Screenwriting : How Do You Feel About Act Breaks in your scripts? by Michelle Dionne Wardlaw

Hey, Michelle Dionne Wardlaw. Hope you're having a great weekend too. I add act breaks in my pilot scripts, but I've seen pilots without breaks.

I only use breaks when I write pilots. In my feature, I don’t write them in the script :)

I limit myself to features so I've never used Act Breaks, but don't use me as an example.

Depending on the script, I may use Act breaks in my notes to denote when a change in tempo/rhythm happens but never in the actual screenplay.

Like in Act I, I'm introducing the audience to the world, the mundane, the normal, what should be. Act II, The bear walks in, or the spaceship crashes, or the knife is sticking out of the pink slip, and things move at a very different pace.

Just by the action going from low pace to high pace, people will know that the act has changed. Just like Act III, will have a different feel than, Act II. Where new problems are introduced or current elements are escalated. A good writer should be able to convey these changes without a huge cue card stating - "Act change" reset your expectations accordingly.

I've been told my showrunner friends with one-hour shows to write with Act Breaks just so you know where the act breaks are in your script, but you don't have to show the act breaks when you distribute the script. I was also told to have two kinds of distribution scripts: one for networks like NBC or CW that show the act breaks and one for cable/streamers with no act breaks.

For half-hour shows, have the act breaks and show them.

Only in pilots, but I've sold them without.

I like Anthony Moore's take also.

Thanks everyone for your insight. My concern is adding to the page count. My pilot is 62 pages without ACT breaks and I’m afraid it might discourage someone from reading it. :(

In terms of act breaks being indicated on the pages of a script, this is never done for a feature script. In TV, my understanding is that act breaks are indicated only for TV pilot scripts destined for network TV, not pilot scripts intended for cable or streaming. But TV formatting rules are always changing so I would consult a manager who has TV clients. And obviously I would also trust RB's advice on this.

You're welcome, Michelle Dionne Wardlaw. I've seen the same thing that Mike Childress mentioned.

The one I sold to Amblin was 67 pages with no act breaks, Michelle Dionne Wardlaw. We have now taken that down to 60 before going to buyers. Still no act breaks.

Thanks Dan MaxXx ! That's so very true. I want to correctly format too. Just wasn't sure about the taboos surround ACT breaks. Thank you so much for responding! :)

Richard "RB" Botto that is very helpful! Thank you! So basically, if they like your script they won't care about the ACT breaks. I was just concerned the added pages could get me a "hell no, I'm not reading all of that." lol

I like Anthony Moore s take on this also.

The act breaks don't need to be written on the pages of the TV script, unless it's a TV series script for network TV. However, the "feel" of the act breaks should be there on some level, just as in a (3-act) feature script the inciting incident and ends of Acts 1 and II, and the climax of the movie, are never indicated on the pages of the script, but do need to be there in spirit-- in the way the script is planned and written. In TV scripts, having a teaser at the start is common (like the teaser for the pilot episode of "Breaking Bad", which I guess has become a cliché by now), and then the 4 or 5 "acts" each typically end in a cliffhanger. Typically, the "acts" are each within a certain range of pages in TV scripts. In other words, rules of story structure still apply whether the act-breaks are indicated in a TV pilot script or not. And in TV, keeping the audience watching, and coming back for the next episode, is particularly important. TV script format rules are constantly changing. But again, I would trust RB's answer on any of this.

At 62, I don't think you're risking that reaction, Michelle Dionne Wardlaw. Now, if you want to challenge yourself to get to 60 and below, have at it. But I wouldn't kill yourself if you're happy where it's at. As mentioned, ultimately, I got my 67 down to 60 for the purposes of going to the buyers.

Extremely well said and absolutely on point, Staton Rabin. As long as the reader understands and, of course, you can speak to the breaks, total shifts, reversals, etc, you're good to go.

Thank you, Richard "RB" Botto.

Most welcome, Staton Rabin. Fantastic contribution.

:-)