Key Words for this Study
Narrative
Codes
Conventions
Story principles
Codes
Conventions
Story principles
What is Narrative Film?
Simply put, narrative film is film that tells a story!
The story could be chronological, all events happening in the order they occur. This is called linear structure. Many films, however, jump backwards and forwards in time. This is called non-linear structure. Both can still be types of story-telling.
Consider, why might a screenwriter choose to put the end at the beginning of the film? For example, the first shot we see in a crime thriller is a body washed up to the shore of a lake, then the following scenes take the audience months or years back in time. Why start a story at this point?
The story could be chronological, all events happening in the order they occur. This is called linear structure. Many films, however, jump backwards and forwards in time. This is called non-linear structure. Both can still be types of story-telling.
Consider, why might a screenwriter choose to put the end at the beginning of the film? For example, the first shot we see in a crime thriller is a body washed up to the shore of a lake, then the following scenes take the audience months or years back in time. Why start a story at this point?
What is 'Three-Act Structure'?
Three-Act Structure is the most common structure of story telling. It is a great model to use to make a story that captures the audience's attention and sympathies.
We'll start by thinking about films we know and love.
Download the document below and fill in the columns with two or three others.
We'll start by thinking about films we know and love.
Download the document below and fill in the columns with two or three others.
10med_three_act_structure.docx | |
File Size: | 58 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Take a look at the image below to see how the three-act structure works.
Do you want to understand more about three act structure? The link below has some great examples (and spoilers) from a range of films to help illustrate the concept.
TRY APPLYING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE THREE-ACT STRUCTURE
Watch the following short film The Black Hole. How does it follow the three-act structure. Consider:
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Narrative: Codes and Story Principles
Narrative films use a number of technical and symbolic codes to help the story move forward, make sense and keep it engaging for the viewer.
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Narrative films tell stories well through a combinations of story-telling elements. You may have come across some of these in creative writing tasks for English before.
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Studying Pleasantville (director Gary Ross, 1998)
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Helpful Links |
Studying Pan's Labyrinth (directed by Guillermo del Toro. 2006)
A fantastical anti-fascist horror film.