Week 5: Structure- a.k.a. THE BOMBSHELL!!!!

This week, has been a busy one, with a lot of concepts to read about and attempt to apply (possibly incompetently) to do with screenplay structure. 
Basically, life has moved on from the simplistic "Hero's Journey" where we follow one person on their voyage of self discovery, on their Mythic Quest, over 3 Acts. Nowadays, we need to apply a "19 point story map" to our scriptwriting.

I know, right?

19...
   19...
                        19 POINTS!!!!

Just when I thought  I was making progress and taking things in my stride, this bombshell hits!

Yes,
  19...

I am still recovering from my 'lie down' after I learnt about this.
Anyway, shock over, I now have to apply this 19 point story map to a short film that isn't even 19 minutes long!!!! I could emit choice expletives, but instead the phrase "What the Dickens?" is making itself heard. 

I have plotted the physical journey and the emotional voyage of self discovery for my main protagonist in adjacent columns. Now I will have to rewrite it with timing in mind.

Yes, I know: 19 point story map and a specific time line too: No pressure!

So, Act 1 is half the length of Act 2 and equal to Act 3. No, that's not a riddle, it's my next task:
For example, if a piece is 40 minutes long, Act 1 is 10 mins, Act 2 20mins and Act 3 10 mins. With a short film of 15 minutes, we are looking at Act 1 3.75 mins, Act 2 7 mins, Act 3 3.75 mins.

So, that's my next piece of homework.

​On a lighter note, I have received and given feedback and had lovely discussions with my supportive peer group. It has been a real highlight and I think we are helping each other to improve or explain our narratives really well. Thank you group 2! At least we are not alone in this mathematical moment...