Biggest Mistakes Screenwriters Make In Act 2

Biggest Mistakes Screenwriters Make In Act 2 - Cody Smart

Рет қаралды 7,802

Жыл бұрын

In this Film Courage interview Script Doctor/ and Teacher Cody Smart points out that many screenwriters struggle with the second act of their screenplays. They often fail to consistently surprise the audience and instead create a lull in the story, saving the big moments for the third act. Act 2 should be the bulk of the story, with the central conflict in motion and the protagonist's arc evolving.
Cody Smart is an independent writer and script doctor from Chile. She holds degrees in English Literature & Linguistics, Screenwriting, Development and Producing. She worked as a script analyst for Sony, she’s a judge for multiple script and film competitions, she’s written some award-winning shorts, she’s head of the coverage department at a script hosting site and she does a bi-monthly vlog with tips for Screenwriters for Story Data. She takes pride in helping writers take their work to the next level.
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Пікірлер: 25

@filmcourage Жыл бұрын

What do you like about this video?

@wanaise7906 Жыл бұрын

About tracking the progression of your main character's journey while keeping it interesting through the arc.

@risanf7999 Жыл бұрын

I always like discussion about character development and themes. I also like the talk about subplots, using Back to the Future as an example. I tend to think subplots like Marty/George/Lorraine are more compelling than the main plot, because that's where the real themes of the story make themselves known.

@reginayfavors 3 күн бұрын

I like her discussion of Back to the Future because I can understand the main plot and the subplot of the character trying to get their parents back together. Otherwise, he wouldn't exist. I like that part of this video. Great video.

@KountyboiProductionz 20 күн бұрын

I really love how she describes what Act 2 should be about.

@risanf7999 Жыл бұрын

Honestly, I think I have more problems with Act 1 than Act 2 when making a story. I have one story that takes a while to get started, because I'm trying to establish characters and setting, but then it really takes off in Act 2 once the characters start developing and progressing. I also notice that other stories have a big Act 3 problem, where the writer is good at spinning off a tale, but can't quite tie off all those loose ends perfectly. "Avatar: The Last Airbender" had Aang triumph over Ozai thanks largely to a lucky break (though the series more or less makes it over the finish line otherwise). I just think it's a careful balancing act to make a story compelling the whole way through, while still having a sense of ebb and flow, and having it make sense thematically. You can't have maximum excitement and tension all the time, or else the story gets exhausting, but there needs to be the right mix of exciting moments + calm moments implemented at the right times.

@AlexKiddComeback Жыл бұрын

i watched it all and used ChatGPT to highlight the key points: The video is an interview with script doctor and teacher Cody Smart, who discusses common mistakes screenwriters make in the second act of their screenplays. Here are the key points: Lack of Surprises: Many screenwriters fail to keep the audience engaged in the second act. They often create a lull in the story, saving the big moments for the third act. Cody suggests that writers should remember that the second act is the bulk of the story where the central conflict should be in motion. Inconsistent Character Arc: Screenwriters often set up the protagonist well in the first act, but fail to track the evolution of the character in the second act. The change in the character often happens suddenly in the third act, which can feel unearned. Cody emphasizes that the second act should show the protagonist's growth and evolution. Use of Subplots: Cody recommends introducing subplots in the second act to revive the story after the midpoint. These subplots should still reflect on the protagonist's emotional arc. She uses examples from movies like "Juno" and "Back to the Future" to illustrate this point. Comparison with TV Series: Cody also discusses the difference between the second act in a movie and a TV series. In TV series, the second act (or the middle acts in an hour-long show) is where subplots and secondary characters should be introduced. This helps to lighten things up when the main story of the protagonist might start to feel monotonous. Tracking the Arc: Cody stresses the importance of tracking the protagonist's arc throughout the second act. She suggests showing the obstacles the protagonist has to face and how they overcome them, leading up to the resolution in the third act. This gives the audience a reason to keep watching and makes the ending feel earned. Overall, the video emphasizes the importance of maintaining audience engagement, tracking character development, and effectively using subplots in the second act of a screenplay.

@BionicDance Жыл бұрын

I have the same problem with musicals: the songs never move the plot forward, so I'm just sitting there...bored...waiting for the story to kick in again

@brandonm8479 Жыл бұрын

You write musicals? Like features? That’s pretty interesting in this era 🙌

@BionicDance Жыл бұрын

@@brandonm8479 No, I don't write musicals. I've just been forced to endure them, and I dislike it.

@entschnabler Жыл бұрын

Have a look at tenacious d - the pick of destiny (if you like rock) 😅

@entschnabler Жыл бұрын

But seriously it's funny and well made

@brandonm8479 Жыл бұрын

@@entschnabler amazing film haha