Introduce the main character and the world he lives in through the opening scene. Give essential details that provide insight into the life of the character through the setting and dialogue.
Face the main character with a problem. Conflicts can range from small to complicated. For example: A character's wife has filed for divorce after 20 years of marriage. A teenage boy relocates during the middle of the school semester. A young woman arrives in America with little money, no friends and a language barrier.
Show how the character initially handles the conflict. The character can embrace change or be hesitant. Whatever the character decides has to propel the story forward toward confronting other obstacles.
Write about what or who motivates the main character to act or change. Include friends, enemies or strangers who cause the character to reevaluate himself. Include the turning point that the character undergoes in the story. Show how he takes matters into his own hands for better or worse.
Write how the main character must deal with the repercussions of his actions. Include people who will test him. Show the aftermath of dealing with conflict and how it affects the main character's state of happiness and daily routine.
Introduce a new conflict that has spiraled down from the original problem or has been developing subtly from the beginning. This heightens emotions for the main character, putting him in a state of crisis.
Write the climax of the film that triggers shock, fear or excitement in the main character. Depending on the character's response to the climax, it can put the character at risk whether emotionally or physically.
Show the decrease of tension as the character handles the final crisis. This section shows how the character has survived after having undergone the crisis. He can either be rewarded or experience a sense of emptiness depending on the outcome and the character's motivation.
Write about the character's return to home. Even if he has not made a physical journey, show his emotional return to what his life was before the crisis. If the film has started when the character was in the midst of problems, reveal him as a dynamic character by showing his transformation.
Resolve any loose ends. The main character comes to peace with his choices and what he has gained or lost by the end of the story.