Narrative Structure

Narrative Structure Chapter 6

Script- (screenplay) furnishes the basic structure of the story and the dramatic action that the filmmakers transform into picture and sound. • The script does not tell the director how to shoot the film! • Narrative is constructed according to the director’s creative vision. • Script may go through many revisions

3 Elements of the Narrative • The narrative exists as an understanding between viewers and filmmakers about how the story should be judged. • Fictive stance-the suspension of disbelief that accompanies a fictional film. • Genre expectation- Often the audience is familiar with the progression of narrative of certain genres.

Viewer’s contribution to the narrative • Suspense- is the technique that depends on giving the viewer information. The viewers are privy to certain information that the character does not know. • Surprise-depends on withholding information, where the audiences is shocked.

3 Elements of the Narrative • A story and plot sequencing events into a particular order that forms a narrative. • Story-designates the larger set of events of which the plot is a subset. • Plot-refers to the sequence of events as shown in a given film Example: Groundhog Day

3 Elements of the Narrative • In some films the plot and the story have little structural distinction: • Hollywood narratives often present narratives in chronological order; linear progression of events. • Causality • Flashbacks can change the sequencing of the story through non-linear progression of plot points.

Anti-narratives- a narrative style that tends, paradoxically toward eliminating linear narrative by employing lots of plot digression, avoiding a clear hierarchy of narrative events and by suppressing the causal connections among events. • Ex: Memento

3 Elements of the Narrative • Authorship and Point-of-View Who is the real author of the film? Real vs. Implied authorship Real authorship- the screenwriter Implied Authorship- the director • Is there a clear distinction?

Point-of-View Literary definition (POV) • “I”= first person • He/She= third person

Point-of-View How is POV displayed in film? • Character literal point of view shown through the use of a subjective shot: • Displays character POV: explicit way EX: sequence shot from Strange Days • Lady of the Lake; completely in first person explicit way; failed at box office main character is never seen!

Point-of-View • The majority of scenes of the narratives use: • Third person (POV)- Camera assumes a point of view that is detached and separate from the literal point of view. • Master Shot • Documentaries or Documentary style • M*A*S*H master then zooms. Few CU’s & SRS series

Point-of-View • Some films signal a shift from third person to first for sections of scenes. • Show character; than cut to a shot of what the character is looking at. • Example: Master shot then close-ups (S-R-S Series)

Classical Hollywood Narrative • Explicit causality- one event causes another the narrative progresses in tight causal relationships. • Events are concluded at the end; usually in a positive manner. (Old Hollywood) • New Hollywood likes “bummer” endings

Narrative Structure