I Ignored the Midpoint
I'd like to share a small storytelling experiment from my feature screenplay God's Secretary.
According to classic screenplay structure, before the midpoint the protagonist usually fails at everything they try. Every decision makes the situation worse. Then, at the midpoint, they gain a crucial realization, and from that moment they actively pursue the story's main goal. By the end of Act Two, they have usually grown enough to face the final challenge.
In my screenplay, the first half follows that pattern. Whatever my protagonist does, she only makes things worse.
But after the midpoint, she finally realizes that the real problem is inside her—her immaturity and childish way of thinking. She genuinely starts trying to change and make better decisions.
The difference is... the results still keep getting worse.
Even at the end of Act Two, when God returns, He punishes her because she has failed the task He gave her.
So I deliberately ignored the expectation that the protagonist's fortunes should begin improving after the midpoint.
What do you think?
Can this kind of structure still work if it serves the story, or do you think some storytelling "rules" should never be broken?
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
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I personally don't believe in storytelling/structural rules but according to kishōtenketsu, the third act, Ten, is where you introduce a big twist that challenges what you built up, and it could be anything you want as long as it shakes things up. This roughly corresponds to the midpoint/late act 2 reversal. In The Letter Man, for example, my midpoint twist was so powerful that it was a gutpunch for both my protagonist Haneul and the titular Letter Man. I didn't follow any formula about how Haneul should fail at everything he tries until then; he wins and fails small instances all throughout but he always learns.
Similarly the midpoint twist in Lunar Window was Cass breaking up with John because she realised she truly loved him, and this arose from her not wanting to actually break his heart; she comes to terms with the breakup being a mistake when John not only shows that his feelings are definitely real, but he actively works to win her over once and for all. Cass has to come to terms with her own feelings and basically be brave enough to make it clear she loves him back.