In previous chapter, First page and the Structure, you learned about Set-up,Confrontation and Resolution.Now the question is how can we transform our Screenplay from Set-up to Confrontation and from Confrontation to Resolution? The answer is PLOT POINTS . Plot points are the key incidents that moves Story forward.In other words for better understanding, Plot points are nothing but Twists. Without Plot points you can never transform your Script from Set-up stage to Confrontation and from Confrontation to Resolution.
A Screenplay consists of two plot points.The first plot point comes at the end of Set-up and the second one comes at the end of Confrontation. For better understanding of Plot points,I will provide you a PARADIGM of Set-up,Confrontation,Resolution,Plot points-1 and 2.Check below:
If you hang your Script on a wall,it will look like above image.From the above image you clearly understood that Plot point-1 comes at the end of Set-up and Plot point-2 comes at the end of Confrontation.
Now the question is what can be a Plot point in my Script? There is no rule that a Plot point should be a Romantic scene,Action scene,a dialogue or a shot.Listen the basic principle of Plot point is,it should be a twist,i.e.,it should transform your Script from Set-up part to Confrontation part.So it can be either a Scene,a dialogue etc.The main story of your film begins from Plot point-1.
For better understanding let us consider some films.Have you seen THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, if not watch it. Now I will provide you a brief description of Set-up part of this film. In Set-up we will be introduced to character Andy Dufresne(Tim Robbins).He will see his wife and her lover preparing to have sex.Andy’s wife and her lover will be murdered and Andy is convicted of the murders,he enters into prison with “two life sentences”.In prison he will meet Red( Morgan Freeman),an another convicted murderer.We will see the problems faced by Andy in prison.We will see different characters in prison. This is the Set-up of The Shawshank Redemption.At the end of Set up Andy meets Red and they establish their relation here.The whole story is established in Set-up.Here the Scene Andy meeting Red is the PLOT POINT-1,because it develops a relationship between them and the main story begins from that Scene.
Now let us consider an example of well known film TITANIC.In Set-up,we will know the main characters and what the story is about.In TITANIC, can u say which scene or dialogue or sequence is the Plot point-1? well, let me explain…Plot point-1 is the scene of saving Rose from jumping overboard,by Jack.This scene develops a relation between them.This scene can be said as a twist because,it brings the concept of love between Jack and Rose.It turns the story into another path,i.e.,Confrontation.
Now the question is What is Plot point-2? Is there any difference between PP-1 and PP-2? There is no difference between the principles of Plot point-1 and Plot point-2.The only thing is,it is an other twist that comes at the end of Confrontation,which drives the story towards the Context Resolution.What is context? consider a glass,it is context and water,coffee,beer etc.,can be referred to Content.Context holds the Content,as glass holds the Beer.Resolution part is Context and the scenes,dialogues etc.,in it are known as Contents.
For better illustration,again consider TITANIC.The Confrontation part in this film holds the Content of relation between Jack and Rose,they get to know each other,they overcome the obstacles before and after Ship hitting the Ice berg,they stay together,Jack convinces Rose to enter into the boat. Here the Plot point-2 which moves the story towards Resolution is,Rose jumping from the boat again into the ship.This scene makes them to stay together again till the end.
Generally Plot point-1 comes in between the pages 25-30.Plot point-2 comes in between the pages 85-90.In order to avoid getting Plot points very early or very lately,you should know what you are going tell about your story in Set-up and Confrontation.Take fourteen small cards may be 3 by 5 cards or fourteen papers of small size.Write the sequences or Scenes which you want to show in SET-UP on them in order.Don’t write the whole Scene on them.Just write an outline of each sequence on them.Don’t bother about grammar. Just write.Why fourteen cards? why not fifteen,ten or twenty? No,take just fourteen cards for Set-up,because it works.It is a technique suggested by best Screenwriting teachers including Syd Field.
TASKS FOR YOU:-
- Prepare Sequences(series of Scenes) of SET-UP in fourteen 3 by 5 cards.
- Read as many Screenplay as you can.You can get free Screenplay online.Search in Google.
- To start Writing your Script, know your story’s beginning,ending,plot point-1 and plot point-2.
- Watch as many films as you can,to have a clear idea on SET-UP,CONFRONTATION,RESOLUTION,PLOT POINT-1 AND PLOT POINT-2.
- Start doing the process today.Never postpone.
- Sys Field says-“Writing is personal responsibility,either you do it or you don’t”.
IMPACT OF A SCREENPLAY 