In television and film, a plot point is a significant event within a plot that digs into the action and spins it around in another direction. It can also be an object of significant importance, around which the plot revolves. It can be anything from an event to an item to the discovery of a character or motive. The plot point is usually introduced at the exposition of the movie. Noted screenwriting teacher Syd Field teaches that the 'ideal' movie plot has the first plot point occurring around the 30th minute of the film. Others say that two plot points define the three acts of a movie, and that, if this is a 120 min one, those plot points must be located around the 30th minute and the 90th minute.
Famous quotes containing the words plot and/or point:
“The plot was most interesting. It belonged to no particular age, people, or country, and was perhaps the more delightful on that account, as nobody’s previous information could afford the remotest glimmering of what would ever come of it.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“Constancy in love is of two sorts: One is the effect of new excellencies that are always presenting themselves afresh, and attract our affections continually; the other is only from a point of honor, and a taking of pride not to change.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)