One-Hour Drama Screenplay

A six act breakdown for your dramatic series.

Overview

This category covers a wide range of content, from rigid “monster of the week” style programs such as Law and Order and Grey’s Anatomy to more experimental fare. Modern audiences are sophisticated and inundated with entertainment options. Irrespective of your approach, multiple story lines need to remain in play in a given episode to engage your viewer. Our screenplay template allows you to keep track of your A, B and C plots (maybe even D if you’re feeling ambitious) over a six act structure while positioning each episode within your work’s season and series long stories.

Structure

  1. Teaser

    Sets up the main conflict of the show.

  2. Act I

    Shows the main characters react to the conflict and how they plan to deal with it.

  3. Act II

    Shows the main characters attempt to resolve the conflict. They will fail but learn as they go.

  1. Act III

    Shows repeated attempts to overcome the conflict, bringing the situation to its lowest point.

  2. Act IV

    Having learned from their failures, the characters now have the knowledge and strength to resolve the conflict.

  3. Act V or Tag

    Sets up a cliffhanger or teases at what's to come in the next episode.