Contrasting: Opening & Closing Scenes

AVATAR:Opening
One entire wall (all seven feet of it) is a TV screen.  On
it we get a wider view of the world, and it's nothing to
write home about.  There is a breaking story about a fire
in a Boston subway which asphyxiated over a hundred
people.  Not unusual these days.  This is followed by a
feature about the death, in Kenya, of the last lion living
outside captivity.  This leads to a recap of the state of
the environment overall, and it's grim.
AVATAR:Closing
It will be a virus lethal to humans.  An airborne
hemorrhagic fever.  A flesheating virus from Hell.  If it
gets back to Earth as a result of future expeditions here,
the whole human race will die screaming.  Pandora is off-
limits for all time.

Save The Cat- 15 stages

1. Opening Image:(1) 

Not necessarily the very first shot of the movie, but early on we need to show the mood, tone, period, and genre of the movie. What is it going to be about?

2. Theme Stated:(5)

A scene where the main character is told what the movie is about.

3. Set-Up:(1-10)

Who is involved, what is happening? Weaknesses and needs of the main Character. See the hero @ home, work, or play.

4. Catalyst:(12)

An event that forces the hero to take action; Draws them into a deeper plot. The call to adventure.

5. Debate:(12-15)

Will the hero accept the call to adventure

6. Break into Two:(25)

The hero must choose to involve himself/herself.

7. B Story :(30)

A "helper" character who will teach the hero about the thematic premise. A mentor, love-intrest, buddy.

8. Fun and Games:(30-55)

Action, excitement, chases- not so serious or threatening. the hero will try the wrong way to defeat the bad guys.

9. Midpoint:(55)

False victory, or false defeat, point of no return, stakes are raised.

10. Bad Guys Close In:(55-75)

The noose will tighten around the hero. Bad guys regroup. Hero is in real danger.

 

11. All Is Lost:(75)

The old way of thinking dies. Opposite of the Midpoint.

 

12. Dark Night of the Soul:(75-85)
The lowest point for the hero. Ready to give up- doubts themselves. But...

13. Break into Three:(85)

Thanks to the knowledge recieved about the theme, the hero realises what they need to do and set off to do it.

 

14. Finale:(85-110)
Good guy defeats bad guy (after an EPIC struggle) using new knowledge and skills gained over the course of the story.

15. Final Image:(110)

'Opposite' to the opening image (refrence the OI) Shows the growth and