: The FBI is struggling to contain the cartels and are seemingly fighting a war of attrition.

Initial Goal: Kate and her team raid a suspected Mexican cartel safehouse in search of hostages.

Oppressive Opposition: The Mexican cartels are increasingly gaining a foothold in the southwestern US.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: 3 minutes – On her routine kidnapper hunt, the house that Kate has tracked down contains dozens of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police men.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 8 minute (6.9%) – At what she thinks is a disciplinary hearing, Kate is asked to join a interdepartmental operation with a top secret mission.

Like Kanye West.

The New Role: Kate becomes a member of a Department of Justice special joint task force

Act Run Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

Kate meets and goes on a mission with her new, hard-edged interagency task force team members (the unfamiliar situation) who walk into an ambush (incidental opposition) while trying to extradite on of the cartel’s top men (transitional goal). But when Kate realizes her team is breaking the law to accomplish their objectives (the reality check) she demands to be told what is really going on and decides to stay on the team (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Kate meets her new team members who are not what she envisioned. She goes on her first operation which turns out to be in Ciudad Juarez Mexico and not El Paso as she had been led to believe.

Transitional Goal: Assist the task force in apprehending the Sonora Cartel lieutenant Manuel Díaz.

Incidental Opposition: Cartel gunmen attempt to ambush the team and assassinate the druglord Kate’s team is trying to extradite.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check:  24 of 115 minutes (20%) –  The team goes into Ciudad Juarez and takes custody of Guillermo. Kate sees the other side of the fence for the first time. At the border crossing the team preempts an ambush by swiftly killing several Mexican cartel gunmen.

How Emily Blunt kills spiders.

When they return to the U.S. base, Alejandro tortures Guillermo into revealing a tunnel Díaz uses to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Kate begins to question the legality of the team’s methods, and wonder for whom Matt and Alejandro really work.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 45 Minutes of 115 minutes (39.1%) – Kate and the team return to the US and travel to an Arizona Border Patrol station to question detained illegal immigrants. At Reggie’s insistence, Matt comes clean about the true nature of the team’s operation, revelaing their objective is to disrupt Díaz’s drug operations to such a degree that Díaz will be summoned back to Mexico by his boss, elusive Sonora Cartel drug lord Fausto Alarcón. Thinking they now know the truth of the operation, Kate and Reggie decide to stay on the case.

Despite the awkward staring contest.

Act Run Time: 38 of 115 minutes (33%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 53 of 115 minutes (46%)

Kate personally comes into the crosshairs of the Sonora Cartel (the central conflict) who send one of their moles to survey her (intentional opposition) when she and her team break up Manuel Diaz’s money laundering operation (false goal). But when Kate learns they can’t arrest Manuel Diaz and her boss tells her the government is running the show (the turn), she meets the cartel’s mole, is nearly killed by him and learns that Matt and Alejandro used her as bait  (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Kate incurs the wrath of the Mexican cartel.

False Goal: The team raids a bank used by Díaz’s money launderers, disrupting his cash flow in attempt to get Manuel Diaz called back to Mexico.

Intentional Opposition: After seeing her on the bank security camera, the cartel sends someone after Kate to learn who she is and how much she knows.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: 55 of 115 minutes (47.8%) – Kate and the team stop one of Diaz’s money launderers after making a deposit at a bank. Kate goes into the bank despite Matt’s protests and is capture on surveillance video. Afterward Matt tells her they can’t arrest Diaz. Kate is exasperated. She complains to her boss who reminds her that Diaz hasn’t technically done anything illegal and he’s not calling the shots: the government is.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 64 minutes (55.6%) – Kate and Reggie go to the Wild Pony bar. Kate orders “two beers” and the bartender doesn’t ask what kind. She meets Reggie’s buddy Ted, a cowboy cop with the Phoenix PD, and attempts to sleep with him, but when she sees he has a cartel money band she realizes he’s working for the cartels. He tries to strangle her but Alejandro intervenes.

It is revealed that Alejandro and Matt used Kate as bait, suspecting that the cartel would send someone after her after she made herself known at the bank raid. Alejandro and Matt torture Ted into revealing names of other officers working for Díaz.

“Judo Chop!”

Alejandro tells Kate that she reminds him of “someone very special” to him.

Act Run Time: 23 of 115 minutes (20%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 76 of 115 minutes (66%)

Kate and her team raid a Mexican drug tunnel (the doomed plan) and as a result have a shootout with the cartel (self-inflicted opposition) while trying to create a diversion (penultimate goal). But when Kate follows Alejandro into Mexico, discovers Alejandro’s purpose and is shot by him (the lowpoint) Matt reveals that Alejandro’s job is actually to assassinate the head of the Sonora Cartel (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: The team goes on a raid of the drug tunnels and Kate learns the truth of who and what Alejandro is: He’s the titular Sicario.

No clever caption. Just an amazing shot.

Penultimate Goal: Raid the tunnel to create a diversion. The FBI is only needed because the CIA needs a domestic agency attached to operate on US soil.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Reggie tries to talk Kate into walking away, but she refuses because she wants to know what’s going on. She intentionally follows Alejandro to see what he’s doing.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 91 of 115 minutes (79.1%) : Kate stumbles upon Alejandro taking the Mexican cop hostage on the other side of the tunnel. She attempts to arrest him but he shoots her in her bulletproof vest, and tells her to go home.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 93 minutes (80.8%) It is revealed that the true focal character is Alejandro, the titular Sicario. When Kate returns from the tunnel and confronts Matt about what they have really been doing he explains that by disabling the Sonora cartel, they are trying to return to a time when a single cartel, Medellín, ran the drug trade. There was an order to the industry and less violence, and until Americans stop using cocaine, this is the best they can hope for. Alejandro, who worked for Medellín, was brought in to assassinate Alarcón. Alarcón had ordered the murder of Alejandro’s wife and daughter, and this is Alejandro’s opportunity for revenge.

Act Run Time: 21 of 115 minutes (18.2%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 97 of 115 minutes (84.3%)

Alejandro sneaks into Mexico to infiltrate the cartel (the longshot) and faces off with the cartel’s leaders and their goons (ultimate opposition) in order to assassinate the head of the cartel (ultimate goal).

The Longshot: Alejandro uses the Mexican cop, Silvio, as well as Manuel Diaz, to track down the cartel’s leader, Fausto Alarcón, and kill him.

Ultimate Goal: Assassinate the head of the cartel, Fausto Alarcón.

Ultimate Opposition: Alejandro faces off with the baddest hombres south of the Rio Grande.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Start Time:  97 minutes (84.3%) The C story of Mexican policeman Silvio is brought to an end with a well placed bullet from Alejandro.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 102 minutes (88.6%) Alejandro and Manuel Diaz arrive at the gates and Alejandro kills all the guards before finding Fausto Alarcón and his family at dinner and exacting his revenge.

How Benicio Del Toro kills spiders. Much more efficient.

Act Run Time: 10 of 115 minutes (8.6%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 107 of 115 minutes (93%)

Kate now knows the reality of the world she inhabits and must decide what role she will play in it moving forward (the new situation).

The New Situation: Alejandro appears in Kate’s apartment where he forces her at gunpoint to sign a waiver legitimizing the entire operation as legal. He tells her she reminds him of his daughter, and that she isn’t a wolf.

Wolves don’t cry.

As he leaves she aims her pistol at him, but can’t pull the trigger.

In Ciudad Juarez, Silvio’s widow watches her son’s soccer game. The game is briefly interrupted by the sound of gunfire, but quickly resumes.

