1 Lecture 2: Structuring Time Professor Daniel Cutrara Memento (2000) Jonathan Nolan (short story) Christopher Nolan (screenplay)

Previous Lesson Introduction Story Analysis Plot 2

This Lesson Structure Memento and structuring time Assignments 3

4 Structure Lesson 2: Part I Traingng Day (2001) Written by David Ayre

Beginning, Middle, End According to Aristotle: –A whole is that which has a beginning, a middle, and an end. A beginning is that which does not itself follow anything by causal necessity, but after which something naturally is or comes to be. An end, on the contrary, is that which itself naturally follows some other thing, either by necessity, or as a rule, but has nothing following it. A middle is that which follows something as some other thing follows it. A well constructed plot, therefore, must neither begin nor end at haphazard, but conform to these principles. (The Poetics, Aristotle 350 B.C.E.) 55

Division into Three Acts –Use of Jargon –Syd Field, Laura Seger, Chris Vogler, Robert Mckee Standard Script Length –Page per minute 66

The Hero’s Journey Chris Vogler/Joseph Campbell Mythology Archetypes Application to story –Disney, et. al. 7

Act Structure The Three Acts –Act One (approximately 30 pages) –Act Two (approximately 60 pages) –Act Three (approximately pages) Alternatives to Three Acts –Multiple acts –Non-linear 88

Act One Introducing the Story –Character and The Problem –The World and The Theme The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2002) 9

Act One (Cont’d) The Jargon –The Setup/Ordinary World –Inciting Incident –Turning Point/Plot Point/Act Break 10

Act Two Structures vary, however, tension rises Sequences Garfinkel’s breakdown IIA Midpoint IIB Plot Point 2/Second Turning Point –Second Act Climax –Second Act Break 11

Act Two Conflict Rising Action Complications and Reversals The Special World of the Hero’s Journey Values at stake Character Arc 12

Act Three Crisis –Character dilemma Climax –Irreversible –Filled with meaning –Showdown –Appropriate to genre Batman and the Joker The Dark Knight (2008) 13

Act Three (Cont’d) Resolution –Show effects of climax –Tie off subplots –Slow Curtain –Can set up sequel Freddy Krueger 14

Other Concerns Nonlinear –Pulp Fiction, Memento, Donnie Darko Episodic –Discreet sequences –Characters don’t return even if protagonist is effected. 15

Structure, Plot, Character Although Aristotle saw plot as more important than character, Robert McKee suggests that in good storytelling plot flows out of character. 16 Aristotle (384 BCE- 322 BCE) 16

17 Memento and Structure Lesson 2: Part II Memento 17

The Origin Memento Mori –A Short Story by Jonathan Nolan –His brother, Christopher Nolan, an independent film writer/director, developed the script –Memento Mori becomes backstory for the film Memento (2000). 18

Memento - Genre What Genre is this film? –Psychological Thriller –Revenge plot –Film Noir –Mystery 19 Memento 19

Memento- Antecedents Betrayal- Harold Pinter’s stage play adapted into a film traces an adulterous affair that begins at the end and goes backward in time to show the stages of the relationship, the final surprise being how it began. 20

Memento - Concept Short term memory loss Search for wife’s murderer 21

Memento - Structure Structure should fit the story. The Structure in Memento creates a subjective experience for the audience similar to the experience of the protagonist. This supports sympathy and identification by the audience. 22

Memento – Three Acts Act One –Set up/The Ordinary World Memory loss, urban environment –The Main Characters Leonard, Teddy, Natalie –Leonard’s Problem Did he kill the right guy? 23

The Beginning Pause the lecture and watch the first clip from Memento. –How does the opening shot function in terms of the rest of the film? –What storylines are introduced at the beginning? –What problem is introduced? 24

Act Two Conflict –Mystery- did he kill the right guy? –How are Teddy and Natalie involved? –Who is being used? Midpoint (complications) –Dodd –his wife Act Break –Natalie’s betrayal 25

The Second Plot Point Pause the lecture and view the second clip from Memento. –How does this scene with Natalie function to shift the viewer from act two to act three? 26

Act Three The End of Sammy’s story –B&W connects up with Color Climax –Teddy reveals the truth about Sammy Jankis and Leonard 27

The Climax Pause the lecture and view the third clip from Memento. –How does this scene provide a climax for the film? –What does it do to set up the resolution? 28

Resolution Leonard chooses not to accept the truth –Leonard targets Teddy Mixed motivation- Teddy used him, now he’ll use Teddy. He needs a purpose. And he needs to be able to deny his involvement with his wife’s death. 29

Storylines and Subplots Leonard’s pursuit of John G. –Teddy, Natalie (both play with his memories) Leonard’s wife –Gives dimension, motivation, sympathy, clue to the truth Sammy Jankis –Backstory, the truth 30

Leonard’s Wife Importance of the Storyline –Humanize –Motivate –Complicate –foreshadow 31

His Wife The last memory he formed –in bed when he awakens to burglars His ritual of remembering and forgetting –how many times Connection to Natalie –Natalie’s relationship to his wife Memories that undermine his “truth.” 32

Sammy Jankis Form- B&W –Told in normal chronology –The week before main narrative (2 rooms) –Ties back at the end 33

Who is Sammy Jankis? Importance of Sammy’s story –Entrance into Leonard’s character. –What we learn about Leonard is layered. –Leonard as Sammy. –What can we know that is real? 34

Theme “How can I heal if I can’t feel time?” Memory vs The Facts –Meaning –purpose 35

The Wrap Up Structuring Time Beginning, Middle, End A character’s journey 36

37Assignments Lesson 2: Part III Memento

38 E-Board Post #1 Approximately 200 words. Do a structure critique of one of your favorite films. Comment on two of your peers. 38

End of Lecture 2 End of Lecture 2 Next Lecture: Arcing Characters 39