After really getting into the act of writing scripts and knowing how to structure them in the correct format, I thought I'd done everything I possibly could to make my screenplays as amazing as they could be. But, as I was writing my previous blogpost, I found a website that dealt with the various kinds of structures screenwriters can use to their advantage, and to step a bit outside their normal writing comfort zone, in order to spice up both their scriptwriting abilities and skills.
Obviously, as any screenwriter, or even novel writer, would know, stories are usually broken down into a 'three-act structure', in which there is a beginning (consisting of the setting, introduction of characters and the main issue at hand, etc.), the middle (the climax of the story), and the end (the resolution of the character or characters' obstacles within the story's plot). I've written about this similar story structure in my blogpost from February 6th, in which I go over the detailing of said story structure and how to properly integrate it into a screenplay. But because I already knew of the three-act story structure, I wanted to learn about other story structures I could perhaps use one day for a future script.
I decided to write about the three that interested me the most.
Three Different Story Structures Screenwriters Can Use
Hyperlink Structure -
This type of structure is similar to the three-act story structure but adds a familiar term to the story: a domino effect. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a domino effect is described as "a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events". And how a hyperlink story would use this certain effect is through 1) intertwining 2 or more characters' stories with one another's and 2) utilizing the principle of 'cause and effect', how present events affect forewarning events. Quoting the website, "these types of stories give the audience a sense of how our individual lives can be so interconnected". But the most important aspect of a hyperlink structure is that by the resolution, each story and character must impact each other. Examples of this type of structure are as follows: Magnolia, Crash, and Babel.
Fabula/Syuzhet Structure -
This type of structure originates from Russian formalism that mainly describes narrative construction. The term 'fabula' is known as the meat of the story, whereas 'syuzhet' is the narration and how the story is organized. When used in film and media, this type of structure follows a similar three-act structure in which there is a beginning, middle, and end, but the end is instead shown before any other part of the story. The structure then utilizes this format to eventually show the audience how the story got to that certain point as it progresses. Quoting the website, "The story is about the journey and focuses on the how as opposed to the what". It is also noted that narration is best used within the fabula/syuzhet structure. Examples of this type of structure are as follows: Citizen Kane, Forest Gump, and Interview with the Vampire.
Oneiric Structure -
This type of structure is one of the more unique kinds one can use when putting together a script or story. The oneiric structure focuses on depicting dream-like worlds and blending them with what's actually physically going on within the story's plot. Elements such as dreamy visuals, memories, and human consciousness are utilized when assembling a script with this kind of structure. Often times, with this particular type of script design, reality can sometimes be lost within various fictitious events and can generally merge realism with the fabrication developed throughout the script or story. Quoting the website, "The lines between real world and dream world get more and more blurry as the film moves forward. We're not sure what is real and what is not". Examples of this type of structure are as follows: Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky and The Tree of Life.
Work Log -
Monday - worked on script
Tuesday - worked on script
Wednesday - worked on script
Thursday - worked on blogpost
Friday - worked on blogpost
Website: https://screencraft.org/blog/10-screenplay-structures-that-screenwriters-can-use/
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