Frank Daniel, who taught screenwriting at some of the world's most prestigious film schools, ...

The eight sections that can be accommodated within the classical three-act
structure are:
Act 1
1. Introduction of the main characters, ending with a point of attack, which introduces the
problem to the hero.
2. The narrative tension coalesces as the hero's logical attempts to solve the problem
meet with failure, or until he or she is forced, reluctantly, to confront the problem head
on.Act 2
3. The protagonist gets to work, recruiting allies, as he/she gears up for a confrontation
with the antagonist.
4. The hero moves toward a direct confrontation with the antagonist, which ends in the
hero's initial defeat at the story's midpoint. The hero licks his wounds.
5. The tension rises. A major twist, a reversal or betrayal, occurs, calling into question
everything before it.
6. The hero sinks to an emotional low point, frustrated at his failures, feeling defeated.
This is the point of maximum tension.
Act 3
7. The hero girds himself for a final battle with the villain. This ends with the climax, the
direct confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist. One wins, the other
loses.
8. The aftermath or denouement: The hero resolves the problem for good, bringing
closure to the story.