Scriptwriting Prof Oakes PLOT 1 Scriptwriting Prof Oakes
PLOT and PREMISE PREMISE is the basic idea of the story. It is the foundation of the plot. PLOT is what happens onscreen. It is the series of events that unfold over the course of the film.
Plot Plot is a series of events providing conflict within a story A structure for presenting everything that we see and hear in a film Plot is a series of events providing conflict within a story The search for a murderer is a plot. The biography of a serial killer is a story. Includes diegetic events arranged in a certain order and nondiegetic material
Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Diegesis – the total world of the story Diegetic elements – the elements that make up the diegesis Nondiegetic elements – the things that we see and hear on the screen but that come from outside the world of the story
Story Consists of all explicitly presented narrative events Consists of all implicit events or those we infer to have happened Backstory – a fictional history behind the situation extant at the start of the main story
Story and Plot
Citizen Kane Screen duration = 1 hour and 59 minutes Plot duration = approx. 1 week Story duration = more than 70 years
Narrative Narrative – a cinematic structure in which the filmmakers arrange story events in a cause-and-effect sequence Narrative film – a movie devoted to conveying fictional or fictionalized stories
Story and Conflict The story is about somebody with whom we have empathy This somebody wants something very badly This something is difficult, but possible to do, get, or achieve The story is told for maximum emotional impact and audience participation - “A good story well told…” The story must come to a satisfactory ending (which doesn’t necessarily mean a happy ending)
The Three Act Structure Think of plot-points as landmarks and not a foundation to be filled in Beginning, Middle, End Set-Up, Conflict, Resolution
3-ACT STRUCTURE
Act 1- SET UP You meet the character Introduce the world Discover the Major Dramatic Question May meet the antagonist May meet some of the supporting cast
Act 2-CONFLICT The character enters a new world The character is now fixed on his/her goal The antagonist is in play The central conflict occurs May be internal or external
ACT 3- RESOLUTION The Major dramatic question is answered The main character achieves or fails to achieve his goal The story comes to a conclusion
Screening Exercise Try to apply the three-act structure to the following short films. What is the “normal” world What is the major dramatic question? What is the inciting incident? What is the climax? Does the story resolve in act 3?