Storytelling in Hollywood

Everyone Has a Story to Tell

How….

Plot Defined Chain of events occurring in time and space that are linked by cause and effect. – Events and actions don’t happen randomly

Basic Plot Map

But Who Says? WHY do stories have to be told in this linear fashion? So DO they HAVE to? Where have you seen films NOT follow the plot map?

Examples Pulp Fiction Memento Sliding Doors 500 Days of Summer Slumdog Millionaire Love Actually

Pulp Fiction – Character Chart

Pulp Fiction - Chronologically

Challenge? Want to tell their story Want to tell it in unique manner Can’t confuse the audience! – Not saying they need to “dumb it down”

Easy to Follow? Classical storytelling may be easy to follow. But….that does not make them SIMPLE or childish!

The Four Stages! Not to be confused with…..

1) The Set-Up Meet characters Get a feel for who they are Establish the “double goal” structure

2) Complicating Action Action goes in a new direction New situation that the protagonist must cope with

3) Development Goals are all in place Many incidents that create action, suspense, and delay

4) Climax and Epilogue Straight forward progress toward a resolution Build steadily toward a point of high action Will protagonist’s goals be achieved or not? Nothing new should be introduced

4 Stages Roughly balanced in terms of time Cause and effect pattern

Summary Plot = series of events through which the story is told. Might be chronological, might not. Films progress through 4 stages. – Set upComplicating action DevelopmentClimax and resolution