Screenwriting Structure & Creativity

Many aspiring screenwriters want to break the mold and write a film true to their artistic vision. They argue: “what’s the point of calling yourself a writer if all you are doing is filling in the blanks on a numbered pre- determined list of events?” But the fact is these structure rules are there for a reason: they work.

Sequences are a part of a structure that all good films adhere to. The technique of writing by sequences has been employed by professional writers since the golden age of Hollywood. In fact, that’s how films were first written — using sequences — as they mimic the early twelve to fifteen minute reels movies were originally made on.

Ultimately, as “anti-creative” as it may appear, mastering sequences within the three act structure is essential to writing an entertaining script and, in turn, being enjoyed by a reader, being optioned and becoming a professional screenwriter.

That’s because these semi-fixed structural reference points emulate a natural ebb and flow — an up and down in the fortunes of the hero — essential to maintaining audience attention and maximizing their emotional connection to the story. The beats that make up each sequence resonate on a subliminal level with the audience, and that’s why they’re replicated in most films from Alien to Zoolander.