Screenwriting : Tell me your favorite... by Elle Bolan

Same, Elle Bolan. My favorite part as a viewer is Act 2. It's the most exciting/scary/interesting. I don't think I have a least favorite part as a viewer.

The most interesting bit of the story for sure. Imo.

In a drama I love it when they do something I didn't expect but makes perfect sense. Especially when it's something that should have been obvious all the time.

I'm with you on the second act being the main event! That's where everything gets messy and complicated and interesting. The first act can feel like homework sometimes, necessary setup, but I'm itching to get to the good stuff. Though I have to admit, there's something quietly satisfying about third acts when they work. Like watching dominoes fall that you've been setting up for ages. I think about the original Star Wars Trilogy, where 9/10 people seem to love the Empire Strikes Back, because everything falls apart! Midlife crisis! Haha.

I'm a fan of the first act because I know I have to make it matter or interest is going to be lost in this new generation.

I love the first act. My favorite to write is animation. What about as a viewer is seeing characters expressing their emotions on how they feel. My least favorite is dark comedy stories (I.e, Satirical or harsh) and stories about Time Travel, it just doesn't translate well with characters in the present time and interfering with the past event.

ACT II was a challenge for me on my script. Lot of things going on in there.

That’s a good question, honestly. The start is usually where I have the most trouble, but like everyone else I really hit my stride after it. The ending can be another trouble spot because one of the worst things to experience as a viewer is a badly written ending (second only to a great idea that’s poorly executed). So no matter what I like to at least have a slow opening that takes its time hitting its stride and a strong finish that rewards you for sticking with it.

As a viewer I actually love the opening image, becoming totally immersed in that world, as a writer I don't know yet. It's all equally daunting tbh.

I love all of it.

I think I love them all.

Each part carries a different emotional timbre.

Even though I’m still writing the script, I can already feel the distinct emotions of every section as I develop the narrative architecture.

In my case, first act is what they wanna do in their daily lives. and later i give them surprises and twist and turns like.

Another thing is that whole story is in your head entirely, but i become paralyzed when i thought what they will do in their daily chores.

Elle Bolan when McKee said that Act I is Inspiration, Act II is Craft and Act III is Philosophy, well I concur with that and I see Act I as kind of being the most fun, I can pretty much posit whatever I want as a writer and of course I will have to suffer for it later haha to make it plausible.

I love writing Act I and outlining the story beats and getting that first 25 pages built, from there the span of 75 more pages can be daunting, and one needs to create and know the ending and the better you know yourself and your world view the more easily that Philosophy is set at the end like a cornerstone,

Act II is also fun and can be the deal-breaker if it's not going well, an uphill marathon to get scenes in movement and story logic and the journey realized.

Then again maybe my favorite part is when they ride off into the sunset page 104 or whatever, finishing a screenplay even in first complete draft is an amazing creative feeling and saying YES to the Format, the Form, the Craft and the Art.

But yes in watching films I do enjoy most the opening five minutes as long as it is all new and cinematic, I am settling into my seat for the journey and the adventure.

I am definitely the opposite haha. I love the first act. The opening scene is my favorite to figure out and one that I feel I have the most realized by the time I actually hit the page. I honestly have the first and third acts mapped in my head before I even start outlining, creating beats. For me, the tough one is Act 2. It's still fun to do, but it is the longest stretch, and it is really the test of whether your concept works or not.

I love them all, but it's that dark night of despair that gets me the most.