is this mandatory? my movie is sort of like the truman show where the other supporting characters are the only ones who know the truth, and the main character himself doesn't actually find out for himself until the climax. during the the first two acts i plan on showing some signs to the audience that something isn't right, but i don't want to let them know it right away (see mulloholland drive).
Nothing is really mandatory. But people respond to stories in
fairly standard ways. We relate to someone with a goal because
we either have goals or wish we had goals. A story where things
just happen to a protagonist who has no, specific goal is likely to
be boring. Which is why you may be having troubles with your
second act being boring.
In “Mulholland Drive” Betty has a goal; to find out who Rita is,
what happened to her and why. The entire second act is Betty
attempting to reach that goal.
The second act of “The Truman Show” is when Truman notices
things are not as they seem. His goal is to find out what’s going
on. Nothing just happens to him, Truman looks where he wasn’t
supposed to look and actively seeks answers.
also again.. what about subplots? tips on them..
Again, impossible to give you specific tips on subplots. In
general the subplot connects to the main plot. In “The Truman
Show” there are several; Sylvia is taken off the show and starts a
“Free Truman” movement. The actress playing his wife succumbs to
the stress and breaks down (just as everything on the show is
breaking down). Christof strives to keep the show going.
also has there ever been a movie that ended on a climax?
I don't quite understand your question. Nearly all movies end on a
climax. Usually it's when the protagonist reaches the goal. Sometimes
it's when the protagonist fails to reach the goal. Sometimes the climax
is open ended. In "The Truman Show" Truman reaches his goal and
steps through the door into the real world. That's a climax of his goal but
the audience knows more awaits him.
In "Star Wars" the story ends on a climax - Luke blows up the Death
Star - and even the very end of the film is a climax; they are all rewarded
for their service.
Even movies that end on a "downer" end on a climax. In "The Sixth Sense"
Dr. Crowe make a climatic discovery. In "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid" the climax is the overwhelming odds they face.