three-act
Standard drama format
Three-act describes a narrative structure divided into three parts—setup, confrontation, and resolution.
The model dominates Western storytelling, from ancient drama to Hollywood screenplays: a three-act play, three-act structure.
The term usually modifies story, play, or structure, though any performance divided into three acts qualifies.
Arrangement of interconnected parts
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- stageRaised performance platform
- theaterVenue for live drama
script · dialogue · climax · denouement · exposition · intermission · curtain · scene
Account of events
- beginningInitial stage of something
- middleCentral point or position
- endFinal portion or cessation
- arcCurved line segment
tension · climax · pacing · plot · hero's journey · setup · payoff · twist
Film's written blueprint
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- feature filmStandard-length theatrical release
- scriptWritten words for performance
- midpointExact center between two
turning point · inciting incident · setup · confrontation · resolution · studio · blockbuster · narrative arc
structure
Arrangement of interconnected parts
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- playwrightAuthor of stage dramas
- stageRaised performance platform
theater · script · dialogue · climax · denouement · exposition · intermission · curtain · scene · Broadway
narrative
Account of events
arc · tension · climax · pacing · plot · hero's journey · setup · payoff · twist · stakes
screenplay
Film's written blueprint
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- feature filmStandard-length theatrical release
- scriptWritten words for performance
midpoint · turning point · inciting incident · setup · confrontation · resolution · studio · blockbuster · narrative arc · character arc
- performancestalent show, dance routine, ballet, variety show, musical
- theater typesmusical, comedy, tragedy, drama, farce
- scriptsalphabet, Latin alphabet, Roman alphabet, Greek alphabet, Hebrew alphabet
- Show Lengthsfull-length, feature-length, short, brief, extended
three-actone-act
Single-segment theatrical format
two-act · non-linear · through-composed · continuous · undivided
three-actepisodic
Occurring in distinct segments
anthology · picaresque · unstructured · non-narrative · plotless
three, act, thrice, third, thirds, thirdly, threefold, threesome, acts