Act Run Time: 8 of 115 minutes (6.9%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

Film Structure Breakdown: Sicario

Format: Movie

Released: 2015

Written By: Taylor Sheridan

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Run Time: 115 Minutes

Character: Kate Macer, Alejandro Gillick

Before I begin the analysis can I just say how amazing that movie poster is? It looks like a Drew Struzan piece. But I digress.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Kate Mercer, an idealistic FBI agent in drug violence ravaged Arizona (imperfect situation) struggles to fight Mexican drug cartels gaining a foothold in the US (oppressive opposition) and rescue hostages the gangs have taken (initial goal). But when a routine kidnap raid uncovers dozen of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police officers (the disturbance), Kate is asked to join a covert operation to take down the Sonora cartel (the dilemma).

The Imperfect Situation: The FBI is struggling to contain the cartels and are seemingly fighting a war of attrition.

Initial Goal: Kate and her team raid a suspected Mexican cartel safehouse in search of hostages.

Oppressive Opposition: The Mexican cartels are increasingly gaining a foothold in the southwestern US.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: 3 minutes – On her routine kidnapper hunt, the house that Kate has tracked down contains dozens of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police men.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 8 minute (6.9%) – At what she thinks is a disciplinary hearing, Kate is asked to join a interdepartmental operation with a top secret mission.

Like Kanye West.

The New Role: Kate becomes a member of a Department of Justice special joint task force

Act Run Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

Kate meets and goes on a mission with her new, hard-edged interagency task force team members (the unfamiliar situation) who walk into an ambush (incidental opposition) while trying to extradite on of the cartel’s top men (transitional goal). But when Kate realizes her team is breaking the law to accomplish their objectives (the reality check) she demands to be told what is really going on and decides to stay on the team (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Kate meets her new team members who are not what she envisioned. She goes on her first operation which turns out to be in Ciudad Juarez Mexico and not El Paso as she had been led to believe.

Transitional Goal: Assist the task force in apprehending the Sonora Cartel lieutenant Manuel Díaz.

Incidental Opposition: Cartel gunmen attempt to ambush the team and assassinate the druglord Kate’s team is trying to extradite.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check:  24 of 115 minutes (20%) –  The team goes into Ciudad Juarez and takes custody of Guillermo. Kate sees the other side of the fence for the first time. At the border crossing the team preempts an ambush by swiftly killing several Mexican cartel gunmen.

How Emily Blunt kills spiders.

When they return to the U.S. base, Alejandro tortures Guillermo into revealing a tunnel Díaz uses to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Kate begins to question the legality of the team’s methods, and wonder for whom Matt and Alejandro really work.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 45 Minutes of 115 minutes (39.1%) – Kate and the team return to the US and travel to an Arizona Border Patrol station to question detained illegal immigrants. At Reggie’s insistence, Matt comes clean about the true nature of the team’s operation, revelaing their objective is to disrupt Díaz’s drug operations to such a degree that Díaz will be summoned back to Mexico by his boss, elusive Sonora Cartel drug lord Fausto Alarcón. Thinking they now know the truth of the operation, Kate and Reggie decide to stay on the case.

Despite the awkward staring contest.

Act Run Time: 38 of 115 minutes (33%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 53 of 115 minutes (46%)

Kate personally comes into the crosshairs of the Sonora Cartel (the central conflict) who send one of their moles to survey her (intentional opposition) when she and her team break up Manuel Diaz’s money laundering operation (false goal). But when Kate learns they can’t arrest Manuel Diaz and her boss tells her the government is running the show (the turn), she meets the cartel’s mole, is nearly killed by him and learns that Matt and Alejandro used her as bait  (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Kate incurs the wrath of the Mexican cartel.

False Goal: The team raids a bank used by Díaz’s money launderers, disrupting his cash flow in attempt to get Manuel Diaz called back to Mexico.

Intentional Opposition: After seeing her on the bank security camera, the cartel sends someone after Kate to learn who she is and how much she knows.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: 55 of 115 minutes (47.8%) – Kate and the team stop one of Diaz’s money launderers after making a deposit at a bank. Kate goes into the bank despite Matt’s protests and is capture on surveillance video. Afterward Matt tells her they can’t arrest Diaz. Kate is exasperated. She complains to her boss who reminds her that Diaz hasn’t technically done anything illegal and he’s not calling the shots: the government is.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 64 minutes (55.6%) – Kate and Reggie go to the Wild Pony bar. Kate orders “two beers” and the bartender doesn’t ask what kind. She meets Reggie’s buddy Ted, a cowboy cop with the Phoenix PD, and attempts to sleep with him, but when she sees he has a cartel money band she realizes he’s working for the cartels. He tries to strangle her but Alejandro intervenes.

It is revealed that Alejandro and Matt used Kate as bait, suspecting that the cartel would send someone after her after she made herself known at the bank raid. Alejandro and Matt torture Ted into revealing names of other officers working for Díaz.

“Judo Chop!”

Alejandro tells Kate that she reminds him of “someone very special” to him.

Act Run Time: 23 of 115 minutes (20%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 76 of 115 minutes (66%)

Kate and her team raid a Mexican drug tunnel (the doomed plan) and as a result have a shootout with the cartel (self-inflicted opposition) while trying to create a diversion (penultimate goal). But when Kate follows Alejandro into Mexico, discovers Alejandro’s purpose and is shot by him (the lowpoint) Matt reveals that Alejandro’s job is actually to assassinate the head of the Sonora Cartel (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: The team goes on a raid of the drug tunnels and Kate learns the truth of who and what Alejandro is: He’s the titular Sicario.

No clever caption. Just an amazing shot.

Penultimate Goal: Raid the tunnel to create a diversion. The FBI is only needed because the CIA needs a domestic agency attached to operate on US soil.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Reggie tries to talk Kate into walking away, but she refuses because she wants to know what’s going on. She intentionally follows Alejandro to see what he’s doing.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 91 of 115 minutes (79.1%) : Kate stumbles upon Alejandro taking the Mexican cop hostage on the other side of the tunnel. She attempts to arrest him but he shoots her in her bulletproof vest, and tells her to go home.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 93 minutes (80.8%) It is revealed that the true focal character is Alejandro, the titular Sicario. When Kate returns from the tunnel and confronts Matt about what they have really been doing he explains that by disabling the Sonora cartel, they are trying to return to a time when a single cartel, Medellín, ran the drug trade. There was an order to the industry and less violence, and until Americans stop using cocaine, this is the best they can hope for. Alejandro, who worked for Medellín, was brought in to assassinate Alarcón. Alarcón had ordered the murder of Alejandro’s wife and daughter, and this is Alejandro’s opportunity for revenge.

Act Run Time: 21 of 115 minutes (18.2%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 97 of 115 minutes (84.3%)

Alejandro sneaks into Mexico to infiltrate the cartel (the longshot) and faces off with the cartel’s leaders and their goons (ultimate opposition) in order to assassinate the head of the cartel (ultimate goal).

The Longshot: Alejandro uses the Mexican cop, Silvio, as well as Manuel Diaz, to track down the cartel’s leader, Fausto Alarcón, and kill him.

Ultimate Goal: Assassinate the head of the cartel, Fausto Alarcón.

Ultimate Opposition: Alejandro faces off with the baddest hombres south of the Rio Grande.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Start Time:  97 minutes (84.3%) The C story of Mexican policeman Silvio is brought to an end with a well placed bullet from Alejandro.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 102 minutes (88.6%) Alejandro and Manuel Diaz arrive at the gates and Alejandro kills all the guards before finding Fausto Alarcón and his family at dinner and exacting his revenge.

How Benicio Del Toro kills spiders. Much more efficient.

