A narrative film tells a story using camera movement, sound, lighting, editing and other filmmaking techniques.

In preparation for making your narrative short keep these simple guidelines in mind:

• You are telling a STORY.
• Whose story is it?
• What happens? Have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Where does the story take place?
• When does the story take place?
• Why have you decided to tell this story?
• What is the importance of this hero story to you and others?

The best place to begin your filmmaking process is by with writing your SCRIPT.

• Keep the story and action as simple as possible.
• Outline the main points you are interested in.
• Make a list of questions.
• Structure the beginning, middle, and end.
• Write, re-write, and re-write some more.
• Get feedback.

In making a short film, you want to think about your audience. People love stories, especially a story in which they care about the main character. Often what endears people to characters is watching them go through trials and tribulations.

• How has your hero overcome obstacles and dealt with challenges in his/her life's journey?
• How has your hero achieved his/her goals?
• What makes your hero unique?
• What feeling do you want to leave the audience with at the end of the film?

• In structuring a narrative short, you can combine establishing shots, scenes, montages, and subjective footage in a variety of ways to create an interesting story.
• Establishing shots are usually wide exteriors of the location to establish where the story takes place.
• Scenes are usually shot with actors interacting in a location. Some scenes have dialogue, some do not.
• Montages are usually created by combining music and stills (or footage without dialogue) in sequences to help tell the story.
• Subjective footage is "getting inside the character's head." There are many ways to be creative in expressing what a character is feeling, thinking or dreaming. Point of view (POV) shots with some sound effects and narration (voiceover) can create the effect of being in someone's head.