1. Scriptwriting Prof Oakes
PLOT 1
Scriptwriting
Prof Oakes

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Story and Plot

7. Citizen Kane Screen duration = 1 hour and 59 minutes
Plot duration = approx. 1 week
Story duration = more than 70 years

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 3-ACT STRUCTURE

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?