4.1 Inciting incident and plot points
5 min read•august 15, 2024
In screenwriting, the and plot points are crucial elements that drive the story forward. The inciting incident disrupts the 's world, setting the main conflict in motion. It occurs early, usually within the first 10-15 pages, and creates a sense of urgency.
Plot points are major events that significantly alter the story's direction. They include the first at the end of Act One, the midpoint, the second plot point near the end of Act Two, and the climax. These elements maintain and reveal character development.
The inciting incident's role
Defining and understanding the inciting incident
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- Inciting incident occurs early in screenplay, typically within first 10-15 pages
- Disrupts protagonist's status quo and sets main story in motion
- Introduces central conflict or challenge protagonist must face throughout narrative
- Presents problem or opportunity demanding action
- Creates dramatic question engaging audience and establishing story's direction, tone, and stakes
- Serves as catalyst for character development
- Forces protagonist to make decisions revealing personality, motivations, and flaws
- Strength of inciting incident often correlates with audience's investment in story
- Creates sense of urgency or intrigue compelling viewers to continue watching
- May be series of smaller events culminating in major turning point, rather than single, discrete moment
Impact of the inciting incident on story and character
- Propels story forward by initiating protagonist's journey
- Establishes narrative momentum and
- Reveals aspects of protagonist's character through their initial reaction
- Sets up potential by highlighting areas for growth or change
- Introduces that will be explored throughout the story
- Creates contrast between protagonist's "normal world" and the new situation
- Generates audience curiosity about how the protagonist will handle the new challenge
- Potentially introduces or hints at the antagonist or opposing forces
Key plot points in screenplays
Major plot points and their functions
- Plot points defined as major events or significantly altering story direction
- First major plot point occurs around end of Act One
- Represents protagonist's decision to fully engage with central conflict
- Often called "point of no return" or "crossing the threshold"
- Midpoint occurs halfway through script
- Involves significant revelation or event raising stakes
- Potentially shifts protagonist's goals or understanding of situation
- Examples include unexpected allies, betrayals, or discoveries
- Second major plot point near end of Act Two
- Usually represents protagonist's lowest point or major setback
- Sets up climax in Act Three
- Often called "dark night of the soul" or "all is lost" moment
- Climax serves as final, most intense plot point
- Central conflict reaches its peak and is ultimately resolved
- Demonstrates protagonist's growth and ability to overcome challenges
Additional plot elements and considerations
- add complexity and maintain audience engagement
- Typically occur between major plot points
- Introduce new obstacles or complications
- Turning points shift story direction or reveal new information
- Can occur at various points throughout screenplay
- Examples include unexpected twists, revelations, or character decisions
- Each plot point carefully crafted to maintain narrative momentum
- Plot points reveal character and advance thematic elements of story
- Effective plot points often incorporate elements of surprise or
- Subvert audience expectations to maintain interest and unpredictability
- Emotional impact of each plot point should escalate as story progresses
- Builds toward climax and creates satisfying arc for audience
Plot points and story structure
Three-act structure and plot point placement
- Plot points serve as backbone of
- Provide framework for organizing narrative and maintaining dramatic
- Act One introduces characters, setting, and inciting incident
- Ends with first major plot point
- Act Two develops conflict and explores character relationships
- Contains midpoint and second major plot point
- Act Three resolves central conflict and concludes character arcs
- Includes climax and resolution
- Placement and intensity of plot points directly impact story's pacing
- Create rhythm of rising and falling action keeping audience engaged
- Distance between plot points affects story's rhythm
- Closer plot points generally create faster-paced, more intense narrative
- More widely spaced plot points allow for deeper character exploration and thematic development
Character development and thematic exploration through plot points
- Plot points act as signposts for character development
- Often coincide with moments of significant growth, change, or revelation for protagonist and other key characters
- Protagonist's reaction to each plot point reveals character and drives story forward
- Plot points can be used to introduce or resolve subplots
- Ensure all narrative threads woven together cohesively by screenplay's conclusion
- Thematic elements often reinforced or challenged through plot points
- Allow for exploration of story's central ideas and messages
- Supporting characters' arcs may align with or contrast protagonist's journey at key plot points
- Creates depth and complexity in story world
Creating compelling plot elements
Crafting effective inciting incidents
- Develop inciting incidents specific to protagonist's unique circumstances and personality
