VV 301 FILM STUDIES STORY ANALYSIS. Prepared by: WAN FARHANAH BINTI WAN ISMAIL (PTSS, 2012)

Transcription

1 VV 301 FILM STUDIES STORY ANALYSIS Prepared by: WAN FARHANAH BINTI WAN ISMAIL (PTSS, 2012)

2 STORY ANALYSIS Every good story is made up of different elements. But these elements will not ensure the story will turn out to be good, unless they were nicely meshed up together. It s not easy to create a good story, because usually it requires a lot of natural talent, but sometimes it can be achieved by using good skills and deep understanding about the elements.

3 STORY ELEMENTS These are the elements to compose a good storyline: a. Plot b. Theme c. Premise d. Setting

4 THE ELEMENTS - PLOT Plot the series of events and relationships forming the basis of a composition. Plot can also be described as the events that make up a story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a sequence, through cause and effect, or by coincidence.

5 THE ELEMENTS - PLOT There are 6 phases in the plot line: exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution. source

6 THE ELEMENTS - THEME Theme - The theme is a major idea in a story, or a message conveyed by a work. It is usually about life, society or human nature. Example of a theme: The mystery of death, the political situation of a post-war countries, the climate change of nature. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Themes arise from the plot of the story, the characters and the writer's style.

7 THE ELEMENTS - PREMISE Premise a fundamental concept that drives the plot. It is the central idea, an intriguing set-up or a situation that makes people want to read or watch further. The premise should be the driving force behind every event in the screenplay. A good premise is derived from emotions; love, hate, fear, jealousy, desire, etc.; and revolves around a character, a conflict and a conclusion.

8 THE ELEMENTS - PREMISE Examples of a premise: Titanic - Love conquers all, physically and spiritually The Silence of the Lambs Courage destroys evil

9 THE ELEMENTS - SETTING Setting - the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. In other words, setting includes the time (time In other words, setting includes the time (time period) and place in which the film's story occurs, including all of the other additional factors, including climate (season), landscape, people, social structures and economic factors, customs, moral attitudes, and codes of people s behavior.

10 CHARACTER Character is people that act in a story. Character is used as one of a medium to convey the story besides the situation, theme and background. We can exploit the story by the character's belief, physical need, physical capabilities, relationship, personality, background and behavior.

11 CHARACTER TYPES There are several types of character that plays the role in any screenplay: a. Protagonist b. Antagonist c. Hero d. Villain e. Sidekick f. Guardian

12 PROTAGONIST Protagonist - the lead or main character (the focal figure) in a screenplay in which the narrative's plot revolve. Neo (The Matrix) Jake Sully (Avatar) Bella Swan (Twilight)

13 ANTAGONIST Antagonist - a person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters. Darth Vader (Star Wars) Voldemort (Harry Potter) Sauron (The Lord of The Rings)

14 HERO Hero - a main character which possess great strength and courage to face danger and difficulty, sacrifice himself to serve greater good to all humanity. Peter Parker (Spiderman) Harry Potter Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)

15 VILLAIN Villain a bad or evil character who involves in wickedness or crime and typically tends to have negative effects on other characters especially to the hero. Magneto (X-Men) Joker (Batman)

16 SIDEKICK Sidekick - a close companion who is regarded as a subsidiary and an alternate point in terms of skills, knowledge or anything else that hero doesn t have. Hermione & Ron (Harry Potter) Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings)

17 GUARDIAN Guardian a caretaker or advisor to the characters especially to the hero. Professor Dumbledore (Harry Potter) Dr. Carlisle & Esme Cullen (Twilight) Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)

18 CONFLICTS Referring to the PLOT LINE that is stated earlier, there is Conflict that cause a storyline. What is a Conflict? Conflict A serious disagreement or argument, typically a prolonged one. In other words, conflict can also be described as a complication in a plot event that confounds or tightens the tension of a film.

19 TYPES OF CONFLICTS Conflicts can be divided into three categories: Personal Social Environment

20 PERSONAL CONFLICTS Interpersonal Conflicts - an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who see incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from the other party in achieving their goals. Intrapersonal Conflicts a struggle within her/himself.

21 PERSONAL CONFLICTS Example of Interpersonal Conflicts: Allie and Noah who were misunderstood to each other for 7 years before happily married together. (The Notebook, 2004)

22 PERSONAL CONFLICTS Example of Intrapersonal Conflicts: Frodo is torn between the quest to destroy the Ring to Mordor, or to hold back and live peacefully in the Shire. (The Lord of The Rings)

23 SOCIAL CONFLICTS Social Conflicts - is the struggle for agency or power in society. It occurs when two or more actors oppose each other in social interaction, commonly using social power in an effort to attain rare or incompatible goals and prevent the opponent from accomplishing them.

24 SOCIAL CONFLICTS Example: The conflicts of naming the King of Gondor because of the fights amongst the heirs. The King throne finally goes to Aragorn son of Arathorn. (The Lord of the Ring The Return of King) The Return of The King movie poster

25 ENVIRONMENT CONFLICTS Environmental Conflicts a complication between human and the nature/environmental issues; such as pollution, energy, chemicals, food; and it s impact to the economic cycle and human lifestyle. Example : the conflicts of Jake Sully in saving the land Example : the conflicts of Jake Sully in saving the land of Na vi in Pandora. (Avatar)

26 EXPOSITION Exposition the conveyance (usually by dialogue or action) of important background information for the events of a story. In other words, it is also the set up of a film's In other words, it is also the set up of a film's story, including what's at stake for the characters, the initial problem, and other main problems.

27 EXPOSITION Example: the introductory of the characters, the background or places he lives in, the history behind his roots, etc. Frodo and The Shire

28 CRISIS Crisis A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger where a difficult or important decision must be made. In other words, crisis is the point at which events In other words, crisis is the point at which events reach their highest level of tension in a story or a screenplay.

29 CRISIS Example: The Cullens family protecting Bella from James and his clans after he smelled the scent of Bella s blood in the field.