Elements of Story

Video Production should really be called "Telling Stories Class". When you create a short film you are telling a story visually, even if there is no dialogue. Each story, whether visual or not, has five basic, but important, elements. These five elements are: Characters, Setting, Plot, Conflict, and Resolution. These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that is easy to follow.

Characters

Every story has characters. They can be people, animals, inanimate objects, ideas; whatever you want. The characters are the entities who live inside the story and influence the events. For example, the main character is the focus of the story and they usually are the one who solves the conflict. There are supporting characters who either make the main character's job easier or harder. The villain either creates the main conflict or impedes the main characters solution to that conflict.

Setting

The setting is the location, time, and context of the scene. In a visual medium, setting is pretty easy to establish. You do, however, need to think about how your setting influences the story you're trying to tell. For example, a romantic comedy set in New York City would be very different from one set on Mars.

Plot

The plot is the sequence of events in the film. Stories should have a beginning, middle, and end, with all the necessary information - called exposition - so that your view understands what's going on. If your plot is confusing your viewers may not like your movie as much as they would if your movie had a clear plot. If scenes are out of order your viewer may get lost. You also want to watch out for plot holes, which happen when scenes contradict with each other.

Conflict

Every story has a conflict to solve. The plot is centered on this conflict and the ways in which the characters attempt to resolve the problem. When the story's action becomes most exciting, right before the resolution, it is called the climax. Conflict can be as small as a socially awkward situation or as large as an alien invasion threatening the world. Your conflict should make sense to the characters you've written. Your conflict should challenge your characters in a way that is unique to their perspective. Let's say you are making a movie about a giant earthquake. Who would be the most interesting person to experience that conflict through? The President? A scientist? A regular person? 

Resolution

The solution to the problem is the way the action is resolved. For example, your main character my defeat the evil wizard or your two star-crossed lovers will overcome their misunderstanding and be together. It is important that the resolution fit the rest of the story in tone and creativity and solve all parts of the conflict. Stories that lack a satisfying resolution to the conflict not only can be boring or confusing; they could also make the audience angry! 

 

Now, creating a compelling story is an art. Breaking the rules is almost a necessary requirement for making good art. If your story works well without one of these elements, go for it. These are just common elements which tie most stories together. Think about your one-minute movie idea. Do you have interesting characters? Do you have a setting, what about a plot? Is there a conflict which can be resolved in a satisfying way? These are common questions you should be asking yourself every time you develop a new story.