Act Run Time: 10 of 115 minutes (8.6%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 107 of 115 minutes (93%)

Kate now knows the reality of the world she inhabits and must decide what role she will play in it moving forward (the new situation).

The New Situation: Alejandro appears in Kate’s apartment where he forces her at gunpoint to sign a waiver legitimizing the entire operation as legal. He tells her she reminds him of his daughter, and that she isn’t a wolf.

Wolves don’t cry.

As he leaves she aims her pistol at him, but can’t pull the trigger.

In Ciudad Juarez, Silvio’s widow watches her son’s soccer game. The game is briefly interrupted by the sound of gunfire, but quickly resumes.

Act Run Time: 8 of 115 minutes (6.9%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

Six Act Breakdown Request: Sicario

Thanks to Heikki for submitting a structure breakdown request for Sicario. It’s an amazing film with a mindbending fifth act plot twist.

Format: Movie

Released: 2015

Written By: Taylor Sheridan

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

Run Time: 115 Minutes

Character: Kate Macer, Alejandro Gillick

Before I begin the analysis can I just say how amazing that movie poster is? It looks like a Drew Struzan piece. But I digress.

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Kate Mercer, an idealistic FBI agent in drug violence ravaged Arizona (imperfect situation) struggles to fight Mexican drug cartels gaining a foothold in the US (oppressive opposition) and rescue hostages the gangs have taken (initial goal). But when a routine kidnap raid uncovers dozen of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police officers (the disturbance), Kate is asked to join a covert operation to take down the Sonora cartel (the dilemma).

The Imperfect Situation: The FBI is struggling to contain the cartels and are seemingly fighting a war of attrition.

Initial Goal: Kate and her team raid a suspected Mexican cartel safehouse in search of hostages.

Oppressive Opposition: The Mexican cartels are increasingly gaining a foothold in the southwestern US.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: 3 minutes – On her routine kidnapper hunt, the house that Kate has tracked down contains dozens of dead bodies and a booby trap that kills two police men.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 8 minute (6.9%) – At what she thinks is a disciplinary hearing, Kate is asked to join a interdepartmental operation with a top secret mission.

Like Kanye West.

The New Role: Kate becomes a member of a Department of Justice special joint task force

Act Run Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 15 of 115 minutes (13%)

Kate meets and goes on a mission with her new, hard-edged interagency task force team members (the unfamiliar situation) who walk into an ambush (incidental opposition) while trying to extradite on of the cartel’s top men (transitional goal). But when Kate realizes her team is breaking the law to accomplish their objectives (the reality check) she demands to be told what is really going on and decides to stay on the team (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Kate meets her new team members who are not what she envisioned. She goes on her first operation which turns out to be in Ciudad Juarez Mexico and not El Paso as she had been led to believe.

Transitional Goal: Assist the task force in apprehending the Sonora Cartel lieutenant Manuel Díaz.

Incidental Opposition: Cartel gunmen attempt to ambush the team and assassinate the druglord Kate’s team is trying to extradite.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check:  24 of 115 minutes (20%) –  The team goes into Ciudad Juarez and takes custody of Guillermo. Kate sees the other side of the fence for the first time. At the border crossing the team preempts an ambush by swiftly killing several Mexican cartel gunmen.

How Emily Blunt kills spiders.

When they return to the U.S. base, Alejandro tortures Guillermo into revealing a tunnel Díaz uses to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Kate begins to question the legality of the team’s methods, and wonder for whom Matt and Alejandro really work.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 45 Minutes of 115 minutes (39.1%) – Kate and the team return to the US and travel to an Arizona Border Patrol station to question detained illegal immigrants. At Reggie’s insistence, Matt comes clean about the true nature of the team’s operation, revelaing their objective is to disrupt Díaz’s drug operations to such a degree that Díaz will be summoned back to Mexico by his boss, elusive Sonora Cartel drug lord Fausto Alarcón. Thinking they now know the truth of the operation, Kate and Reggie decide to stay on the case.

Despite the awkward staring contest.

Act Run Time: 38 of 115 minutes (33%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 53 of 115 minutes (46%)

Kate personally comes into the crosshairs of the Sonora Cartel (the central conflict) who send one of their moles to survey her (intentional opposition) when she and her team break up Manuel Diaz’s money laundering operation (false goal). But when Kate learns they can’t arrest Manuel Diaz and her boss tells her the government is running the show (the turn), she meets the cartel’s mole, is nearly killed by him and learns that Matt and Alejandro used her as bait  (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Kate incurs the wrath of the Mexican cartel.

False Goal: The team raids a bank used by Díaz’s money launderers, disrupting his cash flow in attempt to get Manuel Diaz called back to Mexico.

Intentional Opposition: After seeing her on the bank security camera, the cartel sends someone after Kate to learn who she is and how much she knows.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: 55 of 115 minutes (47.8%) – Kate and the team stop one of Diaz’s money launderers after making a deposit at a bank. Kate goes into the bank despite Matt’s protests and is capture on surveillance video. Afterward Matt tells her they can’t arrest Diaz. Kate is exasperated. She complains to her boss who reminds her that Diaz hasn’t technically done anything illegal and he’s not calling the shots: the government is.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 64 minutes (55.6%) – Kate and Reggie go to the Wild Pony bar. Kate orders “two beers” and the bartender doesn’t ask what kind. She meets Reggie’s buddy Ted, a cowboy cop with the Phoenix PD, and attempts to sleep with him, but when she sees he has a cartel money band she realizes he’s working for the cartels. He tries to strangle her but Alejandro intervenes.

It is revealed that Alejandro and Matt used Kate as bait, suspecting that the cartel would send someone after her after she made herself known at the bank raid. Alejandro and Matt torture Ted into revealing names of other officers working for Díaz.

“Judo Chop!”

Alejandro tells Kate that she reminds him of “someone very special” to him.

Act Run Time: 23 of 115 minutes (20%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 76 of 115 minutes (66%)

Kate and her team raid a Mexican drug tunnel (the doomed plan) and as a result have a shootout with the cartel (self-inflicted opposition) while trying to create a diversion (penultimate goal). But when Kate follows Alejandro into Mexico, discovers Alejandro’s purpose and is shot by him (the lowpoint) Matt reveals that Alejandro’s job is actually to assassinate the head of the Sonora Cartel (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: The team goes on a raid of the drug tunnels and Kate learns the truth of who and what Alejandro is: He’s the titular Sicario.

No clever caption. Just an amazing shot.

Penultimate Goal: Raid the tunnel to create a diversion. The FBI is only needed because the CIA needs a domestic agency attached to operate on US soil.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Reggie tries to talk Kate into walking away, but she refuses because she wants to know what’s going on. She intentionally follows Alejandro to see what he’s doing.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 91 of 115 minutes (79.1%) : Kate stumbles upon Alejandro taking the Mexican cop hostage on the other side of the tunnel. She attempts to arrest him but he shoots her in her bulletproof vest, and tells her to go home.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 93 minutes (80.8%) It is revealed that the true focal character is Alejandro, the titular Sicario. When Kate returns from the tunnel and confronts Matt about what they have really been doing he explains that by disabling the Sonora cartel, they are trying to return to a time when a single cartel, Medellín, ran the drug trade. There was an order to the industry and less violence, and until Americans stop using cocaine, this is the best they can hope for. Alejandro, who worked for Medellín, was brought in to assassinate Alarcón. Alarcón had ordered the murder of Alejandro’s wife and daughter, and this is Alejandro’s opportunity for revenge.

Act Run Time: 21 of 115 minutes (18.2%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 97 of 115 minutes (84.3%)

Alejandro sneaks into Mexico to infiltrate the cartel (the longshot) and faces off with the cartel’s leaders and their goons (ultimate opposition) in order to assassinate the head of the cartel (ultimate goal).

