A specialized skill for the story-architect and narrator agents covering documentary narrative structure. Provides 3-act structure, emotion curves, scene arrangement, and narrative patterns by documentary type. Use for 'treatment,' 'narrative structure,' '3-act,' 'emotion curve,' and similar topics.
Specialized narrative knowledge used by the story-architect and narrator agents when designing treatments and narration.
Listing facts makes a report. Layering facts with narrative structure makes a documentary. What keeps the audience watching to the end is not information, but the curiosity of "what happens next?"
Mystery/Question -> Clue gathering -> Obstacle -> Breakthrough -> Truth discovery
Character introduction -> Conflict/Challenge -> Trial -> Change/Growth -> Present
Entering the situation -> Daily observation -> Pattern discovery -> Conflict escalation -> Resolution/Unresolved
Thesis presented -> Evidence 1 -> Evidence 2 -> Counterargument -> Rebuttal -> Conclusion
Present situation -> Return to the past -> Historical development -> Turning point -> Return to present -> Meaning assigned
| Act | Time | Purpose | Components |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act 1 | 0-8 min | World entry + Question posed | Hook (2 min) -> Topic introduction -> Core question |
| Act 2 | 8-23 min | Exploration + Increasing complexity | 3-4 scenes, twist, emotional climax |
| Act 3 | 23-30 min | Conclusion + Resonance | Answer (or open ending), emotional landing |
Emotional Intensity
^
| /\ /\
| / \ / \
| / \ / \
|--/ \/ \--
+---------------------------------> Time
Hook Act 1 Act 2 Early Act 2 Late Act 3
(Shock) (Exploration) (Deepening) (Climax) (Landing)
| Type | Description | Usage Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Information Scene | Data, expert interviews, explanation | 30-40% |
| Emotional Scene | Firsthand stories, emotional moments | 20-30% |
| Observation Scene | Field footage, daily observation | 15-25% |
| Transition Scene | Location change, time passage, topic shift | 10-15% |
| Impact Scene | Twist, new discovery, contrast | 5-10% |
| Relationship | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Complement | Narration adds information not in the visuals | Context explanation, historical background |
| Counterpoint | Narration and visuals tell different stories | Irony, critique |
| Silence | Visuals only, no narration | Emotional moments, observation |
| Explanation | Narration directly explains visuals | Avoid — "Don't say what is shown" |
| DO | DON'T |
|---|---|
| Provide context not visible on screen | Explain what is visible on screen ("What you see here is...") |
| Short sentences, conversational tone | Academic paper style |
| Maintain tension by posing questions | Explain everything and draw conclusions |
| Leave emotional space | Think for the audience |
| Describe specific scenes/characters | Abstract generalizations |