WHY VIDEO PLANNING FEELS SO HARD
CONFUSION IN THE STORY, CHAOS IN THE EDIT
Struggling to plan videos often leads to confusion about the story’s core and messy editing timelines. Too many decisions, no clear spine.
THE FIX: REDUCE STORYTELLING TO 5 LINES
A CLEAR BLUEPRINT AND EMOTIONAL CORE
Simplifying storytelling to five lines gives you a stable blueprint for every creative decision, from shots to pacing to music.
CHAPTER 1
THE FIVE LINES
1) SITUATION
SETTING AND CONTEXT
Ground the viewer. Where are we, who is this, and what’s the normal world before anything changes?
2) DESIRE
WHAT THE CHARACTER WANTS
Spark curiosity. What is the goal, need, or dream that pulls the story forward?
3) CONFLICT
OBSTACLES OR TENSION
Create pressure. What blocks the desire: people, limits, risks, tradeoffs, or internal doubts?
4) CHANGE
TURNING POINT OR SHIFT
Show growth. Something new is learned, decided, revealed, or sacrificed that changes the direction of the story.
5) RESULT
NEW REALITY OR RESOLUTION
Deliver closure. What is different now, and what does the audience walk away believing or feeling?
CHAPTER 2
WHY IT WORKS
FOCUS WINS AGAINST DISTRACTION
A STORY SPINE FOR EVERY DECISION
This method helps maintain focus on the story’s essence amid countless filmmaking decisions and distractions.
EACH LINE HAS A JOB
PURPOSE, NOT FLUFF
Situation grounds the viewer. Desire creates forward pull. Conflict builds tension. Change proves growth. Result gives closure.
IT MATCHES HOW HUMANS PROCESS STORIES
ENGAGING AND RELATABLE BY DEFAULT
The five-line framework aligns with how people naturally understand stories, which makes your content easier to follow and more emotional.
PROVEN IN BIG FILMS
UNIVERSAL STRUCTURE, UNIVERSAL IMPACT
This five-line structure is widely used, including in major films like The Lion King, showing its universal storytelling power.
CHAPTER 3
HOW TO USE IT
USE IT AS A LAUNCHPAD OR A REPAIR TOOL
BUILD NEW STORIES OR FIX BROKEN ONES
These five lines act as a launchpad to build or revisit your story, ensuring every scene connects back to the core narrative.
DISTILL ANY FULL VIDEO INTO 5 LINES
PROVES THE METHOD UNDER PRESSURE
A full-length video can be distilled into these five lines, proving the method’s ability to simplify complex stories without losing meaning.
EXPAND TO 10+ LINES WITHOUT LOSING THE CORE
MORE DETAIL, SAME SPINE
Once the five lines are solid, expand into more beats to add richness and detail while keeping the same emotional throughline.
BEAT SELF-DOUBT WITH CLARITY
LESS OVERTHINKING, MORE FINISHING
The method supports creators by reducing overthinking and self-doubt. You always know what the story is trying to do next.
WATCH FILMS DIFFERENTLY
SPOT THE STORY MOMENTS
Using this structure can transform how you watch stories, making key moments easier to recognize and reuse in your own work.
CHAPTER 4
NEXT STEP
TURN 5 LINES INTO A REAL PRODUCTION PLAN
SHOT LIST, EDIT TEMPLATE, WALKTHROUGH
For deeper guidance, a Story Starter Kit can help convert the five lines into shot lists, editing templates, and step-by-step video walkthroughs.
APPLY IT TO YOUR NEXT PROJECT
CLARITY FIRST, THEN CREATIVITY
Use the five-line structure on your next video. It emphasizes storytelling over technical tricks and improves clarity and impact fast.