The Longshot: Alejandro uses the Mexican cop, Silvio, as well as Manuel Diaz, to track down the cartel’s leader, Fausto Alarcón, and kill him.

Ultimate Goal: Assassinate the head of the cartel, Fausto Alarcón.

Ultimate Opposition: Alejandro faces off with the baddest hombres south of the Rio Grande.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Start Time:  97 minutes (84.3%) The C story of Mexican policeman Silvio is brought to an end with a well placed bullet from Alejandro.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 102 minutes (88.6%) Alejandro and Manuel Diaz arrive at the gates and Alejandro kills all the guards before finding Fausto Alarcón and his family at dinner and exacting his revenge.

How Benicio Del Toro kills spiders. Much more efficient.

Act Run Time: 10 of 115 minutes (8.6%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 107 of 115 minutes (93%)

Kate now knows the reality of the world she inhabits and must decide what role she will play in it moving forward (the new situation).

The New Situation: Alejandro appears in Kate’s apartment where he forces her at gunpoint to sign a waiver legitimizing the entire operation as legal. He tells her she reminds him of his daughter, and that she isn’t a wolf.

Wolves don’t cry.

As he leaves she aims her pistol at him, but can’t pull the trigger.

In Ciudad Juarez, Silvio’s widow watches her son’s soccer game. The game is briefly interrupted by the sound of gunfire, but quickly resumes.

Act Run Time: 8 of 115 minutes (6.9%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

Movie Structure Breakdown: Logan

Format: Movie

Released: 2017

Written By: Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green

Directed By: James Mangold

Run Time: 131 minutes

Character: James “Logan” Howlett aka Wolverine

Apologies for the delayed update, storytellers. I’ve been planning a June wedding with my fiance, and as you can imagine, have been rather busy. I hope to get back on a more structured schedule in July, starting with a video breakdown of the 2017 Marvel masterpiece, Logan. In the meantime, enjoy the written six act breakdown of the film and be sure to drop any comments or questions below!

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Logan, an alcoholic chauffeur and former superhero with ailing health, (the imperfect situation) faces gangbanger homies, obtuse clients and bothersome friends (oppressive opposition) while trying to scrape up enough money to buy a boat to take Charles Xavier somewhere safe (initial goal). But when a Mexican nurse and a little girl in her custody approach Logan seeking protection, (the disturbance), the evil corporation in pursuit of them kills the nurse (the dilemma) leaving the girl in Logan’s care (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: Logan is immediately established to be sick, drunk and no longer the unstoppable force he once was. No longer a superhero, he now drives a limousine, chauffeuring drunk idiots back and forth across the Mexican border.

He and Charles are holed up in an abandoned smelting factory with Caliban due to Charles’ diminishing mental condition and the danger he poses to everyone in his vicinity. The other X-Men are nowhere to be found.

Initial Goal: Save up for a Sunseeker to move Charles out to sea.

Oppressive Opposition: A gang of cholos attempt to jack Logan’s leased ride. Logan’s clients assume he’s nothing more than an unimportant chauffeur. Charles is old and feeble, cursing Logan for his current condition. Caliban is hard on Logan for failing to provide Charles with the proper care he needs, as well as his inability to discuss his failing health and rampant alcoholism.

This is a video not a GIF.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance:  Gabriela shows up at a funeral where Logan is serving as a limo driver and asks for his help. As she drives away a strange little girl is seen peering out the back window at him. Shortly thereafter, he is approached by Transigen’s cybernetically-enhanced Chief of Security, Donald Pierce, who demands that Logan contact him immediately if he sees Gabriela.

Spoiler alert: These are the bad guys.

When Logan returns to his hideout with Charles and Caliban in Mexico, it is revealed that his healing factor is failing and he is sick. Charles tells him that he has been telepathically communicating with a new young mutant, but Logan doesn’t believe him because no new mutants have been born in twenty years.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 20 minutes (14.5%) – After chauffeuring a group of drunk girls to prom, Logan receives a new fare that turns out to be Gabriela and Laura. When Logan learns Gabriela has been gravely injured in escaping Transigen, and she offers him $50,000 to drive her and Laura to North Dakota, he relents and agrees to take them.

When Logan returns to Gabriela’s hotel to pick them up, he finds her murdered and Laura missing. Logan goes back to his hideout to collect Charles and flee before Transigen comes asking questions, only to find that Laura has stowed in his trunk and he inadvertently brought her with him. When Transigen’s goons arrived to collect the girl, it is revealed that she has mutant powers very similar to Logan’s.

And a very similar disposition.

Logan, Charles and Laura managed to escape Transigen, while Caliban is captured.

The Bug-Eyed Caliban in its natural habitat.

The New Role: Logan becomes Laura’s guardian.

Act Run Time: 42 of 131 minutes (18.3%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 42 of 131 Minutes (32%)

Logan and Charles become custodians of a little girl and fugitives from Transigen (the unfamiliar situation) who track and attack them in relentless pursuit of Laura (incidental opposition) while the pair tries to figure out why the company wants her dead (transitional goal). But when Logan discovers the girl is technically his daughter (the reality check) he ultimately decides to try to keep her safe from Transigen (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Logan and Charles become fugitives from Transigen while trying to take care of little girl. 

Hilarity ensues.

Transitional Goal: Figure out why Transigen is trying to kill Laura.

Incidental Opposition: Transigen attacks Logan and Charles in attempt to recover Laura.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check:  Logan watches the first half of Gabriela’s video and discovers Laura is his daughter. Without all the bow chicka bow wow benefits. He also learns she was the subject of a corporate military experiment like he himself, and promptly realizes just how savage she is.

Daddy’s little girl.

 

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 49 Minutes (37.4%) – Logan watches the second half of Gabriela’s video, sees why Transigen is trying to kill Laura and the other kids, and decides to protect Laura.

Act Run Time: 11 of 131 minutes (8%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 53 of 131 Minutes (40.4%)

Logan finds himself at odds with Transigen (the central conflict) who relentless tracks him Charles and Laura (intentional opposition) while the trio tries to make their way to North Dakota drop Laura off and buy Charles’ boat (false goal). But when Transigen and their soulless killing machine, X-24 kills the Professor (the turn) Logan reveals that he is dying and agrees to take Laura to Eden (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Logan and Charles are now in direct odds with Pierce, Dr. Zander Rice, and Transigen.

False Goal: Protect Laura from Transigen.

Intentional Opposition: Using Caliban as a bloodhound, Transigen relentlessly tracks the trio and repeatedly attacks them with the intention of killing them all.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: X-24 fatally stabs Professor X and kills the Munson family. Caliban kills himself to prevent Transigen from tracking Laura any further.

The face of Caliban will forever haunt your dreams.

Logan and Laura escape with Charles’ body and bury him in the woods like the family’s dead dog.

Well, now we can get a puppy.

Logan loses it, smashes up their truck and collapses in the street.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 95 of 131 Minutes (72%) – Logan awakens in a rural doctor’s office. We discover that Logan knows exactly what’s killing him: his adamantium skeleton. He reveals to Laura that he probably won’t survive the trip to North Dakota. It’s also revealed that Laura can talk when she goes full Latina on him. When she refuses to relent, Logan agrees to take her to “Eden”. Immediately afterward, we learn that Pierce now knows the location of Eden thanks to Laura’s photo of her friends.

