no7. 3 ACT STRUCTURE

Quick tips for 3 ACT: (Story beginning, middle & end)
Act1 Setup: Key Character must have a Motive
Act2 Confrontation: Key Character struggles with Motive
Act3 Resolution: Key Character resolves Motive

CASE STUDIES: Applying the 3 Act Structure to the following tv shows

1. Frasier - Season1 Ep1 (Pilot) - "The Good Son"

2. The Simpsons - Season1 Ep10 - "Homer's Night Out"

Case Study: 
Applying the 3 Act, Episode is like an Act1


FRASIER - S1, Ep1 - "The Good Son" (Pilot)

Introducing Frasier (PILOT)

Story Angle:
Frasier wants to be a "good son".

To be a good son, Frasier must make personal “sacrifices” to let his father, a dog and a quirky physiotherapist move into his home.

1-Sentence Summary:
Six months after moving back to Seattle to start his career as a radio psychiatrist, Frasier is forced to take in his father Martin, a disabled former police officer, and his dog Eddie, and to hire Daphne Moon, a housekeeper and physical therapist.

Synopsis:
Having returned to his native Seattle after living for many years in Boston, psychiatrist Frasier Crane is still settling in. He now hosts a radio call-in show, something his psychiatrist brother Niles frowns upon, but all in all is quite happy. Niles has bad news for him however about their father Martin, a retired policeman who has a dodgy hip after being shot on duty. Martin had a bad fall in his bathroom and it's obvious he can no longer live alone. A reluctant Frasier agrees that his somewhat cantankerous dad can move in with him. Martin's dog Eddie is part of the package as well. Niles offers to help out by sharing the cost of a physical therapist and Martin decides he want to hire Daphne Moon, a slightly wacky Brit who claims to be somewhat psychic.

Storyline/Plot Outline/Treatment:

Dr. Frasier Crane, formerly of Boston, has recently arrived back in his birthplace of Seattle to restart his life following his painful divorce. He has recently acquired a job presenting a phone-in psychiatry show on the local radio station KACL, where he works with producer Roz Doyle. Although he is looking forward to restarting his life as a bachelor, unfortunately for him fate (and his younger brother, Dr. Niles Crane) have other plans.

His father Martin, a gruff, blue-collar ex-police detective has been invalided out of the police force owing to a hip injury received in the line of duty, which has had such an effect that he can now barely function by himself (although, with characteristic stubbornness, he attempts to anyway). After Martin slips in the shower, Niles has decided that Martin cannot live by himself, but he cannot live with Niles, either, as he does not get along with Niles' wife Maris. The only other alternative, save putting Martin in a retirement home, is for Frasier to take him in.

Reluctant, as he and his father have never had a close relationship, Frasier nevertheless agrees to take Martin in. Unfortunately, he was not counting on Martin bringing along his favorite chair; a tatty, old split-pea green and mud-brown recliner that does not match Frasier's elegant, eclectic apartment. To make matters worse, he is also bringing along his best friend Eddie, a lively Jack Russell Terrier with a habit of staring at Frasier for hours on end.

Frasier is soon at his wits' end; not only are he and his father clashing frequently, but Frasier is run off his feet trying to take care of Martin.

Eventually, Niles agrees to step in and help, not by taking Martin in, but by agreeing to jointly pay for a home health care provider to take care of Martin when Frasier cannot. Unfortunately, Martin's surly attitude plays against most of the applicants; that is, until he meets Daphne Moon, a friendly and sweet English woman who nevertheless puts Frasier off through her numerous eccentricities, most prominently the fact that she believes herself to be psychic. Martin, however, has taken a liking to her, and offers her the job, but through a mix-up, she believes the position to be live-in, which means that she will have to move into the apartment.

This is the last straw for Frasier: not only has he had to give up his space to Martin and Eddie, he must now give up more of his space to a complete stranger. A vicious argument between Martin and Frasier ensues; Martin angrily accuses Frasier of taking him in merely so that Frasier can feel like he's doing the right thing, and Frasier bitterly points out that he's nevertheless still tried to make a home for Martin, only to have his every effort put down and sneered at without even so much as a thank you. Martin seems to be about to say 'thank you', only to storm off, leaving a distance between the two.

