The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Pleasantville
written by Gary Ross
Pleasantville, for my money, is the film of
1998 that got robbed at the Oscars. Here is a story that is tightly
crafted and achieves a kind of magic in moving from simple comedy to
dark-edged social commentary. I think this script is a stellar achievement.
Structural Analysis
- Hook (3 min.)
- In a world filled with depressing statistics about HIV and the
environment, all of which bombard youth in their school classes, high
school student David escapes in reruns of a 50s family sitcom, Pleasantville.
- Complication (9-13 min.)
- David and his sister Jennifer fight over the remote - and break
it. A mysterious TV repairman gives them a new one, which transports both
into the world of Pleasantville, the 50s TV show, where they become the
characters Bud and Mary Sue.
- Call to Action (18 min.)
- David/Bud says they have to play along and wait for contact with
the TV repairman so they can return to their world.
- Act One Plot Point (25-31 min.)
- But Jennifer/Mary Sue seduces Skip to break the rules and change
the episodes - which in turn will change the world of Pleasantville.
- Midpoint Plot Point (51 min.)
- David/Bud, too, contributes to the changing world of Pleasantville.
He tells fellow students about the world beyond, that there are possibilities
outside the circular roads of Pville that lead to wondrous landscapes and
alternatives to the way life is lived here.
- Act Two Plot Point (90-3 min.)
- As the black and white world of Pville is changed, color literally
is added to it. Soon the "coloreds" become a threatening minority to the
powers that be in Pville. A strict Code of Conduct is passed and books are
burned. A war of values is raging.
- Climax and Resolution (105-115 min.)
- In a speech at trial, David/Bud manages to bring color to his dad
and even to the mayor, and Pville now is changed beyond return - and outside
the courthouse everything is in color. David decides to return home to his
world but his sister, who has found an interest in literature in Pville,
stays to go to college. Back home, David helps his divorced mother come
to grips with who she really is and to accept herself.
Notes
Pleasantville changes its tone in a subtle progression from light
comedy to serious social commentary - and it works! This is one of those
movies that is a labor of love, with Gary Ross acting as writer, director
and producer. Perhaps this accounts for its tight, disciplined and
unusual story arc, as a light sitcom becomes biting social criticism.
MODULE 4:
SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
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