narrative structure in film-LECTURES.ppt

ARTS

1. NARRATIVE NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE IN STRUCTURE IN
FILMFILM
How Films Tell storiesHow Films Tell stories
To identify key narrative techniques To identify key narrative techniques

2. WHAT IS NARRATIVE FORM?WHAT IS NARRATIVE FORM?
•Narrative form Narrative form is the structure is the structure
though which movies tell stories.though which movies tell stories.
•When we speak of ‘going to the When we speak of ‘going to the
movies,’ we almost always mean movies,’ we almost always mean
that we are going to see a that we are going to see a
narrative film – a film that tells a narrative film – a film that tells a
story.story.

3. 3
•Narratives appear throughout media and society – in novels, Narratives appear throughout media and society – in novels,
plays, comic books, television shows and even commercials.plays, comic books, television shows and even commercials.
•Narratives are most common in fiction film, but appear in all Narratives are most common in fiction film, but appear in all
basic types of filmbasic types of film
Narratives are EverywhereNarratives are Everywhere

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•A narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in A narrative is an account of a string of events occurring in
spacespace and and timetime..
•Narratives do not unfold randomly, but rather as an ordered Narratives do not unfold randomly, but rather as an ordered
series of events connected by the logic of series of events connected by the logic of cause and effectcause and effect..
•This logic of cause and effect ties together This logic of cause and effect ties together character traitscharacter traits, ,
goalsgoals, , obstaclesobstacles and and actionsactions. .
Events Occur in Space and TimeEvents Occur in Space and Time

5. In Groups:
Think of a film you all know: write out all the
key events (around 10)

6. The Narrative Structure

7. The Narrative Structure
•Set Up/Exposition – meeting the characters, establishing the setting,
setting the tone – establishing the normal of the film world
•Rising Action – the central conflict is introduced and the tension
between the protagonist and the antagonist begins to mount, many
events will happen and the stakes get higher
•Climax – The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for
the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s future.
•Falling Action – The major action has happened. This is the
aftermath . This is the sorting out of the major conflict’s resolution.
•Dénouement/Resolution – the creation of the new normal. The
conflict is resolved

8. The Narrative Structure

9. Your Turn
Draw a graph of the action in your chosen film and see if it follows the path

10. TZVETAN TODOROVTZVETAN TODOROV

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•Typically a narrative begins with one situation (Exposition).Typically a narrative begins with one situation (Exposition).
•A series of changes occurs according to a pattern of cause and A series of changes occurs according to a pattern of cause and
effect.effect.
•Finally a new situation arises – through character choice and Finally a new situation arises – through character choice and
conflict – that restores equilibrium to the world of the story and conflict – that restores equilibrium to the world of the story and
brings about the end of the narrative.brings about the end of the narrative.
•The new story equilibrium almost always results in character The new story equilibrium almost always results in character
changechange. .
How Narrative UnfoldsHow Narrative Unfolds

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1.1.The Star Wars films The Star Wars films begin with the begin with the protagonist (hero) protagonist (hero) Luke Skywalker Luke Skywalker
hiding from the Empire.hiding from the Empire.
2.2.The Empire find and kill his familyThe Empire find and kill his family
3.3.Luke Skywalker realises that he must stand up to the Empire.Luke Skywalker realises that he must stand up to the Empire.
4.4.Story changes that result from conflict and character choice force him into Story changes that result from conflict and character choice force him into
a climactic showdown with a climactic showdown with antagonistantagonist (villain)(villain) Darth Vader and the Darth Vader and the
Emperor. Emperor.
5.5.Skywalker, Vader and the rebels triumphs and equilibrium is restored.Skywalker, Vader and the rebels triumphs and equilibrium is restored.
6.6.Though Luke loses his father, he changes by becoming wiser and more Though Luke loses his father, he changes by becoming wiser and more
humble, he is a very different man by the endhumble, he is a very different man by the end
ExampleExample

13. CHARACTERCHARACTER
•Narrative films generally focus on human characters and Narrative films generally focus on human characters and
their struggles.their struggles.
•Characters are typically responsible for cause and effect in Characters are typically responsible for cause and effect in
narrative.narrative.

14. CHARACTERSCHARACTERS
•Think of some of your favourite filmsThink of some of your favourite films
•Who would you describe as ‘flat’ charactersWho would you describe as ‘flat’ characters
•Who would you describe as ‘rounded’ charactersWho would you describe as ‘rounded’ characters
•So what do we mean by these words?So what do we mean by these words?
Film Flat Round

15. CHARACTERSCHARACTERS
•Storytellers use different types of characters Storytellers use different types of characters
to tell their storiesto tell their stories
•FlatFlat: minor characters who do not go through : minor characters who do not go through
any substantial change throughout the story or any substantial change throughout the story or
have much substance to them (think stereotypes)have much substance to them (think stereotypes)
•Round: Round: More fully developed characters who More fully developed characters who
may experience a change during the storymay experience a change during the story

16. DEVELOPING CHARACTERSDEVELOPING CHARACTERS
How do writers develop How do writers develop round, dynamic round, dynamic characters?characters?
Through conversations with other charactersThrough conversations with other characters
Through group associationsThrough group associations
Through direct description of that characterThrough direct description of that character
Through reactions to Through reactions to conflictconflict

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CHARACTER TRAITSCHARACTER TRAITS
•Traits Traits are attitudes, skills, habits, tastes, are attitudes, skills, habits, tastes,
psychological drives and any other qualities that psychological drives and any other qualities that
distinguish a character. distinguish a character.
•Traits in opening scenes are relevant to later Traits in opening scenes are relevant to later
scenes; this is related to cause and effect.scenes; this is related to cause and effect.

