A film can be an adaptation or an original idea based on a fictional story. There are also films that are inspired by real-life events, which usually become narrative stories combining true and fictional events. For film adaptations, many come from novels, short stories, children's books, comic books and graphic novels. For stories inspired by real-life events, they usually feature famous people or historical or striking events. For original stories, they usually fall under popular film genres like action, drama, epic, comedy, adventure, romance, horror and suspense.
A film narrative either uses the linear or nonlinear structure. These are also known as the three-act and alternative structures. A linear or three-act structure tells the story in a chronological way based on the actual story's beginning, middle and end. Meanwhile, a nonlinear or alternative structure tells the story in an abstract or experimental way. It can also use the actual story events with the middle or end part starting the film, then the beginning can be in the middle or end of the film. Others can also make films that use mostly flashback shots or surreal visuals that don't utilize a linear story.
As a popular option to tell a narrative story, a voiceover narration supports the primary sound and visuals initially presented in the story. It features a set of representational or discursive cues that deliver key information about what is happening on screen. This voiceover can be an external narrator who is not really a character in the film other than being the voice heard for the narration requirements. In such case, this narrator tells the story in third person. The voiceover can also be done by one of the characters in the film. Often times, this voiceover narrator is the film's main character. In such case, this person tells the story in first person.
The point of view used in a narrative affects how the story unfolds to the viewers. Usually, the film's point of view features the main character in the story. However, there are times that another role like the villain or a supporting character provides the point of view of the film. This point of view represents the subjectivity of the character's mind and it conveys a particular consciousness the character perceives. It makes the storytelling consistent in the way it presents the actual story to the audience.