1. What makes a movie interesting
Dramatics
What makes a movie interesting
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2. Approaches Three approaches to making a story interesting
Robert Cohen’s GOTE
Aristotle’s six requirements of a tragic drama
Gustav Freytag’s pyramid
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3. Robert Cohen’s GOTE Renowned playwright and critic
Professor at University of California at Irvine
Goal – what do the characters desire?
Obstacle – what prevents the goal?
Tactics – how do they accomplish this?
Expectation – what is the likelihood of success?
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4. Aristotle
Describes in his work Poetics what characteristics should be found in a quality tragedy
Plot
Character
Message
Language
Rhythm
Spectacle
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5. Plot Self contained series of incidents
The situation prior to the action should be believable
Those things that happen should be a consequence of the character and decisions of the actors
What not to do: Deus ex machina
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6. Character
The audience should be able to see the virtue and vice of the main characters
What is in their heart?
What motivates them?
Their character determines how the audience relates to that character
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7. Message The moral of the story
The audience should learn that certain types of action leads to certain types of results
Arrogance leads to problems
Kindness has its rewards
Today’s entertainment often, but not always, lacks this
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8. Language
The vocabulary and sentence structure should be appropriate for the character and situation
The doctor should speak differently than the truck driver
The pace should also reflect the mood of the scene
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9. Rhythm
The dialog has a rhythm less precise than music, but still essential
The meter of the poetry may be warped to heighten effect
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10. Spectacle The effect of set, lighting, props and other effects
A circus is all spectacle
As are many “action” movies
In an Alice program this is proper background for the actors
To the students being able to make anything like this is spectacle enough
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11. Freytag’s Pyramid climax rising action falling action ending
exposition
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12. Disclaimer Not all of these are needed for Alice movies
You are working hard enough without juggling all these aspects
There is no expectation that any Alice movie will demonstrate all these characteristics
Paying attention to some of these will increase the interest level of the audience
Copyright © Curt Hill