story structure Archives - Justin Kownacki

Three-Act Structure in Movies, Explained

Most Hollywood films follow the same three-act structure. Here’s how it works, and why almost every screenplay uses it.

The most impressive thing about Denis Villeneuve’s Dune might be the way it makes a complex story understandable without dumbing it down.

These script excerpts show why James Cameron’s screenplay for ALIENS is considered one of the best sequels of all time

Why The Snyder Cut and The Whedon Cut of Justice League actually tell two different stories

From a philosophy perspective, the most important part of WandaVision is what the series makes us question about ourselves.

How specific writing, filming, and editing choices turned this story about chess and addiction into a masterclass in visual storytelling.

A look at Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass: The Art of Storytelling — what does the course include, what are the highlights, and what’s missing?

There’s something missing from the new Star Wars trilogy, and without it, none of the characters can find satisfying closure.

Cobra Kai’s pilot episode shows why every villain thinks he’s the hero of his own story… and why he’s also his own worst enemy.

From Lost to Game of Thrones to The Rise of Skywalker, the “mystery box” style of storytelling is coming up short. Here’s why — and how to fix it.