DAN HARMONS'S STORY CIRCLE:
One of the most widely known narrative structure diagrams is this simple enough circle. Dan Harmon is a screenwriter, made famous fro writing shows such as "Community"(2009-2015) and "Rick and Morty" (2013-2022). I think it's most notably feature is the clear 50/50 dichotomy of order and chaos; each containing three individual story beats, and sharing another two. It is clear and easy to understand, and would be a very good pick for me to use when creating my own production's narrative.
One of the most widely known narrative structure diagrams is this simple enough circle. Dan Harmon is a screenwriter, made famous fro writing shows such as "Community"(2009-2015) and "Rick and Morty" (2013-2022). I think it's most notably feature is the clear 50/50 dichotomy of order and chaos; each containing three individual story beats, and sharing another two. It is clear and easy to understand, and would be a very good pick for me to use when creating my own production's narrative.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL'S: THE HERO'S JOURNEY:
An older, perhaps more simplistic "story circle", The Hero's Journey is very similar to Dan Harmon's structure. You notice the same (almost) 50/50 split between "Known" and "Unknown". As you may expect from its fanciful title, the story beats are given more romanticised names, giving the impression of a fantastical and epic story. Giving this impression of old world feeling stories reminds one who uses it that good stories have existed for as long as human beings, and a good story will always be a good story.
An older, perhaps more simplistic "story circle", The Hero's Journey is very similar to Dan Harmon's structure. You notice the same (almost) 50/50 split between "Known" and "Unknown". As you may expect from its fanciful title, the story beats are given more romanticised names, giving the impression of a fantastical and epic story. Giving this impression of old world feeling stories reminds one who uses it that good stories have existed for as long as human beings, and a good story will always be a good story.
TODOROV'S NARRATIVE THEORY:
Despite its almost scientific sounding name, Todorov's is the simplest structure yet. Using only five steps he was attempting to capture the core of nearly every story's narrative backbone. While it doesn't work for every story, it does roughly fit most. It isn't so much a structure I'd use for my films solely, but one I'd use for an overall reference, to make sure I'd hit all the necessary beats.
Despite its almost scientific sounding name, Todorov's is the simplest structure yet. Using only five steps he was attempting to capture the core of nearly every story's narrative backbone. While it doesn't work for every story, it does roughly fit most. It isn't so much a structure I'd use for my films solely, but one I'd use for an overall reference, to make sure I'd hit all the necessary beats.
SYD FIELD'S THREE ACT STRUCTURE:
The only narrative structure I've looked at that isn't a circle. I really love the straightforward nature pf this one, clearly indicating a three act structure with smaller story beats within. The rise and fall of the. narrative line is wonderfully illustrated to give the writer a real sense of the increase in stakes, tension and drama there should be as the story proceeds.
The only narrative structure I've looked at that isn't a circle. I really love the straightforward nature pf this one, clearly indicating a three act structure with smaller story beats within. The rise and fall of the. narrative line is wonderfully illustrated to give the writer a real sense of the increase in stakes, tension and drama there should be as the story proceeds.
CONCLUSION:
All of these structures and templates have their merits, and they have helped inform me in my own structure, as seen below.
All of these structures and templates have their merits, and they have helped inform me in my own structure, as seen below.
The Story Beats:
1: Status Quo
- Kellen is involved in petty crime at night, working in a foundry during the day. He works tirelessly, at the expense of his own life, to look after his ailing brother, with the help of his old friend Yana
- One day Nevyn sees Yana and she tells him that soon he'll be on his own looking after Kellen. This starts him thinking that he may need to hurry up his pursuit of a better life with his brother, his mind begins to turn to more crime.
- After a scare with his brother health, and a reminder that his friend and helper Yana is going to leave, he gives in to the temptation to accept a very shady job from his criminal boss.
- The Job is an assassination, but right before completing his mission, Nevyn realizes the weight of what he's about to do, and the repercussions it would have on his life moving forward. He doesn't want to become a slave to the criminal life, but he's been threatened by his boss. he decides to take drastic action, that will forever change his life, and that of his brother.
- Nevyn turns on his boss and kills him, shutting the door on his criminal life, but also putting himself and Kellen in great danger. He takes his brother and flees, not knowing what the future will hold.
- Big Brother -