How To Use A Midpoint

Summary

This video explores the importance of the midpoint in screenwriting, a pivotal moment that shifts the story's direction. It discusses how the second act can often be confusing, and how establishing a strong midpoint can provide clarity and momentum. Examples from films like 'Parasite', '10 Cloverfield Lane', and 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' illustrate how the midpoint serves as a dramatic turning point, affecting the character's journey. The video also references Gustav Freytag's pyramid and Dan Harmon's story circle to emphasize the midpoint's role in narrative structure, encouraging writers to consider their characters' desires and the costs of achieving them.

Takeaways

• 📝 The video discusses the importance of maintaining a strong narrative in the middle section of a screenplay.
• 🎬 Screenplays are often thought of in three acts: beginning, middle, and end, with the middle being a challenging section to write.
• 🔑 Understanding the midpoint of a story can help writers focus the middle section and provide clear direction.
• 🌟 A strong midpoint involves a major event that shifts the story and sends it in a new direction, affecting the characters' actions.
• 🎥 Examples given include 'Parasite', '10 Cloverfield Lane', and 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark', where the midpoint significantly changes the story's trajectory.
• 📚 Gustav Freytag's technique of drama and his pyramid emphasize the importance of a climactic turning point in the middle of the story.
• 🔄 Freytag's climax is a turning point, not the resolution, causing characters to face a new situation that alters their path.
• 🔄 Dan Harmon's story circle also incorporates a midpoint where the protagonist gets what they want and then faces a heavy price.
• 🤔 The video suggests asking two key questions for story development: what the character wants and what cost they will face upon achieving it.
• 🎞️ The technique of using a midpoint is not mandatory for all stories but can be beneficial for maintaining drama in the second act.
• 👍 The video encourages viewers to look for midpoints in their favorite films and suggests that identifying this can improve story structure.

Q & A

What is the main challenge screenwriters often face in the second act of their screenplay?

The main challenge screenwriters often face in the second act is maintaining a strong dramatic narrative, as they struggle with making the story focused, avoiding confusion, and preventing a loss of momentum.

What is the purpose of a midpoint in a screenplay?

The purpose of a midpoint in a screenplay is to create a major event that dramatically shifts the story and sends it in a new direction, providing focus and direction to the middle section of the story.

Can you provide an example of a film that effectively uses a midpoint to strengthen its second act?

One example is 'Parasite', where a major turn takes place at the center of the film, revealing a secret that drastically changes the direction of the story.

What is Gustav Freytag's contribution to understanding the structure of a drama?

Gustav Freytag, a German novelist and playwright, contributed the concept of the 'Freytag's Pyramid', which includes a climax at the midpoint of the story, serving as an extreme shift or turning point.

How does the climax at the midpoint differ from the climax at the end of the story?

The climax at the midpoint is not the resolution of the story but an extreme shift or turning point that throws the characters off their previous path, while the climax at the end is the resolution of the story.

What is Dan Harmon's Story Circle and how does it relate to the midpoint?

Dan Harmon's Story Circle is a narrative structure tool that includes a midpoint where the protagonist gets what they want and then pays a heavy price for it, often represented as points 5 and 6 in the circle.

How does the midpoint in '10 Cloverfield Lane' serve as a turning point for the story?

In '10 Cloverfield Lane', the midpoint occurs when Michelle discovers Howard's dark secret, which destroys the peace and stability they had achieved, forcing her to act against Howard.

What does the midpoint in 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' involve?

In 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark', the midpoint is when Indy finds the Ark of the Covenant, but the Nazis take it from him, creating a new situation where he must retrieve it.

Why is it beneficial to consider the midpoint when writing a screenplay?

Considering the midpoint when writing a screenplay is beneficial because it helps maintain a high level of drama, provides a clear direction for the story, and strengthens the second act.

What two questions should a screenwriter ask themselves when considering the midpoint of their story?

A screenwriter should ask themselves: 'What does my character want?' and 'What major cost will come when my character gets what they want?'