One of the most challenging screenplays to write is a biopic. Apart from the obvious macro three-act structure – Birth / Life / Death – a person’s existence does not typically lay out in such a way to conform to the conventions of screenplay structure.

This is one reason why in recent years, we have seen more of what is sometimes called a snapshot bio. In that approach, the writer focuses on a single period in an individual’s life and use those specific events as a lens through which to interpret the character. Examples: Lincoln, The Imitation Game, Spencer, Jackie.

More challenging are biopics which cover some length of a character’s life. Such is the case with Elvis which tracks the Protagonist – and his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker – over several decades.

The script for Elvis tracks major movements in the life of Elvis Presley:

The Rise to Fame

Fame and Fortune

Falling Fame

Death

We will explore this structure more thoroughly in Part 2: Plot.