Narrative Techniques in Film and Screenwriting

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes a restricted narrator from an omniscient narrator?

Ability to predict future events

Access to all characters' thoughts

Knowledge limited to one character's perspective (correct)

Directly addresses the audience

How is the term 'plot' best defined in the context of narrative elements?

The central message or moral of the story

What the story is fundamentally about

The organization and selection of story events (correct)

The emotional response generated by characters

Which of the following best describes 'theme' in a narrative?

The audience's emotional reaction to the film

The sequence of events in the story

A central idea that influences other elements (correct)

The characters' journey from beginning to end

What is the main emotional experience elicited by suspense in a narrative?

Anxiety from partial uncertainty about outcomes Signup and view all the answers

Why is repetition important in a narrative plot?

It indicates the significance of certain elements Signup and view all the answers

Which narrative element is typically used to enhance emotional engagement with characters?

Character development Signup and view all the answers

How does narrative closure contribute to the overall experience of a film?

Through the resolution of main conflicts Signup and view all the answers

What element of a story primarily conveys its narrative intent?

Theme Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the midpoint in the three-act structure?

To present the protagonist with their biggest obstacle Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the Middle section in the three-act structure?

It progresses the story's conflict and increases stakes Signup and view all the answers

How has the emergence of streaming series influenced narrative structure?

It often applies the three-act structure to entire seasons Signup and view all the answers

What defines an antagonist in a narrative?

A force that hinders the protagonist's progress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the resolution of a story in the three-act structure?

It provides a final confrontation and resolves the main conflict Signup and view all the answers

What role does the protagonist typically play in a narrative?

Someone who actively pursues a specific goal Signup and view all the answers

What transformation might occur for the protagonist by the end of a typical three-act narrative?

They discover a new goal or realize they had what they needed all along Signup and view all the answers

In a narrative, what is the likely outcome of increased stakes during the conflict phase?

The tension surrounding the protagonist's journey intensifies Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily established during Act I of the three-act structure?

The protagonist's goal and the antagonist's motives Signup and view all the answers

How do Hollywood narratives typically achieve closure?

By resolving the main plot in a satisfying way, often with a clear outcome Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a foundational form in cinematic storytelling according to classical Hollywood cinema?

The closed-ended narrative feature film Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of character development is a driving force in classical Hollywood narratives?

Psychological causes frequently motivate character actions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of story structure, what role does conflict play?

It serves as a means to demonstrate the protagonist's transformation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the cause-and-effect sequence in classical Hollywood cinema?

Character actions are the primary drivers of narrative progression Signup and view all the answers

Which element is NOT typically a part of classical Hollywood cinematic storytelling?

Use of historical contexts as a driving element Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of a compelling character in a narrative film?

They possess clear goals and face obstacles in pursuing them Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Narrative in Film

Story is the foundation of human communication, found in all cultures, including origin stories and fantastical tales. Early films used pre-existing stories like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland.
Cinematic storytelling's uniqueness emerges from its themes and narrative intent influencing every aspect from mise-en-scène to acting.
Narrative structure significantly shapes audience experience with moving images, creating expectations of narrative.
Compelling characters drive the narrative forward, leading to various narrative forms, or genres.
Narrative structures are also present in documentaries, although experimental films can be non-narrative (although some may include narrative).

The Script and the Screenwriter

Storytelling starts with words, making the script crucial to filmmaking.
Screenwriters adapt pre-existing sources or write original scripts. Examples include Pan's Labyrinth, Young Ghouls, and adaptations of novels like Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, or anime like この世界の片隅に.
The script details narrative structure, plot, characters, setting, and dialogue.
It acts as a sales pitch, securing collaborations and capital.
Importantly, the script is a blueprint for the film, with economy of language being a crucial aspect.

The Script Format

Each page of a screenplay corresponds to one minute of screen time.
The realized material on screen is different from the written script, illustrating a collaborative process.

What Is Narrative?

Narrative is a story with plot, characters, and point of view that often follows a linear chronology.
Filmmaking involves selecting and arranging events in a cause-and-effect sequence throughout the film.
Narrative movies are fictional feature films.
Narration is the act of telling the story and the Narrator is who tells the story.

