How to structure a sitcom

As my sitcom doesn't just follow Hara on her journey but as well as Stav and Andy, I did research on how you lay out a sitcom with more than one protagonist and more than one main story happening. After researching, it was evident that you always introduce one main story first and focus on that for each new act i.e. Hara's, and constantly switch between them to keep the flow going and help the audience understand what is happening and what story they are following.

SUMMARY OF THE 3-ACT SITCOM STRUCTURE

WITH MULTIPLE SUBPLOTS


Act 1: Introduction
Establish what the protagonists want typically in the first 1-3 minutes of a sitcom. 

If you are setting up various subplots try and do it in a manor that it weaves itself into the show and doesn't take the attention away from the main characters stories. Likewise, it will also help the audience understand what story they are following. 

Act 2: Main
Part 1: The catalyst  (3-8 min): Here is when an obstacle appears for the protagonist and his goal, and reacts to it by creating a plan. Here you should also cut to a new scene which also shows the other subplots facing problems. Keep switching stories . 
Part 2: The complication and escalation (3-13 min): the main character enacts his plan, but is blocked by a minor obstacle. Cut to a new scene showing subplots enacting his plan. First we see the protagonist's plan working out for him, then again the subplots. 
Part 3: The showdown (13-18 min): if the main story failed to over come the obstacle then a new plan is set to neutralise his main obstacle. Likewise the same for the subplot. 

Act 3: The Sunset
Show the audience what happened tot he protagonist and the subplots. Bring it all together and show the final result.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Now or Never (2011) - A short film about family relationships

Evaluation

Greek Cypriot Culture