The next day at work, Frasier is complaining about his troubles to Roz, who in turn tells him the story of Lupe Vélez, pointing out that although life might not go the way we plan it to, it can nevertheless work out anyway. Frasier then takes his next call, only to find that it is Martin on the line who, in explaining the problem, apologizes for his ungraciousness. Frasier in turn apologizes for his insensitivity, and Martin finally manages to say 'thank you' ("You hear what I said?! I said 'thank you'!"). Frasier then goes on to take a call from a woman, upset and tearful about breaking-up with her boyfriend, and proceeds to tell her the story of Lupe Vélez...

ACT1 - SETUP

Key Character:
Frasier

Situation:
Father has an injured hip and is unable to live on his own. Frasier and his brother Niles must make a decision on how to care for their father.

Motive:
Frasier wants to be a good son

Turning Point 1:
Decides to invite his father to live with him instead of putting him in a nursing home.

ACT2 - CONFRONTATION

Conflict:
Father
Eddie
Daphne
finds it hard to cope with loss of privacy

Turning Point 2:
Reconsiders nursing homes for his father

ACT3 - RESOLUTION

Climax:
Frasier has a huge argument with Dad

Outcome:
Dad realizes Frasier's motive and decides to talk to Frasier.

Resolution:
(back to key character's motive) >> Frasier continues to be "the good son".

Case Study: 
Story revolving around an item

The Simpsons - Season1 Ep10 
- "Homer's Night Out"

 

Story Angle:

A photo gets Homer into trouble with Marge

 Plot1 (MAIN) 
- Homer's party/ caught on Bart's photo >> consequences

Plot2 (SUBPLOT) 
- Bart gets spy camera, plays with it, distribute photo >> consequences

1-Sentence Summary:

Bart puts his new spy camera to use when Homer gets rowdy at a bachelor party, and the incriminating photo gets distributed all over town. (this situation gets Homer into trouble with Marge)

Synopsis:

Bart uses his new miniature "spy" camera to take candid pictures around the household. Meanwhile, Homer is preparing to go to a bachelor party for his co-worker at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. While at the party, Homer is invited to dance on stage with a stripper. Bart (who is dining with the rest of the family in the next-door restaurant) uses his camera to snap a photo of Homer and the dancer having a great time. At school, Martin develops the picture, which - after he compliments Bart's work - gets distributed around school, and eventually around town. Marge sees the photo and is outraged. Homer arrives home, where Marge immediately confronts her husband and kicks him out of the house. Eventually, Marge agrees to let him back in on the condition he take Bart around to meet the stripper and show that she is not a sex object. After almost winding up on stage at another of the dancer's performances, Homer does as he is asked and all is forgiven.

ACT1 - SETUP

Key Character:
Homer

Motive1:
Wants Marge to forgive himand let him go home

Situation:
Bart takes a photo of Homer dancing, photo gets distributed all over town, Marge sees it and kicks Homer out of the home

Turning Point1:
Decides to talk to Marge to let him go home instead of waiting for her to cool down

Motive2: Wants to do what Marge asks - to bring Bart to meet with the woman to teach him to treat women as people and not objects". Once he's done this task, he can fulfil Motive1.

ACT2 - CONFRONTATION

Conflict:
Homer struggles to complete task set by Marge

Turning Point2:
decides not to give up so easily, phones Marge to tell her he will try to look for Lady Kashmir

ACT3 - RESOLUTION

Climax:
Homer stumbles into a show and starts dancing with all the pretty showgirls

Turning Point3:
Stops dancing and makes a speech (completing task set by Marge)

Outcome:
Completes task set by Marge

Resolution:
Motive resolved, Marge forgives him

Closure:
Since Bart initiated the situation, he ends/closes the story & episode show