Getting To The Meat and Potatoes: Three Act Structure

By: Anthony J

Let’s talk three act structure! Our foundation for writing our story! Last week we went in depth of who our character’s were and this week we see the role they play in the story. Buckle up, family. It’s going to be a ride!

Before we get started remember this is a tragedy (not so happy story unless you hate Christopher Blaese then maybe it’s happy for you). Also, it occurred to me that I could be giving some advice and the references I use to write so, Finish The Script by Scott King, Three Act Structure D4darious, Four Act Structure, and Four Pivotal Moments. is what I use to guide how I start writing.

Now Let’s get into it!

Act 1:

We open with a field infiltration group, The 800, sent by the FBI to break up the Institute of Innovative Mind’s annual innovation fair, where they show the student’s creations to the general public. As The 800 breaches the door, Agent Blaese disappears; however, the group doesn’t notice and continues to move covertly through the building to the innovation floor where the room is near completely empty, only man is sitting on a table waiting for them, Dr. Daniel Hill.

At the same time, Blaese is alone without any weapons moving and all communications severed working silently through the building and onto the innovation floor where it’s crowded, full of color, and futuristic tech like the world has never seen. He moves through the crowd without making a scene looking for Dr. Hill. He doesn’t find him so he swallows his pride and leaves, but not before taking images of tech blueprints at the fair. He sees this as a success

The 800 secure Dr. Hill and move him to a secure facility; where they interrogate him for hours. Dr. Hill answers all of their questions honestly; however, without getting to the full answer. The only one to notice the way he’s answering questions is Agent Blaese; but, he is not a part of the interrogation proceedings. Eventually they have to let him go.

Through the rest of this act the FBI is training Blaese to become a professor at the institute, as he is the only agent to get into the actual institute. He gets the job at the school.

Notes for Act 1

• This act is to build him into a more likeable character

  • He’s doing his job

  • He’s married with a child

    • They don’t really know what he does

    • They know about the FBI

  • Doesn’t speak for himself nor belief in the school

• Demonize Dr. Hill like he’s a potential terrorist

  • Dr. Hill is like a bond villain

    • Slick talker

• In the first scene when he gets through he is teleported to the actual location of the fair while the rest of the group in the school location

Act 2: The Way Up

This act opens on his first day as a professor at the institute, he believes his cover is completely secure; however, the principal has unconfirmed suspicion of Blaese. Throughout this act Agent Blaese is spending more time with his son, who goes to the school (SPOILER ALERT this is the reason he could get in before), while he’s there he’s covertly stealing blueprints to the less important inventions. 

He’s getting close to teachers and students and they’re slipping secrets to him. He meets a woman professor and the school’s head software engineer, Sasha Cummings. Agent Blaese talks to her soft and silky; he starts going on dates with her (SPOILER ALERT 2: He has a wife...YIKES). 

She spills secrets to him of how the “hacker proof” walls work and how she programs them. That’s all he needs to know and he slowly starts hacking different databases for blueprints starting with the least secured leading to the most.

He gets to the most secured and learns that those files can only be reached from an access point on the campus, using Ms. Cummings to figure out where exactly that is. 

Agent Blaese finds his moment he attacks; he sneaks into the location and starts his hack, success.

Notes for Act 2

• Again building his likeability but also kind of destroying his likeability

  • showing how cunning he is

  • He’ll do anything to get the job done

• Ms. Cummings really likes him

• Students love him

• This over a large period of time

• Dr. Hill is periodically keeping an eye on Agent Blaese

  • Getting lunch with him and stuff

• Agent Blaese is noticing slight changes outside of his window but thinks nothing of it

  • the room is really teleporting

Act 3: Here’s where it gets JUICY

He tries to send out the prints to the FBI but his communications are blocked. As Blaese is leaving Dr. Hill is waiting outside of the door for him. Blaese sees him and acts casual but when Dr. Hill exposes him; he tries to run to the window and smash it when an energy field sends his attack back at him. At that same moment, he realizes the room is now underwater.

“If you want to find our best tech they’re integrated in the school itself. If you would’ve just looked it would've been much easier than what you're doing right now.” - Dr. Hill

He runs through the facility as his location keeps changing on the earth. The FBI can’t even keep track of his GeoLocation. He runs into Professor Cummings and she pretends she doesn’t know that he has been stealing tech to lead him to an energy prison. After Agent Blaese calms he starts noticing her microexpression and challenges her. She loses control of her emotions and tries to smack him but he dodges and starts running again.

Blaese is eventually captured and publicly transported to the door. Where his son and other students who look up to him can all see. All his actions were recorded and released on social media.

He loses his son’s respect and wife’s love. He loses everything.

There’s not to much else to say about Agent Blaese he loses it all and that’s it tragic but sometimes when you choose money over your beliefs you lose. Thanks for reading, family!

One thing that writers know is that we have to rewrite rewrite rewrite! So next time we will look at our three act structure, and let that be our guide for our 24 plot points and four pivotal moments! Check out our last blogs here! Til next time, family, be easy!