1. Linear vs. Non-Linear Narrative
Jared Peet

2. Linear vs. Non-Linear Narrative
Chronological
Beginning – Middle – End
A causes B causes C
Non-Chronological
Story not told in proper order
No direct causal pattern
Flashbacks don’t count
Example: Saving Private Ryan is told as a chronological flashback

3. Memento Written and directed by Christopher Nolan 2000
Dark Knight movies
2000
Stars Guy Pearce (Leonard), Joe Pantoliano (Teddy) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Natalie)
Academy Award nominations for screenwriting and editing
Distribute Memento Handout

4. Memento
Memento is presented as two different sequences of scenes: a series in black-and-white that is shown chronologically, and a series of color sequences shown in reverse order. The two sequences "meet" at the end of the film, producing one common story

7. Dramatic Unities - Aristotle
The unity of action: a play should have one main action that it follows, with no or few subplots.
The unity of place/space: a play should cover a single physical space and should not attempt to compress geography, nor should the stage represent more than one place.
The unity of time: the action in a play should take place over no more than 24 hours.

8. Non-Linear Narrative: Dramatic Unity
In most films, the actions of a single protagonist pursuing a specific goal provide the basic unity for the story. His goal governs the plot structure. How the character changes as a result of the conflict provides the meaning.
Action plays a fundamental role in organizing the plot of a nonlinear film, but it isn't based in a singly pursued goal that dominates the entire structure of the film. Theme plays the other role by defining the choices of incidents and events to include.
Dramatic unity is achieved by the intersection of two key factors: a controlling theme or idea and a framing action.

9. Citizen Kane Co-written and directed by Orson Welles 1941
Often considered greatest film ever made
Orson Welles (Charles Foster Kane)
First film to intensively use flashbacks and unreliable narrators

10. Citizen Kane
Kane's career in the publishing world is born of idealistic social service, but gradually evolves into a ruthless pursuit of power.
Narrated principally through flashbacks, the story is revealed through the research of a newsreel reporter seeking to solve the mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud".

11. Dramatic Unity in Citizen Kane
Controlling Theme
Framing Action
Impossibility of finding love if you can’t give love
Reporter trying to find meaning behind Kane’s dying word: “Rosebud”
Flashbacks are non-linear, not sequential