So what happens at the 25% point of a 90-miniute comedy will be identical to what happens at the same percentage of a three-hour epic. Not only are these turning points always the same they always occupy the same positions in the story. In a properly structured movie, the story consists of six basic stages, which are defined by five key turning points in the plot. And whether you're writing romantic comedies, suspense thrillers, historical dramas or big budget science fiction, all successful Hollywood movies follow the same basic structure. Plot structure simply determines the sequence of events that lead the hero toward this objective. Whether it's Clarice Starling trying to stop Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, Captain Miller Saving Private Ryan, or Billy Elliott trying to gain admission to a ballet school, all these protagonists confront overwhelming conflict in their pursuit of some visible goal. All film stories portray a hero who faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles as he or she pursues a compelling objective.
Though writing a successful Hollywood movie is certainly not easy, the stories for mainstream Hollywood films are all built on only three basic components: character, desire and conflict. The Five Key Turning Points Of All Successful Movie Scripts By Michael Hauge Hollywood movies are simple.