Kris Kristensen will be on the panel of the upcoming Screenwriter's Salon: Chekov's Gun - Writing a strong first act. He will joined on the panel by Salon co-host (and producing partner) Brian McDonald, and the event will be moderated by co-host Andy Spletzer.

Anton Chekov said "If you put a gun onstage in Act I, you must use it by Act III" Billy Wilder believed that if there is something wrong with your third act it's really something wrong in the first act. What does it mean to have a strong first act? What is a first act and why is it so important?

"I believe that one of the biggest problems with films today is that most of them don't have a first act," says Kristensen. "I see two reoccuring things . Either films want to get a quick start out of the gate, so they dive right into act two, or they know that the meat of the story's not supposed to start until about 30 minutes in, so they stall for half an hour without realizing why the first act exists."

Kristensen and McDonald will be showing film clips to illustrate a strong first act.

The Screenwriter's Salon
Richard Hugo House
1634 11th Ave (Captial Hill)
Seattle, WA
Date Wednesday September 20
Time 7:30 (Tickets available 6:30)

Admission is FREE for SIFF Group members; $2 for NW Screenwriters Guild members, students and seniors; $5 for general public.