- Ensure incidents organically arise from story world and character relationships
- Create clear contrast between protagonist's normal life and new situation
- Introduce central conflict in way that immediately engages audience
- Consider both external (event-based) and internal (decision-based) inciting incidents
- Examples of effective inciting incidents:
- Unexpected job loss leading to career change (Jerry Maguire)
- Discovery of magical ability (Harry Potter series)
- Arrival of a mysterious stranger (Casablanca)
Designing impactful plot points
- Craft plot points challenging protagonist in increasingly complex ways
- Force character growth, adaptation, and revelation of hidden aspects
- Ensure each plot point raises stakes and intensifies conflict
- Create sense of escalation and urgency as story progresses
- Utilize setups and payoffs to connect plot points across screenplay
- Create sense of cohesion and satisfying narrative resolution
- Experiment with timing and nature of plot points to subvert genre conventions
- Create unique, memorable story structures
- Balance external plot points (events happening to protagonist) with internal plot points (decisions made by protagonist)
- Create dynamic and layered narrative
- Consider how each plot point affects not only protagonist but also antagonist and supporting characters
- Create rich tapestry of interrelated story arcs
- Examples of impactful plot points:
- Revelation of true identity (The Empire Strikes Back)
- Unexpected betrayal by trusted ally (The Departed)
- Discovery of crucial information changing entire mission (Inception)
Key Terms to Review (23)
Action Line: An action line is a crucial element in screenwriting that describes what is happening visually on the screen, often detailing the characters' movements, settings, and key events. This concise and impactful writing sets the scene for viewers, providing essential context while driving the narrative forward. In different types of scripts, such as features, shorts, or web series, action lines help establish tone and pace while guiding actors and directors in their interpretations of the story.
Audience engagement: Audience engagement refers to the ways in which a screenwriter captures and maintains the interest and emotional investment of viewers throughout a story. It encompasses elements such as character relatability, plot dynamics, and thematic resonance, all of which work together to keep the audience invested in the narrative. By effectively engaging the audience, screenwriters can create a more immersive experience that encourages viewers to connect with the characters and themes on a deeper level.
Beat Sheet: A beat sheet is a planning tool used by screenwriters that outlines the major events, or 'beats,' of a story in sequential order. This structured format helps writers visualize the story's flow, identify pacing, and ensure that key plot points and character developments are effectively organized, allowing for a coherent narrative throughout the screenplay.
Character arc: A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, reflecting how they change in response to the events and challenges they encounter. This evolution is crucial as it connects deeply with the plot and theme, helping to drive the story forward and resonate with the audience.
Climactic Moment: The climactic moment is the point in a story where the tension reaches its peak and the main conflict comes to a head. This moment typically occurs towards the end of the narrative and serves as a turning point, leading to the resolution of the plot and significant changes in the characters' arcs. It is crucial because it encapsulates the emotional stakes and determines the outcome of the protagonist's journey, often revealing their growth or failure.
External conflict: External conflict refers to the struggle between a character and an outside force, which could be another character, society, nature, or fate. This type of conflict is crucial in storytelling as it drives the plot and creates tension, pushing characters to confront obstacles and challenges that influence their development. It highlights stakes and motivations while shaping the interactions between protagonists and antagonists, impacting character growth and narrative structure.
Five-act structure: The five-act structure is a narrative framework that organizes a story into five distinct parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This structure helps to create a coherent flow of events that enhances dramatic tension and emotional engagement, guiding the audience through the journey of the characters. Each act serves a specific purpose, leading to significant plot points and ultimately contributing to the resolution of the story.
Inciting Incident: The inciting incident is a pivotal event in a story that sets the main plot in motion by introducing the central conflict. It disrupts the protagonist's ordinary world and creates a sense of urgency, compelling them to take action and pursue their goal, while establishing the stakes and emotional engagement for the audience.
Internal conflict: Internal conflict refers to the psychological struggle within a character, where they face opposing desires, emotions, or beliefs. This tension is crucial in storytelling as it shapes character development and influences their decisions, leading to heightened stakes and a deeper connection with the audience. Internal conflict often interacts with external challenges, revealing the complexities of a character's journey and their relationships with others.
