Opening Image

The first
impression of
what a movie is—
its tone, its mood,
the type and
scope of the film

Marlin’s family
destroyed, leaving
only Nemo.
Marlin couldn’t
protect his family
Theme Stated

Somewhere in the first five
minutes

Marlin: “I won’t let anything
happen to you.”

Someone (usually not the
main character) will pose a
question or make a
statement (usually to the
main character) that is the
theme of the movie.

Marlin: “You think you can do
these things, but you can’t.”

It’s not obvious; it will be
conversational
Set-Up

First 10 pages of the script

Make-or-break section where
you have to grab the reader
or risk losing his/her interest

Plant character behavior and
show how and why the hero
will need to change in order
to win

Where you set up the film’s
thesis—it’s where we see the
world before the adventure
starts

Marlin is
overprotective

Nemo is pushing
for more freedom
Catalyst

In the set-up you, the
screenwriter, have told us
what the world is like and
now in the catalyst moment
you knock it all down. Boom!

The first moment when
something happens.

Nemo is taken by
divers.
Debate

Section between
pages 12 and 25
when the hero
considers what he/she
must do

Asks a question—can
he/she do it?

Ends with decisive
action that leads into
act II

Where does Marlin
look for Nemo?

How can he find
Nemo?
Break Into Two

Page 25

Definite, decisive
break from thesis (life
as it was) to what is to
come

Move from thesis to
antithesis

Hero must make the
decision to move into
act II

Marlin finds the
address to Australia

They have a goal—a
destination.
B Story

B story begins on page
30

In most screenplays it is
“the love story”

The story that carries
the film’s theme

B story gives us a
breather

Often introduces new
characters

Nemo and the fish in the
fishtank
Fun and Games

Pages 30-55

The promise of the premise

The core and essence of the
movie’s poster

Why did I come to see this
movie?

We take a break from the
stakes of the story and see
what the idea is about

Marlin and Dory’s
adventures on the road

Nemo joining the tank
tribe
Midpoint

Page 55


Either an “up” where the hero
seemingly peaks (though it is a
false peak) or a “down” when
the world collapses all around
the hero (though it is a false
collapse)
Marlin’s with the
Turtles. They’ve found
the current and all is
well.

Nemo stops the filter.
He’s going to escape
with the other fish.

The stakes are raised at the
midpoint

The midpoint has a matching
beat on page 75 called All is
Lost—these two points are a
set because they are the
inverse of each other. The rule
is: It’s never as good as it
seems to be at the midpoint
and it’s never as bad as it
seems at the All is Lost point.
Bad Guys Close In

From pages 55-75—the
midpoint to the All is Lost, is
the toughest part of the
screenplay

All seems fine, but even though
the bad guys are temporarily
defeated, we’re not done yet

It’s the point where internal
dissent, doubt, and jealousy
begin to disintegrate the hero’s
team

The forces aligned against the
hero, internal and external,
tighten their grip

Marlin swallowed by the
whale

Tank is cleaned and the
little girl comes to get
Nemo
All is Lost

Occurs on page 75

Opposite of the midpoint in
terms of an “up” or “down”

It’s also the point of the script
most often labeled false
defeat, for even though all
looks black, it’s just temporary.
But it seems like a total defeat.
All aspects of the hero’s life are
in shambles. Wreckage
abounds. No hope.

Whiff of death

Marlin thinks Nemo is
dead
Dark Night of the Soul

Pages 75-85

Marlin leaves Dory

The point of darkness right
before dawn

Nemo’s about to go in
the garbage can…

It is the point just before the
hero reaches way, deep down
and pulls out the last, best
idea that will save himself
and everyone around him

We must be beaten and know
it to get the lesson
Break into Three

Page 85

The answer is found

Both in the external story (the
A story) and the internal story
(the B story), which now meet
and intertwine, the hero has
prevailed, passed every test,
and dug deep to find the
solution. Now all he has to
do is apply it.

World of synthesis is at hand

Nemo finds Marlin—
with Dory’s help
Finale

Pages 85-110

Dory stuck in the net

Wrap it up—where lessons learned
are applied

Nemo can save her

A story and B story end in triumph
for our hero

Marlin has to decide whether
to let Nemo go—to trust him.

It’s the turning over of the old
world and a creation of a new
world order—all thanks to the hero,
who leads the way based on what
he experienced in the upsidedown, antithetical world of Act Two.

Marlin trusts Nemo, and
Nemo saves the day.

The chief source of the problem
must be dispatched completely.
Final Image


Final image in a movie is the
opposite of the opening
image
It’s proof that change has
occurred and that it’s real

Marlin finds Nemo

Marlin sends Nemo off to
explore

Father/Son relationship
mended