Friday, July 18, 2008

I'm trying to write a spec pilot for a half-hour comedy... I'm reading scripts and I'm confused as to how many acts I should have.

Comedies are either two acts or three. Unlike drama, which has traditionally been four acts and has largely now moved to five acts, I don't see a clear movement in comedy. If you're writing a spec pilot, pick a show that your show is like, and use that act structure. Simple as that.

Labels: act structure

3:07 PM

6 Comments:

I'm baffled too. I've been reading scripts for 30 Rock, which are all in two acts. But the show itself has two commercial breaks, and sometimes also takes a chunk of act one for a teaser.

By  Lisa Hunter, at 7:44 PM  

Okay so this is completely off topic but has anybody watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-along blog. It's brilliant!!! And should be watched and reveled in by all.

By  Chelley, at 8:35 PM  

Samantha Who scripts are written in four acts!

By  Dan In LA, at 12:31 AM  

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By  freetv, at 8:11 PM  

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By  freetv, at 9:05 PM  

Even within a series there are enormous variations. Of five Modern Family scripts I've located online, 1 script was four act; 2 scripts were 3 Acts w/ teaser and 2 scripts were 3 acts without teaser.

By  LuckyHam, at 10:29 PM  

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