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EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
•In In The Empire Strikes BackThe Empire Strikes Back, Luke’s character traits are , Luke’s character traits are
introduced early on and pay off in later scenes. introduced early on and pay off in later scenes.
•They include his knowledge of the Force, his survival They include his knowledge of the Force, his survival
skills, his ability with a light saber, and his skills, his ability with a light saber, and his
impetuousness. impetuousness.

19. CHARACTER TRAITSCHARACTER TRAITS
•Think of the rounded characters you came up with Think of the rounded characters you came up with
before.before.
•What character traits did they have and how did What character traits did they have and how did
these traits ‘pay off’ later in the film.these traits ‘pay off’ later in the film.

20. CHARACTER: GOALS AND OBSTACLESCHARACTER: GOALS AND OBSTACLES
•Goals might include locating treasure, choosing a Goals might include locating treasure, choosing a
foster parent or looking for love.foster parent or looking for love.
•Characters encounter Characters encounter obstaclesobstacles in pursuing these in pursuing these
goals – the collision of goals and obstacles create goals – the collision of goals and obstacles create
conflict and thus drama.conflict and thus drama.

21. CHARACTER: CHOICESCHARACTER: CHOICES
•Characters create cause and effect through Characters create cause and effect through choices choices
that lead to conflict and consequences. that lead to conflict and consequences.
•These patterns are designed so that the viewer clearly These patterns are designed so that the viewer clearly
sees and understands them.sees and understands them.
•Characters posses traits, face conflicts, make choices Characters posses traits, face conflicts, make choices
and undergo changes that enable or hinder pursuit of and undergo changes that enable or hinder pursuit of
a specific a specific goalgoal..

22. CHARACTERS – GOALS, CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHOICES, OBSTACLE CHOICES, OBSTACLE

23. CHARACTERS – GOALS, CHARACTERS – GOALS,
CHOICES, OBSTACLE CHOICES, OBSTACLE
•What goals and obstacles did your characters face?What goals and obstacles did your characters face?

24. CONFLICT – CENTRAL TO ANY NARRATIVECONFLICT – CENTRAL TO ANY NARRATIVE
Relational Conflict - This is conflict between characters
over goals and how to achieve goals.
Inner Conflict - This is conflict within a character. It could
be concerned with their self esteem, insecurities or
uncertainties.
Societal – This is conflict between a person and a group.
This group could be a government, a gang, family, the army,
or a country for example.
Situational – This is conflict that develops as a result of a
situation. Disaster films use this style of conflict a lot.
Cosmic – This is conflict between the main character and a
supernatural force e.g. God or a universal Good vs Evil idea.

25. CONFLICT CONFLICT
Relational Conflict

Inner Conflict
Societal
Situational

Cosmic

26. CONFLICT CONFLICT
•Choose one character/ film you have been Choose one character/ film you have been
working on and make a list of all the conflict working on and make a list of all the conflict
they have been involved in.they have been involved in.

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DIEGETIC VS. NONDIEGETIC ELEMENTSDIEGETIC VS. NONDIEGETIC ELEMENTS
•DiegeticDiegetic elements are everything that exists in the world that elements are everything that exists in the world that
the film depicts – including everything implied off-screen: the film depicts – including everything implied off-screen:
settings, sounds, characters, events.settings, sounds, characters, events.
•NondiegeticNondiegetic elements are elements within the film, but not elements are elements within the film, but not
within the film’s world, such as credits, music or voice-over within the film’s world, such as credits, music or voice-over
narration.narration.
•Characters are unaware of these elements.Characters are unaware of these elements.
•A director can use nondiegetic elements to suggest narrativeA director can use nondiegetic elements to suggest narrative

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““Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements for several Filmmakers use non-diegetic elements for several
reasons: they may draw attention to aspects of the reasons: they may draw attention to aspects of the
narrative from a position outside the story, they narrative from a position outside the story, they
communicate with the audience directly, and they communicate with the audience directly, and they
engage viewers on an emotional level.”engage viewers on an emotional level.”
•Pramaggiore and Wallis,” Narrative Form”Pramaggiore and Wallis,” Narrative Form”

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EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
•Examples of non-diegetic narrative elements Examples of non-diegetic narrative elements
include:include:
•The voice-over in The voice-over in The Shawshank Redemption
•The opening “crawl” of text in The opening “crawl” of text in Star Wars
•The opening credits of The opening credits of Seven