Film and Literature Projects II

PLOT ELEMENTS The plot of a story is the total of all of the events – beginning, middle & end - that impact the characters. A basic plot outline would include the following: Plot element Description Exposition Background details: characters, setting Conflict The problem faced by the characters (esp. protagonist vs antagonist) Rising action Tense situations faced by characters Climax The peak of action; the most tense moment Falling action What happens immediately after the climax Resolution End of story; change exhibited in characters

BASIC PLOT STRUCTURE Climax: peak of action Falling action: what happens after climax Rising Action: tense situation(s) Exposition – Background Details Resolution – see a change in characters Conflict: problem faced by characters (esp. protagonist vs antagonist)

Map the plot for another book or movie: Lord of the Rings Climax: Gollum & hobbit struggle over Ring. Eventually Gollum & Ring fall into volcano & are destroyed. Falling action: Sauron destroyed, along with his kingdom. Fellowship reunited and world is saved. Rising action: Fight, fight, fight!!! Orcs! Evil wizard!!! Exposition: Hobbits & wizard & others form Fellowship & go on quest to destroy Ring of Power Resolution: Everyone returns home, though others hardly aware anything has happened. Conflict: Villain Sauron & his armies want to kill Fellowship and seize Ring. Ring’s former owner Gollum wants it back too.

THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD A storyboard is one way of mapping the plot of a story Work with a partner to make a storyboard to map key events in The Great Gatsby. Exposition, Conflict, Rising action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution

ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD (Optional assignment) Assignment #2 is an optional assignment – create a storyboard of a well-known story (book or movie) Assignments in Film & Lit are worth 15% of overall grade. If you choose to do Assignment 2, grading will be 5 – 5 – 5 for assignments (2 essays & storyboard) If you choose not to do Assignment 2, grading will be 7.5 – 7.5 for assignments (2 essays)

ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD (Optional assignment) For Assignment #2… Create a six-panel storyboard Work alone or with a partner Choose a story familiar to most readers Include the plot elements discussed in class Illustrated & captioned Feel free to exercise creativity in your project Can do a simple panel layout like the in-class practice or something else DUE DATE: 14 May (Tue) Grading (5pts overall) based on… Plot elements Accuracy of plot elements Contents Several sentences in captions to explain each scene & its importance Illustrations A detailed & understandable illustration for each element Grammar/mechanics Captions well written Layout Attractive design; engages the reader in terms of layout & neatness

ASSIGNMENT #3 Must read one (1) story in full-length original For Assignment #3: Write a 500-600 word essay on the topic given for the novel you’ve chosen (must be one we studied) Work individually Use correct essay structure: Clear thesis statement that answers the question Body paragraphs that develop different aspects of your answer Include between 3-4 brief quotations (~1-2 sentences long) from the original novel to support your ideas No block (long) quotations Proper essay format (spacing, font, personal info, etc.) DUE DATE: 11 June (Tue) Grading (5pts overall) based on… Relevance of answer to the question How thoroughly the question is answered Organization & logic of paper Integration of evidence from the story (brief quotes included & explained) Writing mechanics & formatting *Visit the blog later for topic questions. I will also upload all of the remaining PDFs of original stories

FINAL EXAM PROJECT For the final exam in Film & Literature, you are required to do a group-level ‘performance’ of some type Two (2) options: Create & screen a short (~10 min) film based on a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept Create & perform a short (~10 min) dramatic ‘table read’ version of a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept DUE DATE: June 13-20 (last 3 classes of semester)

FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #1: SHORT FILM (20 pts overall) Create a ~10-minute short film based on a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept. Criteria for the film are: Appropriate for classroom viewing In the range of 8-12 minutes Include a ‘title card’ (credits) The project will be done in stages Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual roles/responsibilities (May 21 Tue) Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your film (6 panels – A4 paper) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (May 30 Thu) Stage 3: Screen your film in class between June 13-20 Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of film, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) –consider self-evaluation For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #2: TABLE READ (20 pts overall) Create a 10-minute dramatic table-read based on a short story. a scene from a novel, or an original concept. Criteria for the table read are: Appropriate for classroom viewing In the range of 8-12 minutes Include credits in PPT form, or spoken by narrator The project will be done in stages Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual roles/responsibilities (May 21 Tue) Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your presentation (6 panels – A4 paper) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (May 30 Thu) Stage 3: Present your table-read in class between June 13-20 Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of presentation, fulfillment of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) – consider self-evaluation For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

WRAP-UP Select a Lit Circle role from the following: Summarizer Discussion Director Word Master Connector Culture Collector Read stories in the section titled “Feathers from a Thousand Miles Away” in The Joy Luck Club Journal according to your Lit Circle role