Storytelling in Hollywood

Storytelling in Hollywood

Everyone Has a Story to Tell

How….

Plot Defined • Chain of events occurring in time and space that are linked by cause and effect. • Events and actions don’t happen randomly

Basic Plot Map

But Who Says? • WHY do stories have to be told in this linear fashion? • So DO they HAVE to? • Where have you seen films NOT follow the plot map?

Examples • Pulp Fiction • Memento • Sliding Doors • 500 Days of Summer • Slumdog Millionaire • Love Actually

Pulp Fiction – Character Chart

Pulp Fiction - Chronologically

Challenge? • Want to tell their story • Want to tell it in unique manner • Can’t confuse the audience! • Not saying they need to “dumb it down”

Easy to Follow? • Classical storytelling may be easy to follow. • But….that does not make them SIMPLE or childish!

The Four Stages! • Not to be confused with…..

1) The Set-Up • Meet characters • Get a feel for who they are • Establish the “double goal” structure

2) Complicating Action • Action goes in a new direction • New situation that the protagonist must cope with

3) Development • Goals are all in place • Many incidents that create action, suspense, and delay

4) Climax and Epilogue • Straight forward progress toward a resolution • Build steadily toward a point of high action • Will protagonist’s goals be achieved or not? • Nothing new should be introduced

4 Stages • Roughly balanced in terms of time • Cause and effect pattern

Summary • Plot = series of events through which the story is told. • Might be chronological, might not. • Films progress through 4 stages. • Set up Complicating action Development Climax and resolution

Storytelling in Hollywood