Story Mountain Narrative Structure

Before we start On your weebly (after green screen items) put a TITLE: Narrative Theory As we go through the powerpoint you are required to write notes on each section we discuss Start a word document and save it to your MEMORY STICK under the title of ‘Film planning’ Over the next week you will plot a narrative, create ‘realistic’ characters for your production and then bring everything your have learnt from sound to mise-en-scene together in a professional script for your idea You will do this individually. This will form part of your assessment so we can grade and feedback on the skills you have learnt so far on this course.

Basics of Narrative Narrative is made up from a selection of ‘codes’ Technical (mise-en-scene) Symbolic (mise-en-scene) Verbal (we will cover this in ‘character creation’ this week Structure / form (Narrative – what we will cover today)

Technical Codes Verbal Codes Symbolic Codes This refers to all the aspects of narrative construction that involve technical decision making. Therefore anything to do with camera angles and movement, lighting, sound, props. shot framing and composition, design and layout and editing. What do each of the choices made tell you about what is going on - for instance, is a character shot from a high or low angle and how does that make you, the audience, feel about them? How are sound effects used to help you make sense of what is going on? The use of language - written and spoken - and signs contained in graphics. We learn a lot about a narrative from what we are told in this way, but the best narratives show rather than tell, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions. These are the signs contained in the narrative that we decode as being significant and having meaning - for example a ragged coat worn by a character may mean that they are poor and possibly hungry. Think of them as clues that have to be followed, and different viewers/readers will follow clues in different ways.

A narrative is a structure through which films are told Narrative Form A narrative is a structure through which films are told

What is it? Narrative appear in all forms of media from Novels and Plays to TV shows and commercials Narratives are most common in fictional film but can be found in documentaries, Animations and Short Films

Logic behind the Narrative A narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in SPACE and TIME Narratives do NOT unfold randomly but in an ordered series of events connected by the logic of CAUSE and EFFECT This logic of cause and effect ties in CHARACTER TRAITS, GOALS, OBSTICLES and ACTIONS

Narrative Structure

Narrative Structure Exposition – meeting the characters, establishing the setting, setting the tone – establishing the normal of the film world Rising Action – the central conflict is introduced and the tension between the protagonist and the antagonist begins to mount Climax – The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s future. Falling Action – The major action has happened. This is the aftermath . This is the sorting out of the major conflict’s resolution. Dénouement/Resolution – the creation of the new normal. The conflict is resolved

Example of Narrative Structure The Empire Strikes Back begins with the protagonist (hero) Luke Skywalker hiding from the Empire. Story changes that result from conflict and character choice force him into a climactic showdown with antagonist (villian) Darth Vader. Vader triumphs and equilibrium is restored. Though Luke is defeated, he changes by becoming wiser and more humble.

Structure: Todorov Narrative Theory You should have researched this in your UNIT 2 lessons: What is it and why is it important that you know it for this unit?

Tzvetan Todorov Tzvetan Todorov, suggests that all narratives follow a five part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is restored.

Elements of Narrative Structure/ form Diagetic elements are everything that exists in the world that the film depicts – including everything implied off screen: settings, sounds, characters, events. Non-diagetic elements are elements within the film, but not within the film’s world, such as credits, music or voice-over narration. Characters are unaware of these elements. Examples of non-diegetic narrative elements include: The voice-over in The Shawshank Redemption The opening “crawl” of text in Star Wars The printed book pages that designate ‘chapters’ in The Royal Tenenbaums

Why film makers use Non-diagetic elements “Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements for several reasons: they may draw attention to aspects of the narrative from a position outside the story, they communicate with the audience directly, and they engage viewers on an emotional level.” Pramaggiore and Wallis,” Narrative Form”

Task: The rest of this lesson and your next lesson you are required to: INDIVIDUALLY come up with a story You need to have a Todorov’s 5 Part structure in it Set it out with the titles: EQUILIBRIUM; DISRUPTION; REGOGNITION, ATTEMPT TO REPAIR; NEW EQUILIBRIUM We need to ‘meet the main character’ in the equilibrium See the action rise in the disruption Have a turning point in the Recognition Falling of the action / an aftermath in the attempt to repair Resolution in the New Equilibrium We will then look at building your characters to suit your idea.