Three-Act Structure And Narrative Styles (P1.4)

 Example

Three Act Script

After receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organisations. Learning that Le Chiffre plans to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, MI6 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest "00" operative will topple the man's organisation.

Act 1:

When James Bond, a British Secret Service agent portrayed by Daniel Craig, is granted a license to eliminate targets, he embarks on a mission filled with suspense and intrigue. Sent to Madagascar, he uncovers a connection to Le Chiffre, an enigmatic individual who funds terrorist groups. Bond’s investigation takes him deeper into a treacherous realm of spying and mystery, unveiling the malevolent schemes orchestrated by Le Chiffre.

Act 2:

MI6 becomes aware of Le Chiffre's scheme to raise a significant sum of money through a nail-biting high stakes poker match. Seizing the chance to disrupt Le Chiffre’s illicit activities, MI6 assigns Bond to partake in the game, banking on the capabilities of their latest “00” agent to outsmart his rivals. Bond enters a domain of intense gambling encounters, pitting himself against Le Chiffre and his cohorts in a heart-pounding test of skill and nerve.

Act 3:

Throughout the poker showdown, Bond encounters obstacles and perils at the gaming table and beyond. He forges alliances, confronts foes’ heads and utilises all his training and expertise to outmanoeuvre his competitors. In the end, Bond must not only emerge victorious over Le Chiffre in the match but also thwart his grander schemes to disrupt global security. Bond emerges as the winner in a thrilling final battle, but the mission is not yet complete as new dangers loom.

Narrative

Circular Narrative: It begins at the end and jumps back to an earlier time to begin where it ended.

Linear Narrative - Narratives are told in chronological order (i.e., the order in which they happen). Sometimes called a cause and effect narrative, as they sequentially move through events that cause others, etc.

Episodic narratives are divided into sections, rather like a book's chapters. Often, the sections are sequential, like a linear narrative, but sometimes, some episodes may be out of sequence, set before or at the same time as the preceding episodes.

Multi-strand narrative -Various different narratives are pursued across the film, perhaps connecting, perhaps not. Their events might be set at the same time as each other or at different times.

Non-linear narrative: The narrative doesn't proceed in a simple, straight line from beginning to end, moving backwards through the story.

- Circular Narrative - Alice in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia are both fantasy stories that see protagonists journey into a world and have an adventure. This adventure does change them, but no matter what, the journey ends with them right back where they started.

Linear Narrative—Toy Story—We follow Woody and Buzz's adventure in a linear order, starting at the beginning and ending with the conclusion of the story.

- Episodic Narrative - Regular Show - The surreal misadventures of two best friends - a blue jay and a raccoon - as they seek to liven up their mundane jobs as groundskeepers at the local park.

- Multi-stand narrative - Dunkirk - The story is told from three perspectives—land (one week of action), sea (one day of action) and air (one hour of action)

- Non-linear narrative - Oppenheimer - Has many cuts and does not proceed in a simple, straight line from beginning to end, moving from different timeframes, flashbacks etc.