iTAP 02/11/10

'Every movie needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order.' - Jean-Luc Godard

Three Act Structure

In modern cinema, the Three Act Structure has become a staple formula of storytelling, creating a framework that allows for appropriate pacing by creating a definite beginning, middle and end (often a 30:60:30 minute split). This can also be referred to as Establish:Crisis:Resolve. 


In order to show this Three Act Structure, I have decided to explore David Fincher's Fight Club and highlight the key plot components.


*Spoilers Alert*


Act 1: 

• We are introduced to the unnamed protagonist (and narrator), a travelling business man suffering from insomnia.
• On one of his many flights, he meets Tyler Durden, a soap salesmen and is given a business card.
• Upon complaining to his doctor about his insomnia, he is told to visit a support group in order to witness real suffering.
• Attends a support group for testicular cancer - ends up crying which inadvertently cures his insomnia.
• Becomes addicted to support groups.
• Support groups invaded by another 'faker'; Marla Singer. The Presence of Marla relapses the protagonist's insomnia. So he negotiates to split the support groups up so that they don't see eachother.

Act 2: 

• Protagonist's apartment is destroyed.
• Calls Tyler to ask for a place to stay. They end a night of drinking by fighting in a parking lot for fun.
• Protagonist moves in with Tyler.
• 'Fight Club' started.
• Marla calls and threatens suicide. Tyler ends up sleeping with her.
• Fight club grows.
• 'Project Mayhem' started.

Act 3: 

• Tyler dissapears. Protagonist tries to shut down Project Mayhem after a member is killed.
• Whilst searching for Tyler, the protagonist is greeted as 'Tyler Durden' by a member of Project Mayhem in another city. Marla also confirms that his name is Tyler Durden via a phone call.
• Tyler appears in the Hotel room and is revealed to be the split personality of the Protagonist who takes over when he goes to sleep. 
• Discovers Tyler's plans to destroy the buildings of major credit card companies.
• Attempts to foil the plan, but is stopped by Tyler.
• Tyler holds him at gun-point, but the protagonist, remembering that Tyler is his own split personality realises that the gun is actually in his hand and shoots himself.
• Tyler is 'killed'. The protagonist survives.

Monomyth - The Hero's Journey

The term Monomyth - also known as The Hero's Journey states that many stories share a similar structure, and often have re-occurring elements and themes. This is a trait which can often found in fairy-tales and fantasy stories, and is almost typical of epic fantasy genres. 


To highlight this I will be examining Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, and identifying the stages of Monomyth present.

1. The Mundane World: Ofelia is a young girl, living in post-Cival War spain.
2. Call to Adventure: Following a fairy into the Labyrinth and meeting the Faun.
3. Crossing the Threshold: Entering the Labyrinth
4. The Prophecy: Ofelia is the reincarnation of the Princess of the Underworld
5. The Road of Trials: The Faun sets three tasks that must be completed before the full moon.
6. Supernatural Aid: The Fairies.
7. Belly of the Whale: The Child Eater's lair.
8. Master of Two Worlds: Sacrificing herself in the real world, and in turn, becoming a Princess in the Underworld.