Storytelling 1

Storytelling is innate to our

species
The Heider-Simmel Illusion

In 1944 Psychologists Fritz Heider and Marianne Simmel

created a short titled “An experimental study on apparent
behaviour”. This illusion illustrates how we, as pattern
seeking creatures, navigate our world through stories. We
project emotions, personality and scenarios in order to
interpret what we see.
We’ve been doing
it for a long time!

Storytelling has been around

long before language even
existed, through pantomime,
painting, gestures, music and
acting, stories have been
communicated for as long as
human have had
consciousness.

The question is, why do we

tell stories?
 ● Story is the most effective tool for
retention.
● Stories help codify beliefs and shape
cultures.
● Stories allow people to share and connect.
Story has purpose. ● Stories help us navigate and interpret our
world.
● Stories can be used to inspire action or
inaction.
● Stories are used to teach, manipulate and
persuade.
Creating stories for
film has some key
ingredients
 All good stories need a beginning, middle
1 - The and end.

fundamental A story without a clear beginning

confuses an audience, a story without a
structure middle creates disbelief - not believable
change happens on a dime - and a story
without and end leaves an audience
dissatisfied.

This is most commonly referred to as the

3 act structure. We shall return to this.
2 - A driven
character.
An audience needs a means
to navigate a story, this is
done through a character. A
driven character is one who is
motivated into action (Or
sometimes inactions) through
a need, a want or a desired
goal. This enables one to
drive a story forward.
 A character's motivation is fueled by conflict. This conflict
3 - Conflict, comes in many forms or levels as often referred to in film:

conflict, ● Intrapersonal conflict - also called internal conflict, this

deals with issues within our own heads.

conflict. ● Interpersonal conflict - this is conflict experienced

between one or more individuals and can result from
clash of thoughts, beliefs and morals etc.

● External conflict - this is conflict within our world that is

not necessarily the cause of people, such as stubborn
doors, global disastasters, illness etc.

● Cosmic conflict - This is conflict between a character and

God, the devil, an invisible entity, or a supernatural force
beyond their control.
 Simply put, you need to know what is
4 - A plot going to happen in the movie.

The 3 act structure maps the characters

growth/journey while the plot
states/dictates what will happen in the
film. It should be properly thought out to
ensure there are no inconsistencies or
“Plot holes”.
5 - A story question

Why does this story need to be told?

What does the audience need to learn,
consider, feel, understand and take away
from the film?

Good film provokes thinking, thinking

provokes action.

The story question comes from the

characters unconscious need.
The 3 act structure
Act 1: The
beginning

1. In the first act we set up the character and the world of story. Or more simply,
the “Who? What? When? Why?”. This is the time you use to expose the
audience to the character, who they are and their desires.
2. An inciting incident or the first plot point. This is the event that pushes the
story in motion. An event happens in the characters life that they are not
ready or equipped to deal with and must come up with a solution to the
problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBlt3KWp7a8
Act 2: the middle

Conflict, conflict, conflict!!

1. The second act is all about defining the dramatic need of the character, there
is a difference between what they want and what they need.
2. The second act introduces mounting pressure through complications being
added to the characters missions.
Act 3: The end

Resolution/ the change/ the end of the arc.

1. This is the point where the protagonist realises what their unconscious need.
It is the highest point of conflict where the protagonist needs to make a
decision that will end the crisis they find themselves in.
2. How is the conflict solved? It should follow logic and not break too drastically
away from the protagonists character.
3. At this point the “Who? What? When? Why?” must be answered.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
(don’t skin cats guys)
 The three act structure along with the other
There is no fundamentals which have been outlined above
secret formula to are mere guides to creating your films and
stories, you can mix things up. However -
successful films following this structure will not guarantee your
stories success if it is not coming from a
heartfelt, real place.

All good stories are drawn from the real world,

this helps us connect the audience to the
characters and make the story believable, it
doesn’t matter how outlandish a story is it
needs to appeal to some facet of reality.
 In summation:
1. We need stories to guide, inform, shape and change us.

2. Good stories are complete with a beginning, middle and end.

3. Stories need plot, a character on which we focus, conflict and a question that
is answered.

4. All of the fundamentals act as a guide, not a constraint.

5. All stories with which we resonate are rooted in a facet of reality or a universal
truth.
 Reads:

Story - Robert Mckee

Save the cat - Blake Snyder's