Basics of a Good Story

A good story comprises one protagonist and one goal.
Obstacles constantly face the protagonist in pursuit of their goal.
Compelling characters are central to any good story
A clear narrative intent, theme, or underlying message from the storyteller

Classical Hollywood Cinematic Storytelling

Classical Hollywood cinema centers on a closed-ended narrative structure, typically lasting 90 minutes to over two hours.
It frequently follows a three-act structure.
Focus on cause-and-effect relationships between characters' actions and plot developments; psychological motivations often drive events. Hollywood often creates a clear resolution to the conflict, like a happy ending.

Classical Hollywood Three-Act Structure

Act I (The Setup): Initial 25-30 minutes introducing the protagonist, their world, goals, and antagonist. Establishing the foundation of the story.
Act II (The Obstacles): Twice as long as Act I, presenting conflicts and escalating stakes. Usually includes a midpoint where the characters face a significant decision. The protagonist often encounters their greatest challenge roughly 85-90 minutes in.
Act III (The Resolution): Resolves the story with a climactic showdown for reaching the initial goal. A protagonist often confronts the antagonists, resolving the narrative conflict, and achieving their desired outcome

Three-Act Structure (Revised)

Beginning: Introduces the main character, their world, and goals/wants, along with antagonists.
Middle: Conflict and obstacles escalate, with midpoint decision points and challenges faced.
End: The climactic confrontation, resolution of the main goal or a new goal, and realization of the journey's message.

Narrative Structures

Narrative structures are constantly evolving, impacted by changes in media such as television and digital mediums (streaming), altering pacing and audience engagement.
Commercial interruptions forced earlier television scripts into a multi-act structure. Streaming changed how stories are told and formatted.

Compelling Characters

Characters are at the core of any story. They pursue a goal that pushes the plot forward.

Characters

Protagonist: The central character striving for a goal.
Antagonist: Opposes the protagonist, creating conflict.
Anti-hero: An unsympathetic protagonist, whose goals might be morally ambiguous or harmful.
Round characters: Complex, undergo significant development and change.
Flat characters: Simple, don't undergo significant change.

The Camera as Narrator

Cameras act as a primary narrator, dictating what the audience sees and experiences.
Restricted narration: Focuses on the protagonist's perspective, limiting the viewer's insight.
Omniscient narration: Provides access to multiple characters and viewpoints.

Narrator

A narrator's presence can be internal or external, can be objective or subjective, impacting storytelling in different ways.
Narrators can be unreliable depending on their objectivity and perspectives. This creates tension and uncertainty about the truth in the story. Multiple narrators are a common feature.

Possible Narrator Types

First-person narrator: A character in the story tells the story.
Omniscient Narrator : Knows every character's thoughts and actions.
Restricted Narrator: limited to the knowledge of a single character or characters.

Plot and Theme

Plot: Events, choices, and actions of the characters. The plot's order and structure are important choices made by the filmmakers.
Theme: The underlying meaning or message of the story.

Elements of Narrative: Suspense vs. Surprise

Suspense: Anxiety created by uncertainty, wanting to know what will happen next. Often relies on partial information or hints.
Surprise: A sudden, unexpected event that is shocking; emotional impact is shorter-lived.

Elements of Narrative: Repetition

Repetition: Recurring story elements, sounds, or visual imagery, implying importance.
Familiar images: Used to create structure and meaning, stabilizing and often informing the narrative.

Climaxes and Closings

Climaxes: Highest point of tension or conflict within a story. Resolves causal issues.
Closings: Resolution and end of the story structure; varies in film. Some may be open-ended, with no clear resolution.

Plot Segmentation

Plot segmentation: Provides structured analysis of a film's plot and causality through a scene-by-scene breakdown.

Setting and Scope

Setting: Time and place the film's story occurs. Historical, social, or economic contexts are often implied or shown.
Scope: The overarching range of time, place, issues, and characters within the film's narrative.

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Description

Explore the essential narrative structures and elements that define cinematic storytelling. Delve into the importance of scripts and how screenwriters adapt stories for the screen, impacting audience engagement. Understand the distinct narratives in different film genres including documentaries and experimental films.