The document discusses narrative structure for short films. It explains that narratives can be linear or non-linear and should have a beginning, middle, and end. It describes the three-act structure with the setup comprising the first third, the conflict the second third, and resolution the final third. Plot points move the story forward in new ways. The document asks questions about narrative order and what was learned about narrative structure from examples like Arrival.

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?