What is Narrative?

'Humans have an intense need to understand the world around them, to make sense of things.'


-Ken Dancyger
"Writing the Short Film"- 2005


Google Books link: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TYUs0fvl9JMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=writing+the+short+film&hl=en&ei=ylGoTJb4BpTNjAei77zPDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false


KEY DEFINITIONS:

• Narrative: The way in which a plot or story is being told, by whom and in what order. Flashbacks/forwards, ellipsis are used as narrative devices.
• Plot: the storyline
• Catalyst: An inciting incident which sets off a chain of events
• Structure: The architecture of the film- beginning, middle and end (Three Act structure)
• Character Arc: A change in a character. Usually the protagonist undergoes a transformation during the course of the film.                                                                          Here is an example of a character arc:

• Resolution: The story resolves itself