The Rule of 3 Explained — Why Three is Key to Comedy, Storytelling, and Character

[Music] Beetle Juice Beetle Juice Beetle Juice it's show time good things come in threes and nowhere is this more true than in storytelling Triads are everywhere from ancient myths to Modern Blockbusters but why right one two five three this is the rule of three in writing that's a [Music] magic before we begin our three chapters subscribe to Studio binder and click the Bell to stay up toate on all our film making videos we'll be spoiling the following movies [Music] on the count of three [Applause] three the genie with three wishes Goldilocks and the Three Bears

the Holy Trinity for much of human history people have been drawn to threes but why one is a random occurrence what happened I don't know it just didn't explode that's weird two is a coincidence huh I really thought that one was going to explode but three is a pattern and patterns create meaning that's what exploded holy sh that was crazy the human mind is built to seek out patterns making three a satisfying number the last in phrase encapsulates the philosophy om netrium perfectum everything that comes in threes is perfect in storytelling this is true on

many levels three to be exact dialogue structure and character we'll start by looking at the rule of three in dialogue oh and in case I don't see you good afternoon good evening and good night in rhetoric threes are highly encouraged I think we've all arrived at a very special place eh spiritually ecumenically grammatically this is encapsulated by the tricolon a term that refers to three parallel words or phrases within a piece of writing this gives the writing Power Balance and Rhythm you don't understand I could have had class I could have been a contender I

could have been somebody this line from from The Wizard of Oz utilizes parallel phrases weren't you frightened frightened you are talking to a man who has laughed in the face of death sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe the tricolon adds a sense of Rhythm to the Wizard's dialogue as well as sets up the punch line the famous cool girl monologue from gong girl ends with a tricolon my cute Charming salt of the earth Missouri guy he needed to learn grown-ups work for things grownups pay grown-ups suffer consequences this repetition punctuates Amy's anger at her

husband's immaturity and Bill's suspense as we wait for her next [Music] action in taken a father's threat is delivered fly and clearly with the tricolon I will look for you I will find you and I will kill you his cold-hearted confidence helps make this moment powerful good luck and memorable the pattern created by three creates an expectation that can be confirmed or subverted this is a fundamental tool in in comedy where is Dr Evil hiding why would he tell me I'm just one of his lowlevel functionaries where is Dr Evil hiding you'll have to torture

me I'll never tell you where's Dr Evil hiding damn three times he's hiding in the secret volcano layer also referred to as the triple a common joke formula relies on an unexpected subversion for the punchline New Zealand I love New Zealand it's that's great Lord of the Rings Frodo the ring a character will l two logical things can I refill your eggnog for you get you something to eat and surprise the audience with a third comedic element drive you out to the middle of nowhere leave you for dead no I'm doing just fine Clark using

two elements before the punch line lets the audience understand the logic but doesn't overstay its welcome with a long-winded list in Hot Fuzz this idea is stripped down to its [Music] Essence see right what did he say there are two indecipherable lines said Ed is Ed he only CH down because he couldn't see no more what he allowing the joke to land on the third iteration what did he say he said an edge is an edge he only chopped it down cuz it support his view what's Reaper mooning about right look I appreciate your position

Mr webbley but you can't go around chopping down other people's Hedges without permission iose yes I suppose thank you the triple can also be used in physical comedy all right the Zucker Brothers use this technique frequently oh you well I see a certain kitten still knows how to scratch [Music] M the rule of three can also be used for plot and storytelling structure I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days got that three days the rule of three is inherent to much of Storytelling as Tim Burton once

said every story has a beginning a middle and an end not necessarily in that order in modern narrative film making this translates to the threea structure the First Act is used for setup okay the second act has complications and [Applause] obstacles and the third act finds resolution Mr H after careful consideration I've decided not to endorse your Park so have I for more on the threea structure in screenwriting check out our video linked below the rule of three can be used in a more expansive sense trilogies are a popular series format a group of three

films can come together to create a threea super structure in Lord of the Rings for example The Fellowship of the Ring operates as the setup we are introduced to the core cast of characters and the world of Middle Earth the film also includes the inciting event where Frodo and the rest of his group embark on a journey to destroy the Ring The Two Towers meanwhile further complicates this journey and presents larger obstacles for the fellowship including the climactic Battle of Helm's Deep so it begins but the true climax is found in Return of the King

where the ring is finally destroyed and each character sees their own resolution the rule of three can also be used to influence the overall design of the plot this can be seen in countless fables like The Three Little Pigs Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears but it can also be seen in modern films like Pan's Labyrinth where aelia must complete three tasks in order to return to her kingdom in Run Lola Run she has three chances to save a boyfriend these groups of three allow for a character to learn through repetition

though not enough repetition to bore the audience a separate rule of three can be found in the three degrees of conflict internal conflict where a character is battling within themselves interpersonal conflict where obstacles emerge from relationships between people and extrapersonal conflict where problems come from an inanimate Force such as a societal structure or natural [Music] phenomenon many films use all three degrees of conflict to build a more nuanced and fully realized plot in interstellar kooper has internal conflict deciding between his duties to his family and his duties to mankind I've got kids Professor get out

there and save them he also has interpersonal conflict with his daughter who believes he has abandoned her and finally there is extra personal conflict as Cooper tries to save Humanity from Earth's Decay and contends with the challenges of space here we go the rule of three can also be extended to [Music] characters like with the plot several different triadic structures are common within and between characters the most obvious is the trio of characters there are famous trios that work together like the Three Musketeers or the Powerpuff Girls in these Triads it is important to give

each character their own distinct personality and purpose but trios can also be in Conflict adding another layer Beyond simply protagonist against antagonist this Dynamic can be found in No Country for Old Men where three primary character are in varying degrees of conflict with each other lellan has stolen money Anton shigar is trying to get it back and Ed Tom Bell is trying to catch one or both of them before things go wrong well it's a mess ain't it Sheriff if it ain't it'll do till the mess gets here there is also of course the love

triangle which by its very nature complicates a romantic Dynamic love triangles can vary but typically result in one of its three members having to make a decision what do you want what do you want it's not that simple what do you want in Bridget Jones Diary Bridget is pursued by two men and the story follows her deciding who to choose as such the film shows Bridget evolved opting for the more mature and kind man threes also come into play when designing a single character screenwriters are often told to write three-dimensional protagonists or in other words

characters who have depth and complexity these three dimensions can be considered through the adage that people have three faces one face which they show all the world to see a second face which they show only to their close friends and family and a third which they keep to themselves the three-face approach can be seen in countless protagonists in Taxi Driver Martin scorsi and Screen writer Paul shreder show the audience all three faces of Travis pickle his first face is that of a quiet xmarine turned taxi driver he is unassuming and doesn't attract attention attention the

second face shows his disillusionment with society and hints at his potential instability I just want to go out I really you I really want to I got some bad ideas in my head I just his third most private face is his most openly violent and angry these three faces contrast with one another to create a character who is simmering just below the surface no longer will we the people suffer for the [Applause] few in storytelling threes are everywhere so it should come as no surprise that they can be found throughout film and TV 333 3

33 it's always 333 it's always the same from dialogue of all the Gin joints and all the towns and all the world she walks into mine to plot to car why is it when something happens it is always you three believe me Professor I've been asking myself the same question for 6 years what are your favorite examples of three let us know in the comments if you're ready to wield the power of three use Studio binders production management software to write break down storyboard and schedule your next project that's all for now may three be

your lucky number and we're the three best friends that anybody could have we're the three best friends that anyone could have we're the three best friends that anyone can have and we'll never ever ever ever ever leave each other we're the bests that anybody could have