Act Run Time: 48 of 131 minutes (36.6%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 101 of 131 Minutes (76.3%)

Logan attempts to deliver Laura to her friends (the doomed plan) unaware that they have unintentionally provided Transigen with their location (self-inflicted opposition) when he takes Laura to Eden (penultimate goal). But when Logan refuses to help the kids cross the border and denies any sentimentality for Laura (the lowpoint) he discovers Transigen is about to intercept the kids and springs into action to intervene (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: Though Logan manages to get Laura to Eden, he nearly succumbs to his illness in the process. Pierce and Transigen track the kids down shortly before they can escape.

Penultimate Goal: Take Laura to Eden.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Laura inadvertently provides Pierce with the coordinates to Eden, allowing Transigen to easily track them down.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: Logan tells Laura he was planning to kill himself with the adamantium bullet. She takes the bullet away while he’s sleeping. Laura attempts to get Logan to come with them to Canada, but Logan gives a heartfelt monologue that implies that he doesn’t care about her. Both Laura and Logan are saddened by this.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 114 of 131 minutes (87%) Logan awakens to find the kids have gone and left him some of the medicine. While he’s thoughtfully surveying the horizon, Logan spots Transigen drones headed in the direction the children went and sets off after them to intervene.

Act Run Time: 14 of 131 minutes (10.6%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 115 of 131 minutes (87.7%)

A weak and dying Logan faces of with Transigen and X-24 (the longshot), a younger stronger version of himself (ultimate opposition), to help Laura and the kids escape into Canada (ultimate goal). But when all the children are apprehended and Logan’s serum wears off, (all is lost) Logan battles X-24 and barely defeats him with Laura’s aid (the final push).

The Longshot: The ailing Logan attempts to take on X-24 and the battle-hardened Transigen cyborgs with the aid of a few snot nosed kids and a bottle of Popeye’s spinach juice.

I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew!

Ultimate Goal: Help Laura and the kids escape Transigen.

Ultimate Opposition: Logan and the Transigen kids face off with Pierce, the Reavers and ultimately X-24.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: All the children except Laura are apprehended. Logan’s medicine wears off

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 120 of 131 minutes (91.6%) – Logan engages X-24 to buy the kids time to escape, but is overpowered. Laura uses Logan’s adamantium bullet to kill X-24. Logan acknowledges Laura as his daughter before dying in her arms.

Giving new meaning to sharing blood.

Act Run Time: 13 of 131 minutes (9.9%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 128 of 131 minutes (97.7%)

Having succeeded in keeping Laura safe from Transigen, Logan succumbs to his wounds while the kids escape into a future free of imprisonment.

The New Situation: The children bury Logan under a pile of rocks and hold a vigil for the last X-Man before running off into the woods.

Act Run Time: 3 of 131 minutes (2.2%)

X marks the spot.

 

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

Film Structure Breakdown: Logan

Format: Movie

Released: 2017

Written By: Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green

Directed By: James Mangold

Run Time: 131 minutes

Character: James “Logan” Howlett aka Wolverine

Whew! Just barely snuck this one in before the end of May. I apologies for the delayed update. I’ve been planning a June wedding with my fiance, and as you can imagine, have been rather busy. I hope to have a video breakdown of the 2017 Marvel Masterpiece, Logan posted soon. In the meantime, enjoy the written six act breakdown of the film and be sure to drop any comments or questions below!

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Logan, an alcoholic chauffeur and former superhero with ailing health, (the imperfect situation) faces gangbanger homies and obtuse clients and bothersome friends (oppressive opposition) while trying to scrape up enough money to buy a boat to take Charles Xavier somewhere safe (initial goal). But when a Mexican nurse and a little girl in her custody approach Logan seeking protection, (the disturbance), the evil corporation in pursuit of them kills the nurse (the dilemma) leaving the girl in Logan’s care (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: Logan is immediately established to be sick, drunk and no longer the unstoppable force he used to be. No longer a superhero, he now drives a limousine, chauffeuring drunk idiots back and forth across the Mexican border.

He and Charles are holed up in an abandoned smelting factory with Caliban due to Charles’ diminishing mental condition and the danger he poses to everyone in his vicinity. The other X-Men are nowhere to be found.

Initial Goal: Save up for a Sunseeker to move Charles out to sea.

Oppressive Opposition: A gang of cholos attempt to jack Logan’s leased ride. Logan’s clients assume he’s nothing more than an unimportant chauffeur. Caliban is hard on Logan for failing to provide Charles with the proper care he needs, as well as his inability to discuss his failing health and rampant alcoholism.

This is a video not a GIF.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance:  minutes – Gabriela shows up at a funeral where Logan is serving as a limo driver and asks him for help. As she drives away a strange little girl is seen peering out the back window at him. Shortly thereafter, he is approached by Transigen’s cybernetically-enhanced Chief of Security, Donald Pierce, who demands that Logan contact him immediately if he sees Gabriela.

Spoiler alert: These are the bad guys.

When Logan returns to his hideout with Charles and Caliban in Mexico, it is revealed that his healing factor is failing and he is sick. Charles tells him that he has been telepathically communicating with a new young mutant, but Logan doesn’t believe him because no new mutants have been born in twenty years.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 20 minutes (14.5%) – After chauffeuring a group of drunk girls to prom, Logan receives a new fare which turns out to be Gabriela and Laura. When Logan learns Gabriela has been gravely injured in escaping Transigen, and she offers him $50,000 to drive her and Laura to North Dakota, he relents and agrees to take them.

When Logan returns to Gabriela’s hotel to pick them up, he finds her murdered and Laura missing. Logan goes back to his hideout to collect Charles and flee before Transigen comes asking questions, only to find that Laura has stowed in his trunk and he inadvertently brought her with him. When Transigen’s goons arrived to collect the girl, it is revealed that she has mutant powers very similar to Logan’s.

And a very similar disposition.

Logan, Charles and Laura managed to escape Transigen, while Caliban is captured.

The Bug-Eyed Caliban in its natural habitat.

The New Role: Logan becomes Laura’s guardian.

Act Run Time: 42 of 131 minutes (18.3%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 42 of 131 Minutes (32%)

Logan and Charles become fugitives from Transigen, (the unfamiliar situation) who track and attack them in their pursuit of Laura (incidental opposition) while the pair tries to figure out why the company wants her dead (transitional goal). But when Logan discovers the girl is technically his daughter (the reality check) he ultimately decides to try to keep her safe from Transigen (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Logan and Charles become fugitives from Transigen while trying to take care of little girl. 

Hilarity ensues.

Transitional Goal: Figure out why Transigen is trying to kill Laura.

Incidental Opposition: Transigen attacks Logan and Charles in attempt to recover Laura.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check:  Logan watches the first half of Gabriela’s video and discovers Laura is his daughter. Without all the bow chicka bow wow benefits. He also learns she was the subject of a corporate military experiment like he was and promptly realize just how savage she is.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 49 Minutes (37.4%) – Logan watches the second half of Gabriela’s video, sees that Transigen is trying to kill Laura and the other kids, and decides to help Laura get to North Dakota.

Act Run Time: 11 of 131 minutes (8%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 53 of 131 Minutes (40.4%)

Logan finds himself at odds with Transigen (the central conflict) who relentless tracks him Charles and Laura (intentional opposition) while the trio tries to make their way to North Dakota drop Laura off and buy Charles’ boat (false goal). But when Transigen and their soulless killing machine, X-24 kills the Professor (the turn) Logan reveals that he is dying and agrees to take Laura to Eden (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: Logan and Charles are now in direct odds with Pierce, Dr. Zander Rice, and Transigen.

False Goal: Protect Laura from Transigen.

Intentional Opposition: Using Caliban as a bloodhound, Transigen relentlessly tracks the trio and repeatedly attacks them with the intention of killing them all.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: X-24 fatally stabs Professor X and kills the Munson family. Caliban kills himself to prevent Transigen from tracking Laura any further.