Narrative momentum: Narrative momentum refers to the driving force within a story that propels the plot forward, creating a sense of urgency and engagement for the audience. It builds as conflicts arise and escalate, particularly during crucial events such as the inciting incident and various plot points, keeping viewers invested in the unfolding drama and character journeys.
Pinch Points: Pinch points are crucial moments in a narrative that serve to heighten tension and propel the story forward, typically occurring midway through the plot. They act as reminders of the central conflict and help refocus the audience's attention on the protagonist's journey, often leading to significant character development or revelations. These moments are strategically placed between major plot points to maintain engagement and drive the narrative momentum.
Plot Point: A plot point is a significant event in a narrative that alters the direction of the story and influences the characters' decisions, actions, or relationships. These moments serve as crucial turning points, pushing the narrative forward and often leading to the story's climax. They are instrumental in shaping the overall arc of the plot and deepening audience engagement with the characters and their journeys.
Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character in a story, often facing a central conflict that drives the narrative forward. This character usually undergoes significant growth or change throughout the story, making their journey compelling. The protagonist's actions and decisions are crucial in shaping the plot and engaging the audience, highlighting their struggles against obstacles and providing a lens through which the audience experiences the story.
Reversal: Reversal refers to a significant change in the direction or outcome of a character's situation, often creating a sense of surprise or dramatic tension. It plays a crucial role in storytelling by highlighting character development and the unpredictability of events. This element is particularly important during key moments like the inciting incident and plot points, where it can shift the audience's expectations and alter the trajectory of the narrative.
Rising Action: Rising action refers to the series of events in a narrative that lead up to the climax, building tension and developing the conflict. It is crucial for creating a connection between the inciting incident and the eventual climax, as it escalates the stakes and challenges faced by the characters. This progression is essential for maintaining audience engagement and helps to deepen character development and plot complexity.
Slug line: A slug line, also known as a scene heading, is a brief line of text in a screenplay that indicates the location and time of day for a particular scene. This helps to establish the setting for the audience and the production team, guiding them on where the action takes place and when it occurs, which is crucial across different types of screenplays, like features, shorts, or TV shows.
Suspense: Suspense is a narrative device that creates a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about what will happen next in a story. It keeps the audience engaged and emotionally invested by heightening tension through conflict, unanswered questions, and stakes. The skillful use of suspense allows for impactful moments throughout the plot, driving the story forward and enhancing emotional responses.
Tension: Tension refers to the emotional strain or suspense that keeps audiences engaged and invested in a story. It often arises from conflicts, stakes, and uncertainty about outcomes, creating a sense of anticipation for what will happen next. Tension drives the narrative forward, making it essential in various storytelling structures, character arcs, and dialogues.
Thematic elements: Thematic elements refer to the underlying themes and messages that a narrative conveys, representing deeper meanings and moral questions within a story. These elements guide the audience's understanding of the characters' motivations, the conflicts they face, and the overall arc of the plot, ultimately enriching the storytelling experience by connecting emotional resonance to the events unfolding on screen.
Three-Act Structure: The three-act structure is a narrative framework that divides a story into three distinct sections: setup, confrontation, and resolution. This structure helps in organizing the plot and pacing, ensuring that the story unfolds in a compelling way, enhancing character development and thematic depth.
Treatment: A treatment is a detailed summary of a screenplay, outlining its key elements like characters, plot points, and themes without going into full dialogue. It's a crucial step in the screenwriting process that helps convey the story's essence to producers, directors, and other stakeholders.
Turning Points: Turning points are pivotal moments in a story that significantly change the direction of the plot or the characters' journeys. These moments can create conflict, reveal crucial information, or lead to important decisions, making them essential for advancing the narrative and maintaining audience engagement.
Twist: A twist is a surprising turn of events in a narrative that changes the direction or perception of the story. It often occurs at critical moments, such as after the inciting incident or during key plot points, and can redefine character motivations or the stakes involved. A well-executed twist not only shocks the audience but also enhances the overall narrative by adding layers of complexity and intrigue.