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So, as you may already know we have a screenwriting e-book coming out very soon—“Master Screenplay Sequences—what’s really going on under three act structure.”

As we mentioned in a previous post, the book goes deeper than the classic three acts to expose how screenplays are really constructed using sequences.

The screenwriting e-book contains not only the tools and knowledge required to construct proper sequences, but sequence breakdowns of the five most popular genres in Hollywood today.

We not only describe how sequences work within the framework of three acts, but how each individual sequence is itself broken down into a mini-movie.

This book will equip you with the knowledge required to employ sequences in your own script, making structure and conflict easier to understand and, ultimately, easier to write.

Here’s a sample taken from the breakdown of The Virgin Suicides. We’re in Sequence D, which takes us up to the midpoint where Lux gets together with Trip—the action which leads her unwittingly to her and her sister’s deaths.

Sequence D – Trip gets together with Lux (- / +)

I

Tim watches a boy make Lux laugh—he can’t believe it.

Several schoolboys talk to the camera about their relationships with Lux. But the narrator says the only boy who got to know her was Trip Fontaine… (negative inciting incident)

Montage: Trip flirts with a girl / He walks down the hall and all the girls stare at him / He lets a girl into his house / He flirts in class.

The narrator says Trip could have any girl he wanted but fell in love with Lux. Trip goes into the wrong class to avoid a teacher and ends up behind Lux. She turns and smiles. (call to action)

Adult Trip talks to the camera about how he never got over Lux.

Lux ignores Trip at school. (big event)

II

Trip approaches the Lisbon girls outside, but she ignores him.

Trip sits depressed at home as his dad tries to advise him about Lux.

In the school movie theatre, Trip sits next to Lux as everyone watches a documentary. They silently flirt, and then Trip says he’s going to come round her house and ask her out. He leaves. (midpoint)

At the Lisbon’s, Trip sits with the family watching TV.

Later, Trip says goodbye to Lux and leaves. (all is lost)

III

He gets in his car, disappointed. Then, Lux suddenly jumps in the car and they kiss passionately. She rushes back inside. (screenplay midpoint / positive climax)

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The screenwriting ebook can now be downloaded here.