| Act | Beat | Description | Position (∼% of Story) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act 1 ‐ Setup | 1. Opening Image | Snapshot of protagonist's ordinary world; tone and theme preview. | 0‐1% |
| 2. Theme Stated | A character hints at the life lesson or theme that drives the story. | 5% | |
| 3. Set-Up | Establishes the hero's current life, flaws, and the supporting cast. | 1‐10% | |
| 4. Catalyst | The inciting incident that disrupts the hero's everyday world. | 10% | |
| 5. Debate | The hero wrestles with whether to act or remain in comfort. | 10‐20% | |
| 6. Break into Two | Hero commits to the adventure or goal, entering a new world. | 20% | |
| Act 2 ‐ Confrontation | 7. B Story | Introduction of a secondary plot or relationship that supports the main theme. | 22% |
| 8. Fun and Games | The “promise of the premise” — exploration of the story world or central conflict. | 20‐50% | |
| 9. Midpoint | Major turning point — often a false victory or false defeat that raises the stakes. | 50% | |
| 10. Bad Guys Close In | Internal and external pressures increase; allies and plans start to fail. | 50‐75% | |
| 11. All Is Lost | Hero experiences complete failure or despair; symbolic “death.” | 75% | |
| 12. Dark Night of the Soul | Period of self-doubt and reflection before new insight emerges. | 75‐80% | |
| 13. Break into Three | Hero finds strength or revelation that propels them into final act. | 80% | |
| Act 3 ‐ Resolution | 14. Finale | Hero faces the ultimate test, applies lessons learned, and resolves conflict. | 80‐99% |
| 15. Final Image | Contrasting image showing transformation from the story's beginning. | 99‐100% |