How do you confirm the structure your story is using?
To be able to talk accurately on 'The Fictional Project' screenplay; I need a point made clear. My concern ‘what is included in the story?’ Closing credits?
Does the closing Music Video with the credits rolling need to be included in the description of the story structure? I am planning to reveal the final clue to the mystery early in the closing credits. Is that fair to the audience? The closing Music Video is in character and set current day. So the timeline is Current - Past - Current.
Log line:
After finding a tape of Neil Young’s original songs, two hitchhikers race to return the lost reel, to Neil in 1977. (Mystery Romantic Comedy with documentary footage - 96 minutes; English with French subtitles)
Outline:
Scene 1 - Funeral current day. Well Lucy your dad wasn’t your father
Scene 2 - remain in 1977, Three-Act story Introduction
Act 2 - two friends find Neil Young during the height of hitchhiking in Canada
Act 3 - resolves mystery of the two friends
Closing credits - Music Video current day
Right now the outline reads with this structure:
The opening scene, set in current day, amends the straight forward Three-Act structure for a 1977 period piece.
Setting the opening and closing scenes in the present and telling the story in flashback with a flat arc and no added tension make this for an easy production.
Ref: S32 structure search. wikipedia.
https://screencraft.org/2018/01/16/10-screenplay-structures-that-screenw...
Yes I am starting to agree with that perspective. The Fictional Project is close enough to the standard three act story that the funeral scene intro is fine. Next is the genre. You mentioned genre and this isnt a 'on genre' story. The two male leads do not conflict for the attraction of the lead female. Here we have a different story, mystery. Who is the father? Who is the dad?
comments "on genre".