Comments on: Second Act Problems http://www.apenguin.com/2006/09/05/second-act-problems/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:29:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: nick boretz http://www.apenguin.com/2006/09/05/second-act-problems/#comment-332 nick boretz Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:55:45 +0000 http://www.apenguin.com/2006/09/05/second-act-problems/#comment-332 1rst act..set up problem to come, introduce conflict with characters..backgrounds..etc. I.E...Joe is coming home. Elaine hates him, Marty loves him. 2nd act Joe shows up..has whole new personality, new face (plastic surgery, whatever)..throws the hates and loves into chaos, brings out past secrets, etc. Marty wants to go with him 3rd act Joe leaves..seeing all the crap that has come out. Perhaps his face falls off, Marty is left stranded..Elaine falls apart and Marty and Elaine end up better than before. I know this is stupid..but 2nd act is simply development of set up in first act. Read Mamet plays..Crimes of the Heart..whatever. It is all the same. Find the secret that is going to blow people up..save it for the 2nd act. Hokay? Nick 1rst act..set up problem to come, introduce conflict with characters..backgrounds..etc. I.E…Joe is coming home. Elaine hates him, Marty loves him.

2nd act Joe shows up..has whole new personality, new face (plastic surgery, whatever)..throws the hates and loves into chaos, brings out past secrets, etc. Marty wants to go with him

3rd act Joe leaves..seeing all the crap that has come out. Perhaps his face falls off, Marty is left stranded..Elaine falls apart and Marty and Elaine end up better than before.

I know this is stupid..but 2nd act is simply development of set up in first act. Read Mamet plays..Crimes of the Heart..whatever. It is all the same.
Find the secret that is going to blow people up..save it for the 2nd act.

Hokay?

Nick

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