Comments on Alexandra Sokoloff: Why the Three Act Structure?

I've seen previews for THE UNINVITED. Creepy! It's...

2009-01-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

I've seen previews for THE UNINVITED. Creepy! It's on my list to see, too.

Kristine, yeah, there's a reason for LOST's longev...

2009-01-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Kristine, yeah, there's a reason for LOST's longevity.

I'm looking forward to THE UNINVITED, coming out this month, adapted from the truly creepy Korean movie TALE OF TWO SISTERS by my friend Craig Rosenberg - a hugely talented suspense writer/director who also has written a lot of those ciffhangers for LOST.

Happy New Year, Kat!!You have structure all over t...

2009-01-08T04:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Kat!!

You have structure all over the place in that novel - you just didn't know what to call it. It was a joy to see that click for you.

RJ, THE WIRE did everything well. I miss that sh...

2009-01-08T04:12:00.000-08:00

RJ, THE WIRE did everything well. I miss that show like crazy.

And ROMEO AND JULIET... well, you don't have to sell me, BT.

I think you should just own your romantic side. You're using SOMEWHERE IN TIME as a touchstone, that pretty much says it.

Sex and death have been an unbeatable combination since the beginning of time! ;)

For cliffhangers, I have to say that the TV series...

2009-01-07T19:53:00.000-08:00

For cliffhangers, I have to say that the TV series LOST does it for me. When the show ends, I'm literally counting the days until the next episode airs so I can find out what happens. I feel that way at every commercial break, too.

When you were teaching this kind of structure at t...

2009-01-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

When you were teaching this kind of structure at the Pen to Press, something clicked - because I can't think of writing in terms of 'structure' - however, there is structure all the same - even if one goes at it by accident *laugh*

I'm following you now, Alex!

This is getting sad. I write dark fiction and yet ...

2009-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

This is getting sad. I write dark fiction and yet everytime you ask for examples, the first thing to pop into my head is a romance based story. I've tried writing romance, I'm no good at it.

The first thing which popped into the brain space this time round was Romeo and Juliet.

Pick a scene, any scene. They all leave the audience wanting to know how the next bit will turn out.

My favourite in this instance is the messengers. The priest's messenger on his way out, while Romeo has heard from another and is on the way back. Will he find out about the poison and his loves fake death. The fact that they just miss each other so we're left with the "Oh shit, now what is he going to do" feeling.

This is one part of the play I feel has transcribed to all the different versions. It is one that has been done really well in the modern DiCaprio version even though I wasn't a great fan of the overall concept (it has grown on me over time, but then so would fungus).

I swear I'll try and think up a non-romantic based example next time...

I think THE WIRE was pretty good with cliffhangers...

2009-01-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I think THE WIRE was pretty good with cliffhangers.

One episode I remember that was a pretty good cliffhanger was in the third season where Stringer Bell reveals to Avon Barksdale that he had Barksdale's nephew D'Angelo killed. The two begin to fight but it ends with them just staring at each other before the closing credits and you're left to wonder how or if this will change things between Stringer and Avon (particularly since Stringer is Avon's right hand man and they are trying to take over all the drug traffic in West Baltimore)

Yes, Alex, I've had to make the conscious decision...

2009-01-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Yes, Alex, I've had to make the conscious decision to end my chapters before that sigh of relief happens, split them differently. It's just been harder than I thought, since it's a structure I've lived with in practically every book/movie/TV show I've ever seen. You'd think it'd be ingrained in me.

As far as the scene-bouncing cliffhanger, I think there's a fine line as to how long you can wait for the resolution. Two chapters is too long. The books I'm talking about resolve themselves within the next chapter, but not right away. There's the new setup, the other angle at which danger or relief approaches. You're annoyed that you can't be immediately gratified, yet intrigued because you recognize the setup and are viewing the same scene from new eyes.

Oh, now, that's interesting, Gayle, because I CAN'...

2009-01-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, now, that's interesting, Gayle, because I CAN'T STAND cliffhangers that cut away to a whole different set of characters. That's the kind of thing that can make me give up on a book entirely.

Maybe I'm an instant gratification kind of girl (hah, maybe!) but I want a cliffhanger to keep me waiting for the length of time it takes to turn the page. That's all. If I have to suffer through three chapters of something else... well, let's just say I don't suffer well.

That's not really what I'm talking about with a curtain, although you're right, that's often what happens in narratives.

Have you tried just cutting your chapters in different places so you give your reader that few seconds to think about it before you go right back to the SAME action line? More like what Jake was talking about with his example?

Because except in a climax, where I'm fine with a lot of cross-cutting, I really am not fond of the technique you're talking about, and you don't HAVE to do it that way.

The curtain scene - my personal bane. It's been th...

2009-01-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

The curtain scene - my personal bane. It's been the hardest thing for me to do, to end a chapter while leaving the reader up in the air. In my first (really horrid) book, I actually ended a chapter with the character going to bed. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

The Edgar Rice Burroughs' books define "cliffhanger" for me. A baby is crying in a makeshift cradle, his parents dead... the next scene is a depiction of life in a tribe of apes. But what happens to the baby? Read on, and you'll find out. In the Mars series, John Carter is nearly at death's door trying to save his beloved Dejah Thoris when... suddenly we're treated to a scene of two Martians who are scheming to kill Tars Tarkas, her father. WTF? Did John escape? Read on dear. Read on.

I love reading them - it's exciting. I hate reading them - if I have to put them down, the curiosity drives me mad.

Thanks Alex. I'm blushing now. :D

2009-01-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks Alex. I'm blushing now. :D

Jake, I just love you - that is a stellar example ...

2009-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

Jake, I just love you - that is a stellar example of EXACTLY what I'm talking about. And you've perfectly laid out what the STAKES are, there, and the HOPE and FEAR.

Up to then we've seen plenty of examples of how Eliza has reverted to her guttersnipe roots under pressure or excitement before this crucial moment, so we know it's not a shoo-in, not by a long shot.

You better believe people are coming back into the theater to see how that plays out.

Great info as always, Alex. Was just thinking of ...

2009-01-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

Great info as always, Alex. Was just thinking of one film I still use in class. I hate showing movies (no offense) because that's something a sub can do, and if a sub can do even one day of my job, then I'm not doing my job correctly, but that's another matter. Anyway, I like to contrast the reading of PYGMALION with the film version of MY FAIR LADY, since Shaw was involved with both. And this is one film that has an intermission because of the length and the relationship to the play. Guess what happens right before....

Yep. Eliza has FINALLY gotten proper diction down pat, and has learned what NOT to say (after the disaster at the horse race), but they are about to head to the embassy ball. If she does well, then the professor has won, and all is right...supposedly. But if she makes another mistake, this time she will be imprisoned for impersonating a lady and possibly even executed. Then the break, as they are heading out to the ball with all of that still in play.

Kinda like what you mentioned, yeah?