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AND... ACTION!

Explore these 5 narrative elements and discover how they’re used to create films that stick with us after the credits roll.

What makes some movies compelling and others fall flat? The key to creating a gripping story lies within its narrative. Defined by the Greek tragedies performed centuries ago, narrative techniques have been part of storytelling for centuries.

Nonlinear storytelling (also known as fragmented narrative) is used in Quentin Tarantino’s films, Kill Bill Volume 1 & Volume 2. In the films, The Bride is on a quest for vengeance after being beaten into a coma by her former assassination squad. The first movie begins with her second kill and then takes the audience back to the beginning, showing us how she came out of her coma and planned her attacks.

The most common narrative structure is linear, with the beginning, middle, and end happening in chronological order. However, many Hollywood directors use alternate structures to tell interesting stories.

Peter Jackson uses rich settings in his film The Fellowship of the Ring. Much of what the audience initially learns about hobbits, for example, is through viewing their home, the Shire. Cozy, small homes with well-stocked kitchens and lush, rolling hills clue the audience into their cheery nature, tight-knit community, and love of eating.

Setting helps create atmosphere and provides contextual clues that can’t be stated through dialogue. Because much of film, and storytelling in general, follows the golden rule of “show, don’t tell,” setting helps filmmakers reveal character and plot details in subtle, interesting ways.

Voice in film can be shaped in many different ways. In Fight Club, director David Fincher utilized narration to develop the Narrator’s inner monologue. As the film progresses, we learn why it’s crucial for us to understand the Narrator’s inner self and why it was important for Fincher to establish it through a voice-over.

A compelling voice keeps audiences glued to their seats. Voice helps a story maintain its pace, provides a sense of structure, and helps establish characters. It’s safe to say that without a well-rounded voice, a film feels static.

NARRATIVE THEME

Underneath the macabre settings and characters in Pan’s Labyrinth lies the thread that ties it together. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth explores traditional fairy tale themes such as good vs. evil and the innocence of youth. These themes are demonstrated throughout with the use of set design, dialogue, and character development.

Theme is what holds everything together—it’s like the superglue of storytelling. It’s possible for a film to have more than one theme, but generally they stick to a couple related themes so the story remains focused and plot unmuddied.

NARRATIVE TONE

One of the best examples of tone in film is Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Though he already established a darker DC Universe in Batman Begins, the franchise’s second film is where the grittiness starts to cement. Batman meets his match in the Joker and is forced to confront his own dark side.

The right tone can make or break a movie. Script writers pay close attention to a story's tone in order to ensure it is on point with other narrative elements.

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