The Three Acts

[Woodsprite]

Ever notice how Avatar has a screenplay fit to the guidelines of different acts? as in a play? I've looked over the whole thing, and the events fit perfectly; I've never noticed this before.

Act 1: Begins with Jake's dream and Jake opens his eyes; ends with Jake falling asleep in the hammock. (approx. 49 minutes) This would be the introduction into the story, the characters, the basic plot, and Jake meeting the Na'vi.

Act 2: Begins with Jake being awakened by Grace, ends with Neytiri looking back at Hometree destroyed. (approx. 60 minutes) This would be primarily focusing on Jake's training and assimilation into the clan, his thoughts on his life on Pandora, and the destruction of Hometree.

Act 3: Begins with the shot of Jake, Norm, and Grace in a detention room, ends with Jake opening his eyes. (approx. 55 minutes) This would sum up escaping Hell's Gate, Grace's death, and the final battle.


Of course, this couldn't possibly be portrayed on the stage, but the screenplay still stays within the confines of a basic playwritten script. Many films do the same thing, I'm fully aware. But I never really payed any attention with this concept when watching Avatar because it's simply too engrossing to notice, at least, not at first viewing. Any thoughts on the acts?

[zongtseng]

I hadn't thought about it, but they do fit nicely into the 3 act format just as you laid out. They even have clear break points. Between 1 and 2 the screen goes completely white for a few seconds, and between 2 and 3 the screen goes completely black.

[Human No More]

I never really thought about it, but one thing I did notice is that the biggest change is after Jake and Neytiri at the Tree of Voices. That's the part when you start actually disliking the humans, rather than just loving the Na'vi and Pandora.

[rapunzel77]

I have noticed it too. Its true that many movies work in a three act formula, sometimes four acts. If I recall from watching some Cameron interviews, he refers to it as three acts as well.

[Fighter-of-Wars]

I never noticed that before, but as said it really does fit the three act pieces well. Good observation.

[Fkeu'itan]

Yeah I did notice this somewhat, not in specific shots though, but in general content of the sections themselves.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Ever notice how Avatar has a screenplay fit to the guidelines of different acts? as in a play? I've looked over the whole thing, and the events fit perfectly; I've never noticed this before.
....
Many films do the same thing, I'm fully aware. But I never really payed any attention with this concept when watching Avatar because it's simply too engrossing to notice, at least, not at first viewing. Any thoughts on the acts?

Kaltxi Woodsprite,

I am member of Avatar Forums and I saw a post mentioning that there was a partner forum called Tree of Souls, so I thought I'd came and have a look round - as you do. Anyway, I saw your interesting thread on the three acts to Avatar. Funnily enough, I made a similar post on Avatar forums! Great minds think alike!

One of the things that Avatar inspired me to do was dust off a synopsis for a short film I wrote way back in 2001. So I bought a couple of books about screen play writing. I was then intrigued in analysing the structure of Avatar's screen play, which led me to put a post on Avatar Forums to see what other people thought.

Anyway to cut a long story short I ended up coming up with the following breakdown of the film, which I have copied below. Hope it is of interest:

Act 1 - The Set-Up:
This introduces the characters and setting. It is where the story tells us about Pandora, why the humans are their. It introduces us to Jake, Norm, Grace, Selfidge, Quarich, Neytiri and the Na'vi. It gives us a little of their background so we know where they are coming from and what their motives are. Once that job is done we move to plot point one...

Plot Point 1:
This is where the story really starts and with a 'twist'. Can you guess what it is? For me this was the moment the atokirina, the seeds of the sacred tree, land on Jake. Up until that point Neytiri was pushing Jake away, but the seeds landing on him was the 'twist', that changed Neytiri's mind. And so begins the journey and adventure into Act 2...