The face of Caliban will forever haunt your dreams.

 

Logan and Laura escape with Charles’ body and bury him in the woods like the family’s dead dog.

Well, now we can get a puppy.

Logan loses it, smashes up their truck and collapses in the street.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 95 of 131 Minutes (72%) – Logan comes to in a rural doctor’s office. It is revealed that Logan knows exactly what’s killing him. He reveals to Laura that he probably won’t survive the trip to North Dakota. It’s also revealed that Laura can talk when she goes full Latina on him. When she refuses to relent, Logan agrees to take her to “Eden”. Immediately afterward, we learn that Pierce now knows the location of Eden.

Act Run Time: 48 of 131 minutes (36.6%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 101 of 131 Minutes (76.3%)

Logan attempts to drop Laura off in North Dakota (the doomed plan) unaware that he unintentionally provided Transigen with their location (self-inflicted opposition) when he takes Laura to Eden (penultimate goal). But when Logan refuses to help the kids cross the border and they leave without him (the lowpoint) he discovers Transigen is about to intercept them and springs into action to intervene (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: Though Logan manages to get Laura to Eden, he nearly succumbs to his illness in the process. Also, Pierce and Transigen discover the exact coordinates and track the kids down shortly before they can escape.

Penultimate Goal: Take Laura to Eden.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: The coordinates allow Pierce to easily track Logan and Laura to North Dakota.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: Logan tells Laura he was planning to kill himself with the adamantium bullet. She takes the bullet away while he’s sleeping. Laura attempts to get Logan to come with them to Canada. Logan gives a heartfelt monologue that implies that he doesn’t care about her. Both Laura and Logan are saddened by this.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 114 of 131 minutes (%) Logan awakens to find the kids have gone and left him some of the medicine. While he’s thoughtfully surveying the horizon, Logan spots Transigen drones headed in the direction the children went and sets off after them to intervene.

Act Run Time: 14 of 131 minutes (10.6%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 115 of 131 minutes (87.7%)

A weak and dying Logan faces of with Transigen and X-24 (the longshot) a younger stronger version of himself (ultimate opposition) to help Laura and the kids escape into Canada (ultimate goal). But when all the children are apprehended and Logan’s serum wears off, (all is lost) Logan battles X-24 and barely defeats him with Laura’s aid (the final push).

The Longshot: The ailing Logan attempts to take on X-24 and the battle-hardened Transigen cyborgs with the aid of a few snot nosed kids and a bottle of Popeye’s spinach juice.

I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew!

Ultimate Goal: Help Laura and the kids escape Transigen.

Ultimate Opposition: Logan and the Transigen kids face off with Pierce, the Reavers and ultimately X-24.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: All the children except Laura are apprehended. Logan’s medicine wears off

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 120 of 131 minutes (91.6%) – Logan engages X-24 to buy the kids time to escape, but is overpowered. Laura uses the adamantium bullet Logan was saving to kill himself to kill X-24. Logan acknowledges Laura as his daughter before dying in her arms.

Yeah, you’re definitely my kid.

Act Run Time: 13 of 131 minutes (9.9%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 128 of 131 minutes (97.7%)

Having succeeded in keeping Laura safe from Transigen, Logan succumbs to his wounds while the kids escape into a future free from imprisonment.

The New Situation: The children bury Logan under a pile of rocks and hold a vigil for the last X-Man before running off into the woods.

Act Run Time: 3 of 131 minutes (2.2%)

RIP, Pops.

 

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

 

 

Movie Structure Breakdown: The Shallows

Format: Movie

Released: 2016

Written By: Anthony Jaswinski

Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra

Run Time: 86 Minutes

Character: Nancy Adams

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Med student, Nancy Adams lost her mother to cancer (the imperfect situation) and is scolded by her father (oppressive opposition) for dropping out of school to travel aimlessly and surf her mother’s beach in Mexico (initial goal). But when Nancy spots a whale carcass in the ocean and investigates it, she’s bitten by a shark (the disturbance) and stranded alone on a tiny island (the dilemma) as a marooned shark attack survivor (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: Med student, Nancy, dropped out of school when her mother died from what appears to be cancer. The doctors’ inability to save her mom has caused Nancy to lose her faith in the healing power of modern medicine. For the last however many undefined units of time, Nancy has been either backpacking or globetrotting in an attempt to run away from the loss of her mother.

Initial Goal: Nancy goes to Mexico, America’s untidy beard, to surf her mom’s beach in an effort to bring closure to her mother’s death.

Oppressive Opposition: Nancy’s father wants her to come home and face the fact her mother is dead. All the locals refuse to tell Nancy the name of the beach she’s at. Her friend flakes out on her to nurse a hangover and hang out with a hot guy.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: After catching some gnarly tube and having a snack, Nancy reenters the water, missing the text from her harlot friend that she won’t be coming to the beach. Waiting for a wave, she is startled by a pod of fleeing dolphins. Nancy sees a colony of seagulls flocking to something and swims toward it despite the ominous music playing. The object turns out to be a dead whale. Nancy gets a bad feeling about this and tries to catch a wave to shore only to be attacked by a great white shark and lose her surfboard.

Walk it off, Nancy.

The shark bites her leg and swims off. Nancy swims to the whale carcass and climbs on top of it just as the shark closes in.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 25:45 (30%) Nancy sees the two local surfers she met earlier hop into their jeep and attempts to flag them down. There’s a false moment of triumph when they stop, but they’re only tucking something in and have no interest in the hot, single girl they were surfing with earlier. Nancy is now stranded and all alone. As the shark begins to drag the whale carcass into the sea, Nancy looks around for something else to swim to and spots a tiny island. The frustrated shark rams the whale, and Nancy dives into the water to swim to the island, narrowly escaping the shark, but stepping on some of the gnarly fire corral.

The New Role: Nancy becomes a marooned shark attack survivor.

If only Samuel L. were he- never mind.

Act Run Time: 30 of 86 minutes (35%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 30 of 86 minutes (34%)

Stranded on a rock and injured (the unfamiliar situation), Nancy contends with freezing temperatures and her damaged leg (incidental opposition) while she waits for someone to come to the beach to help her (transitional goal). But when the shark prevents her from recovering her surfboard (the reality check), she spots a drunkard on the beach who robs her instead of helping only to be eaten by the shark (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Gravely injured, Nancy is now stranded on a rock in the bay with a bloodthirsty shark preventing her from reaching shore.

Transitional Goal: Nancy intends to wait it out on her little rock until someone comes to the beach to help her.

Incidental Opposition: Nancy now faces opposition from the elements and her injuries, performing a hasty surgery on her leg. When the sun sets, Nancy is defenseless against the cold. She must deal with her injured leg, the squawking seagull, sea crabs, and her hunger.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: 37:30 – With the shark nowhere in sight, Nancy sees her surfboard and tries to swim to it. On her way, she sees the shark’s fin and makes a hasty retreat back to her island. She now knows escape is impossible.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 40 (46.5%) Nancy spots a drunk man passed out on the beach and calls for help. When he awakens and sees her, she motions him to her backpack. Seeing all her fancy Gringo things, the man decides to rob her instead of helping. He sees her surfboard in the water before he leaves and swims out to steal that too, only to be dismembered by the shark as Nancy looks on in horror.

The doctor said he’ll never surf again.

She has now been involuntarily committed to her marooned shark attack survivor role.

