How do you end Act 2? While it will end with a bang, you have to time your exit from this Act appropriately. For this exercise in movie writing you will need two things lots of movies, a DVD player and a stop watch.
Movies, are set to specific times. The times you need to remember are as follows 14, 21, 40 55, 70 and the finality the 90th minute. At one hour and half hours Act 2 should end. As noted in previous articles, Act 1 consists of fifteen to twenty pages. Act 2 on the physical page ends around pages 90-100. In the 'Matrix" at the one hour thirty minute mark the audience wants a conclusion. As a writer your job is to provide a very good one.
Think of a favorite action picture from last century, "Die Hard" written by, Jeb Stuart as the defining action film. You may question its use in writing a drama , but great drama creates conflict between good and evil "Macbeth or Richard II" and you will find action, motivation and daggers instead of guns.
Your purpose in Act 2 is to fulfill what you audience members want. At its conclusion the protagonist is near victory. The lost love, the lost item ( "Indiana Jones") must be near, and in view.
Now back to "Die Hard," this movie has all the elements of a drama, lost love, lost hope, and death. It's only difference from Richard II is the amount of treachery involved. Remember this, death is an excellent motivating factor in any good Act 2.
Take "Adaptation," the writer lost in a world of words. Is it fantasy that concludes Act 2 or is it a real death. At the conclusion of Act 2, the viewer is not sure. But at the verge of panic the audience wants more.
The end of your movie is determined by the pace of your scenes. Have you structured the conflict? Is the reader prepared for Act 3?
As a writer you have to make this downward spiral very interesting. In " Die Hard" Bruce Willis's character has killed several terrorists. But not just ordinary-terrorists super neo-terrorists. He is confused and no one believes him. We will continue how to end Act 2 next month. Keep, writing keep the faith and move forward in you goal to sell a movie. Ciao.
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