Sequences & The 7-Act Structure

How Acts Are Broken down into Sequences, and Sequences into Segments

I’ve written in previous posts and am in favor of the four act structure. However in the interest of presenting all the knowledge I know, I wanted to share a method some writers use, called the 7-Act Method.

Traditional teaching about screenplay structure focuses on classic three act structure that goes something like this: Act One introduces a protagonist getting called to a journey, Act Two tracks them going on the journey, and Act Three is the result of that journey — generally coming back home with new lessons learned, and maybe a new relationship too. This structure, however, can be broken down into a much simpler form comprising of seven or eight sequences. (Although some “epics” such as Lawrence of Arabia may be nine or ten.) These sequences underpin the existing three acts like this: two in Act One, four in Act Two, and one (or two) in Act Three. Here’s how traditional three act structure looks when sequences are added:

ACT ONE: SEQUENCES A AND B

ACT TWO: SEQUENCES C, D, E, AND F

ACT THREE: SEQUENCES G AND H

Each of these sequences can be viewed as a “mini movie” with a specific goal for the protagonist and a resolution that takes them further…