Narrative 101

What is Narrative?

• There is a distinct difference between Story and Narrative.– Story is a series of events unfolding– Narrative is the way in which these events and elements

are related to an audience.

• "Story is the irreducible substance of a story (A meets B, something happens, order returns), while narrative is the way the story is related (Once upon a time there

was a princess...)" (Key Concepts in Communication - Fiske et al (1983))

How to shape narrative

• Many constructs are used to shape narrative in film and television:– Story Arcs

• A distinct narrative direction or ‘strand’• These can be interwoven or run in parallel to form multi-strand

narratives• Feature-length films typically have 3 or more strands

– Oppositions / Challenge• Characters / elements have binary oppositions• An objective is set / a quest must be completed

– Story focus• Type of story that will psychologically hold audience interest:

– Human interest– Mysteries

Comprehending devices

• Understanding time in structuring narrative– Devices used to modify the perception of time:

• Flashbacks• Dream Sequences• Repetition• Other Characters’ POV• Flash Forwards• Real-time interludes• Pre-figuring on events that have not yet taken place.

Cause and Effect

• To infer is to speak volumes– Lev Kuleshov (The Kuleshov Effect 1918)

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Established Conventions

• Tzvetan Todorov– Theory of Equilibriums

• A state of equilibrium at the outset• A disruption of this equilibrium by some action• A recognition of this disruption• An attempt to repair the disruption• The reinstatement of a new equilibrium

• Claude Levi-Strauss– Structuralism– Binary oppositions (challenge)

• That human beings try to make sense of their understanding of the world and myth/narrative through oppositions.

• Good being dependant on bad (eg. Batman and the Joker)

Established Conventions

• Vladimir Propp– Character sets

• Narratemes• Elements themselves (as long as they are dutifully considered)

are less important than the way in which they are put across.

• Characters:– The Hero– The Helper– The Villain– The False Hero– The Donor– The Dispatcher– The Princess– The Princess’ Father

Established Conventions

• Vladimir Propp– Functions (Spheres)

• Preparation • Complication• Transference• Struggle• Return• Recognition

Established Conventions

• Roland Barthes– Meaning does not derive from an author’s intention and

structured representation but the readers interpretation.• Audience perspective is paramount.

– Codes• Enigma - mystery builds audience intrigue - solving the enigma

codes in the narrative

– Strings• Strings (or Arcs) can run in parallel, crossover, and to the

extent where if they are many and smaller, it is like a ball of string to be unravelled as a function of narrative.

The Short Film Narrative

• Good methods for creating a successful short film narrative:– Practicalities and Scope

• Keep it simple• Don’t use too many settings, or settings you have little chance of filming in

– Eg. INT. PALATIAL MANSION - DAY• Don’t overcomplicate (1-2 narrative strands at most)• Don’t build in outlandish visual effects that require lots of time to create• Don’t create a huge cast of dozens of characters and extras

– Writing• Be aware of the screen-time limitations, and write accordingly• Don’t build in any redundant content where the audience would be able to infer.

– Refinement• Always get someone else to read your script before you decide it’s final - for

constructive criticism.• Workshop your dialogue with friends, relatives or actors is possible.

Scriptwriting / Screenwriting

Scene

Action

Character Dialogue

Parenthical

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Comments

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Meeting 2 will be…

Camerawork 101