How Narrative Theories can be Adapted for a Short Film

I think the issues with delivering a convincing narrative with a time limit is that it may be difficult to fit in each step (in the case of using the 3-act Structure or the Todorov theory), and the plot may remain undeveloped if there isn't time to do so. Furthermore, characters may be undeveloped and may have not much depth to them in order to evoke feelings from the audience.


I believe that narrative theory's can be adapted for short films. For example, with the 3-act structure this can be easily adapted to a short film if each act is at different lengths, making some acts appear only briefly. For example, in The Operator, the 'set up' appears only shortly with the establishing shots of the operating centre and the introduction of the phone operator as the main character.