Act Run Time: 16 of 86 minutes (19%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 46 of 86 Minutes (53%)

Nancy realizes it’s truly her versus the shark (the central conflict) when the shark eats everyone who enters the water (intentional opposition) as she tries to prevent others from becoming shark food so she can survive (false goal). But when her surfer friends enter the water only to be eaten as well (the turn), Nancy fights to retrieve the dead surfer’s camera and decides to fight with all she’s got (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: The People v. Shark

False Goal: Nancy now wants to prevent others from being eaten by the shark while also rescuing herself.

Intentional Opposition: Though Nancy does manage to flag down and warn the surfers she met the day prior, the Shark intentionally opposes her plan of sending them for help by eating them up. It also tries to stop her from getting the GoPro camera and seems excessively upset when she does.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Nancy wakes up to the seagull squawking. She shushes it, only to realize it’s just trying to tell her the surfer dudes have returned to the beach. Nancy stops them before they swim too far offshore, but when they attempt to offer assistance, the shark intervenes by eating them.

Nom nom nom

Nancy now has no hope of rescue from the secluded beach.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 51 (58%) – Nancy returns to her medical training we first learned of in Act One by fixing the seagull’s injured wing.  When she sees the dead surfer’s helmet cam in the water she uses her superior human brain to time the shark’s movements. Although she gets the camera, the shark returns and nearly eats her. Nancy watches the GoPro footage before recording a message to her dad and little sister saying she intends to fight to survive like her momma did.

Act Run Time: 15 of 86 (17%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 61 of 86 minutes (70%)

Nancy attempts to swim to the buoy (the doomed plan), intentionally passing through a swarm of jellyfish (self-inflicted opposition) in attempt to prolong her life until rescue arrives (penultimate goal). But when the lone ship passing through the harbor doesn’t see her flare and she gives up (the lowpoint), she recalls her mother’s resolve and decides to fight for survival (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: Nancy attempts to swim to the buoy, but only succeeds in pissing off the shark.

Penultimate Goal: Nancy wants to use the buoy to prolong her life.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Nancy swims directly into a bloom of jellyfish as means of avoiding the shark and is stung in the process. The shark is stung as well, which further infuriates it at the tasty morsel’s tenacity.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 69 – Nancy sees a ship sailing past the lagoon and tries to get its attention by unlocking the flare gun compartment aboard the buoy. After initially dropping the flares in the water, she manages to collect them and impotently fires the gun. The ship has sailed behind the mountain and doesn’t see it, setting off on a course away from the bay of death. Nancy collapses in defeat, seemingly acceptance her fate.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 70 (81%)

On the beach, a little boy finds the GoPro camera Nancy recorded her last goodbyes on. Meanwhile, Nancy flashes back to her conversation with her dad and decides to be a fighter like her mom taught her.

Act Run Time: 10 of 86 minutes: (12%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 71 of 86 minutes (83%)

Nancy decides to fight the shark (the longshot) who is basically the king of the ocean (ultimate opposition) in attempt to defeat it and continue living (ultimate goal). But when Nancy sets the shark on fire and it destroys the buoy (all is lost) she hatches a plan to kill the shark with the buoy’s anchor (the final push).

The Longshot: Nancy decides to fight a great white shark. In the ocean. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Unless of course, you’re Batman.

Ultimate Goal: Defeat the shark and continue to live.

Ultimate Opposition: The shark now wants Blake Lively desperately. Perhaps it’s internally a sixteen-year-old boy.

Nom nom nom.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Nancy further enrages the shark by using the flare gun to ignite the oil from the whale carcass and momentarily setting the shark on fire. The shark attacks the buoy and knocks it over, spilling Nancy into the water and destroying her little safe haven.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 74 (86%) – Now in the water with the shark, Nancy sees the frayed rebar anchoring the buoy below the surface and comes up with a plan. She tethers her surf band to the buoy chain and uses it as a propellant to drag herself to the bottom. The shark with its inferior little brain, races after her only to impale itself on the rebar when she changes direction at the last moment.

The GoPro boy returns with his dad, who is revealed to be Carlos who drove Nancy to the beach in the Act One. Carlos plucks her from the water but doesn’t perform any kind of CPR or cover with his shirt, leaving it up to her to survive. Nancy sees Steven Seagull made it safely to shore. She also sees her dead mother smiling down on her and says she’s alright.

Act Run Time: 8 of 86 minutes (9%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 79 (92%)

Nancy is now a doctor. Her father tells her that her mother would be proud of her; and her sister as well. (the new situation).

The New Situation: Back in Galveston a year later, Nancy is now a doctor and she and her kid sister prepare to go surfing as their dad looks on proudly.

Act Run Time: 7 minutes (8%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!

 

Film Structure Breakdown: The Shallows

Format: Movie

Released: 2016

Written By: Anthony Jaswinski

Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra

Run Time: 86 Minutes

Character: Nancy Adams

ACT ONE: DEALING WITH AN IMPERFECT SITUATION

A character in an Imperfect Situation faces Oppressive Opposition as he pursues an Initial Goal . But when there is a Disturbance to his routine, he faces a Dilemma regarding his situation, and must assume a New Role .

Med student, Nancy Adams lost her mother to cancer (the imperfect situation) and is scolded by her father (oppressive opposition) for dropping out of school to travel aimlessly and surf her mother’s beach in Mexico (initial goal). But when Nancy spots a whale carcass in the ocean and investigates it, she’s bitten by a shark (the disturbance) and stranded alone on a tiny island (the dilemma) as a marooned shark attack survivor (the new role).

The Imperfect Situation: Med student, Nancy, dropped out of school when her mother died from what appears to be cancer. The doctors’ inability to save her mom has caused Nancy to lose her faith in the healing power of modern medicine. For the last however many undefined units of time, Nancy has been either backpacking or globetrotting in an attempt to run away from the loss of her mother.

Initial Goal: Nancy goes to Mexico, America’s untidy beard, to surf her mom’s beach in an effort to bring closure to her mother’s death.

Oppressive Opposition: Nancy’s father wants her to come home and face the fact her mother is dead. All the locals refuse to tell Nancy the name of the beach she’s at. Her friend flakes out on her to nurse a hangover and hang out with a hot guy.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Disturbance: After catching some gnarly tube and having a snack, Nancy reenters the water, missing the text from her harlot friend that she won’t be coming to the beach. Waiting for a wave, she is startled by a pod of fleeing dolphins. Nancy sees a colony of seagulls flocking to something and swims toward it despite the ominous music playing. The object turns out to be a dead whale. Nancy gets a bad feeling about this and tries to catch a wave to shore only to be attacked by a great white shark and lose her surfboard.

Walk it off, Nancy.

The shark bites her leg and swims off. Nancy swims to the whale carcass and climbs on top of it just as the shark closes in.

Turning Point One – The Dilemma: Start Time: 25:45 (30%) Nancy sees the two local surfers she met earlier hop into their jeep and attempts to flag them down. There’s a false moment of triumph when they stop, but they’re only tucking something in and have no interest in the hot, single girl they were surfing with earlier. Nancy is now stranded and all alone. As the shark begins to drag the whale carcass into the sea, Nancy looks around for something else to swim to and spots a tiny island. The frustrated shark rams the whale, and Nancy dives into the water to swim to the island, narrowly escaping the shark, but stepping on some of the gnarly fire corral.

The New Role: Nancy becomes a marooned shark attack survivor.

If only Samuel L. were he- never mind.

Act Run Time: 30 of 86 minutes (35%)

ACT TWO: LEARNING THE RULES OF AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION

The character Learns the Rules of an Unfamiliar Situation and faces Incidental Opposition in pursuit of a Transitional Goal . But when he receives a Reality Check , he makes a Commitment to his New Role.