Act 2 - The Confrontation (Part 1- Jake learning to be a Na'vi):
You will notice during the main part of the story there is nothing but conflict. This is to give the drama. The first part of act 2 is all about the confrontation Jake has in learning the way's of the Na'vi. Obstacle after obstacle is put in his way: learning to ride a direhourse, putting up with Tsu'tey's attitude, keeping up with Neytiri, following Quaritch's orders, being the outsider with the scientists. All these obstacles he overcomes until he goes back to Hells Gate. And so we reach the midpoint...

Mid-Point:
For this you can read 'the point of no return'. For me this is where Quaritch talks to Jake back at Hells Gate, saying he can go home to get his 'real legs back'. At this point Jake could just walk away from the situation and leave the Na'vi to the mercy of the RDA - but no. With a point of his finger and the words 'No, I can do this. There this one thing I need to do...', he leads us into the second part of Act 2...

Act 2 - the Confrontation (Part 2 - battle)
And so our illustrious hero returns to the Na'vi to become one of them. There will still be conflict, but this time Jakes 'confrontation' changes from being with the Na'vi to the RDA as Home Tree is brought to the ground. The confrontation changes to be with is own kind and we see him switch sides leading him to end up in jail with the others, before escaping and coming to the rescue of the Na'vi. And that leads up onto Plot Point 2...

Plot Point 2:
May folks seemed to get this one. It is the twist in the story where Jake becomes Toruk Macto. It is the point that turns the story around and leads us the the final act - Act 3 - The Resolution...

Act 3 - The Resolution:
This follows the low ebb that the Na'vi have found themselves in having had their Home Tree destroyed. Jake comes the the rescue as Toruk Macto and the ensuing battle twists and turns in favour of the Na'vi, then for the RDA and back to the Na'vi. It eventually sees the resolution of the conflict in favour of the Na'vi as 'Eywa has heard you!'. Jake's adventurous journey takes its final leap as he becomes a Na'vi for good and his life becomes complete. Queue welling up of eyes and a yearning to see the movie again and again!

Well, that's my take on it, but of course the only person who really knows is Mr JC himself! Hope it was of interest.

Oel ngati kameie,

Alan

[SaphirJD]

Never thaught much about that, but i have to say, the 3 act scheme fits perfect for avatar

[neytirifanboy]

I know all about the three act rule. It is used for all movies. I even wrote a full screenplay once. But it was rubbish.

I think Woodsprite is very close in his definitin of the three acts. I certainly agree with the split between acts 2/3, although I think that the split between1/2 may be a bit earlier. Not that I am an expert or that it really matters.

[Hiccup Haddock]

Originally Posted by Alan

Kaltxi Woodsprite,

Mid-Point:
For this you can read 'the point of no return'. For me this is where Quaritch talks to Jake back at Hells Gate, saying he can go home to get his 'real legs back'. At this point Jake could just walk away from the situation and leave the Na'vi to the mercy of the RDA - but no. With a point of his finger and the words 'No, I can do this. There this one thing I need to do...', he leads us into the second part of Act 2...

The movie definitely follows the three-arc formula, and very well, too. However, I felt that the midpoint of the story is Jake's first encounter with the Toruk, and his conversation with Neytiri about it right after.

[Pa'li Makto]

I like the three act rule.
It helps to balance Avatar out instead of making it a drawn out movie like a lot of the ones out now.

[iron_jones]

You smart bastard.

You are a gentleman and a scholar.

[Moco Loco]

I think it's easy to divide up any movie and assign it acts. I don't really see how this is significant, however, and I know many many people disagree with me (irl), but meh.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Moco Loco

I think it's easy to divide up any movie and assign it acts. I don't really see how this is significant, however, and I know many many people disagree with me (irl), but meh.

Some of us like looking at the nuts and bolts and actual craft of story-telling, be it because we are writers ourselves or just because that's how we look at things, and from that perspective, the three arcs are very interesting.

Woodsprite, I never noticed that before, thanks for mentioning

[Advent]

It seems Cameron used a smart tactic of properly dividing the movie. Therefore, much smoother plot line.