Linear vs non-linear narratives

1. NARRATIVE 101
SHORT FILM

3. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

4. MUST UNDERSTAND NARRATIVE
SHOULD EXPLAIN
LINEAR AND NON LINEAR NARRATIVES
COULD EXPLAIN PLOT POINTS

5. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE

8. •

9. STORY
DRIVING FORCE

10. • CHARACTERS
• CONCEPT
•
•
• BEGINNING, MIDDLE END
• PLOT POINTS

11. GOOD BURGER
3 DIFFERENT PARTS.
WE CALL EACH OF THESE PARTS “ACTS”

12. GOOD BURGER
THEY’RE SPLIT INTO 3 DIFFERENT PARTS
The first 3rd of the
film is the setup:
Its where we meet
the characters and
find out what the
basic stories
premise is ….
30 minutes

13. GOOD BURGER
THEY’RE SPLIT INTO 3 DIFFERENT PARTS
The second 3rd of
the film is the
conflict:
Its where the main
character has to
fight against
increasing odds to
get what they
want….
30 - 60
minutes

14. GOOD BURGER
THEY’RE SPLIT INTO 3 DIFFERENT PARTS
The final 3rd of the
film is the resolution:
Its where the story
wraps up, and our
characters get to the
end of their journey
30 minutes

15. PLOT POINT
MOVES
THE STORY FORWARD IN A
NEW & INTERESTING WAY

17. TIMELINE
As film-makers, do we need to tell the story in the
order in which it happens?

18. THE ORDER WE WANT

19. LINEAR NARRATIVE

20. NON-LINEAR
NARRATIVE

21. ARRIVAL
•
•
•

23. WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT THE NARRATIVE STRUCTURE?
• IS IT LINEAR, OR NON-LINEAR?
• HOW WERE THE BEGINNING & END RELATED?
• WHAT WERE THE PLOT POINTS?