Act Start Time: 30 of 86 minutes (34%)

Stranded on a rock and injured (the unfamiliar situation), Nancy contends with freezing temperatures and her damaged leg (incidental opposition) while she waits for someone to come to the beach to help her (transitional goal). But when the shark prevents her from recovering her surfboard (the reality check), she spots a drunkard on the beach who robs her instead of helping only to be eaten by the shark (the commitment).

The Unfamiliar Situation: Gravely injured, Nancy is now stranded on a rock in the bay with a bloodthirsty shark preventing her from reaching shore.

Transitional Goal: Nancy intends to wait it out on her little rock until someone comes to the beach to help her.

Incidental Opposition: Nancy now faces opposition from the elements and her injuries, performing a hasty surgery on her leg. When the sun sets, Nancy is defenseless against the cold. She must deal with her injured leg, the squawking seagull, sea crabs, and her hunger.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Reality Check: 37:30 – With the shark nowhere in sight, Nancy sees her surfboard and tries to swim to it. On her way, she sees the shark’s fin and makes a hasty retreat back to her island. She now knows escape is impossible.

Turning Point Two – The Commitment: Start Time: 40 (46.5%) Nancy spots a drunk man passed out on the beach and calls for help. When he awakens and sees her, she motions him to her backpack. Seeing all her fancy Gringo things, the man decides to rob her instead of helping. He sees her surfboard in the water before he leaves and swims out to steal that too, only to be dismembered by the shark as Nancy looks on in horror.

The doctor said he’ll never surf again.

She has now been involuntarily committed to her marooned shark attack survivor role.

Act Run Time: 16 of 86 minutes (19%)

ACT THREE: STUMBLING INTO THE CENTRAL CONFLICT

The character stumbles into the Central Conflict and faces Intentional Opposition in pursuit of a False Goal . But when there is a grave Turn of events, he has a Moment of Truth .

Act Start Time: 46 of 86 Minutes (53%)

Nancy realizes it’s truly her versus the shark (the central conflict) when the shark eats everyone who enters the water (intentional opposition) as she tries to prevent others from becoming shark food so she can survive (false goal). But when her surfer friends enter the water only to be eaten as well (the turn), Nancy fights to retrieve the dead surfer’s camera and decides to fight with all she’s got (the moment of truth).

The Central Conflict: The People v. Shark

False Goal: Nancy now wants to prevent others from being eaten by the shark while also rescuing herself.

Intentional Opposition: Though Nancy does manage to flag down and warn the surfers she met the day prior, the Shark intentionally opposes her plan of sending them for help by eating them up. It also tries to stop her from getting the GoPro camera and seems excessively upset when she does.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Turn: Nancy wakes up to the seagull squawking. She shushes it, only to realize it’s just trying to tell her the surfer dudes have returned to the beach. Nancy stops them before they swim too far offshore, but when they attempt to offer assistance, the shark intervenes by eating them.

Nom nom nom

Nancy now has no hope of rescue from the secluded beach.

Turning Point Three – The Moment of Truth: Start Time: 51 (58%) – Nancy returns to her medical training we first learned of in Act One by fixing the seagull’s injured wing.  When she sees the dead surfer’s helmet cam in the water she uses her superior human brain to time the shark’s movements. Although she gets the camera, the shark returns and nearly eats her. Nancy watches the GoPro footage before recording a message to her dad and little sister saying she intends to fight to survive like her momma did.

Act Run Time: 15 of 86 (17%)

ACT FOUR: IMPLEMENTING A DOOMED PLAN

The character implements a Doomed Plan and faces Self-Inflicted Opposition in pursuit of a Penultimate Goal . But when an unthinkable Lowpoint occurs, he pulls himself together and discovers a Newfound Resolve .

Act Start Time: 61 of 86 minutes (70%)

Nancy attempts to swim to the buoy (the doomed plan), intentionally passing through a swarm of jellyfish (self-inflicted opposition) in attempt to prolong her life until rescue arrives (penultimate goal). But when the lone ship passing through the harbor doesn’t see her flare and she gives up (the lowpoint), she recalls her mother’s resolve and decides to fight for survival (the newfound resolve).

The Doomed Plan: Nancy attempts to swim to the buoy, but only succeeds in pissing off the shark.

Penultimate Goal: Nancy wants to use the buoy to prolong her life.

Self-Inflicted Opposition: Nancy swims directly into a bloom of jellyfish as means of avoiding the shark and is stung in the process. The shark is stung as well, which further infuriates it at the tasty morsel’s tenacity.

Turning Point Catalyst – The Lowpoint: 69 – Nancy sees a ship sailing past the lagoon and tries to get its attention by unlocking the flare gun compartment aboard the buoy. After initially dropping the flares in the water, she manages to collect them and impotently fires the gun. The ship has sailed behind the mountain and doesn’t see it, setting off on a course away from the bay of death. Nancy collapses in defeat, seemingly acceptance her fate.

Turning Point Four – The Newfound Resolve: Start Time: 70 (81%)

On the beach, a little boy finds the GoPro camera Nancy recorded her last goodbyes on. Meanwhile, Nancy flashes back to her conversation with her dad and decides to be a fighter like her mom taught her.

Act Run Time: 10 of 86 minutes: (12%)

ACT FIVE: TRYING A LONGSHOT

The character tries a Longshot and faces Ultimate Opposition while trying to accomplish the Ultimate Goal . But just when it seems All is Lost , he makes a Final Push against the forces of antagonism and either succeeds or fails.

Act Start Time: 71 of 86 minutes (83%)

Nancy decides to fight the shark (the longshot) who is basically the king of the ocean (ultimate opposition) in attempt to defeat it and continue living (ultimate goal). But when Nancy sets the shark on fire and it destroys the buoy (all is lost) she hatches a plan to kill the shark with the buoy’s anchor (the final push).

The Longshot: Nancy decides to fight a great white shark. In the ocean. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Unless of course, you’re Batman.

Ultimate Goal: Defeat the shark and continue to live.

Ultimate Opposition: The shark now wants Blake Lively desperately. Perhaps it’s internally a sixteen-year-old boy.

Nom nom nom.

Turning Point Catalyst – All is Lost: Nancy further enrages the shark by using the flare gun to ignite the oil from the whale carcass and momentarily setting the shark on fire. The shark attacks the buoy and knocks it over, spilling Nancy into the water and destroying her little safe haven.

Turning Point Five – The Final Push: Start Time: 74 (86%) – Now in the water with the shark, Nancy sees the frayed rebar anchoring the buoy below the surface and comes up with a plan. She tethers her surf band to the buoy chain and uses it as a propellant to drag herself to the bottom. The shark with its inferior little brain, races after her only to impale itself on the rebar when she changes direction at the last moment.

The GoPro boy returns with his dad, who is revealed to be Carlos who drove Nancy to the beach in the Act One. Carlos plucks her from the water but doesn’t perform any kind of CPR or cover with his shirt, leaving it up to her to survive. Nancy sees Steven Seagull made it safely to shore. She also sees her dead mother smiling down on her and says she’s alright.

Act Run Time: 8 of 86 minutes (9%)

ACT SIX: LIVING IN A NEW SITUATION

Having accomplished (or failed to have accomplished) the Ultimate Goal, the character is shown living in a New Situation .

Act Start Time: 79 (92%)

Nancy is now a doctor. Her father tells her that her mother would be proud of her; and her sister as well. (the new situation).

The New Situation: Back in Galveston a year later, Nancy is now a doctor and she and her kid sister prepare to go surfing as their dad looks on proudly.

Act Run Time: 7 minutes (8%)

To learn more about six act structure, purchase your copy of “ Actions and Goals: The Story Structure Secret ” today!