Narrative structure Todrovs theory of narrative structure

Narrative

In media terms, narrative is the coherence/ organisation given to a series of facts.

The human mind needs narrative to make sense of things. We connect events and make interpretations based on those connections.

In everything we seek a begining,a middle and an end to events.

Todorov’s theory of narrative Todorov’s argues that narrative involves a transformation. The characters or the

situations are transformed through the progress of the disruption. Todorov proposed the theory that conventional narrative are structured in five stages.

First stage:A state of equilibrium at the outset- all as it should be/ normal and calm.Second stage:A disruption of the equilibrium- an event or action that changes our ruins the normality and calmness.Third stage: Disequilibrium/ recognition of the disruption- it is established that something is wrong (disorder has accord) an needs to be corrected before the equilibrium can be reinstated.Fourth stage:An attempt to repair the disruption- the characters try to fix or solve the problem in order to regain the equilibrium or to create a new equilibrium.Fifth stage:A reinstatement of the equilibrium or an new equilibrium- reinstatement of the equilibrium is complete or a new one is formed.

Ideas of character and narative Ideas for Characters

Protagonist (main character)- female, popular outgoing teenager 16+ stereotypical young teenaged girl is began to realise she is being stalked.

Antagonist- male, unpopular school teenager has become a victim of bulling, and turns into a psychotic killer

friends of main character- help in the aid of there friend and become a victim or target of the antagonist

Film name ideas

Maniac The unknown Silent killing The happening You’re next Cold prey

Ideas for narrative

Murder Serial killer Bullying- Teenage hierarchy Psychotic behaviour Blood Weapons – knife, bats, sharp objects Dramatic twist Unexpected identity of antagonist house

Target audience and genre Our target audience for our film are male and female 15-

21 as the characters in the movie are in that age region. Also audience can relate to the mind sets of the characters due to similar age groups. The certificate for this movie would be 15.

After collecting ideas from our group members, the genre we will be focusing on is a slasher/ psychological thriller. We concluded that a combination of the excitement of a slasher and the sophistication of psychological movie would be a ideal. We also knew that making a psychological movie would be difficult but combining it with another sun genre would make it an interesting story line.

Equilibrium (stage one)

A normal cozy evening with warm lamp lights lit on the sitting room Whilst the teenage girl is eating her dinner TV starts having interruptions and she gets annoyed and jumps in bed- (close up of TV interruptions and her uneasy facial expressions), (scene showing stairs and opening of her bedroom door- camera would be positioned behind the character making the audience feel they are present.)She feels uneasy and shuts her eyes intensely. (Wide shot of her sleeping on the bed followed by a close up of her eyes intensely shutting.)

Disruption of equilibrium

She has a bad dream of a stalker that has been following her and watching her from the window and suddenly wakes up with sweat. She’s huffing and puffing and the next thing she see’s is the stalkers filthy face with many cuts.

Recognition of disruption As she just suddenly got up from her bed

the stalkers face is right in the girls face (close-up), she screams and screeches and the screen goes black wit utter silence. (This would get the audience thinking what is going to happen next..) After a few seconds she runs out her bed as half her body leans against the cold wooden floor and legs which are grabbed powerfully by the stalkers cold blooded hands.

Attempt to repair disruption She tries to free herself from his hold and runs down to

call the police, but the phone has been disconnected. The windows have been locked and there is no way out to escape. (Thereafter you can only see the stalkers legs heavily walking towards her.)

She feels the stalkers presence being behind her and she slowly turns her head around. She screams and screams and fails to escape and gets brutally murdered.

Screen goes black and all you can hear is the screaming, non-digetic sounds off knife stabbing and splattered blood. The scene finishes off with non-digetic sound of the stalkers heavy boots walking away.

Reinstatement of equilibrium As the parents return home from their

holiday they find the daughter’s severed body which reeks of rotten flesh. The police sirens go off and the whole neighborhood is terrified by this event. (Close up of sirens and parents emotions.) (BIV of the dead body.)

Twist/Ending

This whole event happen again with another girl however it starts off with a door knock and as she opens the door there is nobody to be seen outside.

THE END

SCREEN GOES BLACK!

Music

Slow normal music will be used to represent the equilibrium.

The pace is increase to show the disruption.

Heavy loud and upbeat music is played to represent the attempt to repair and reinstate the equilibrium

The pace decreases to show signs of a new equilibrium