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Analyzing film techniques
Analyzing film techniques
Analyzing film techniques
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Structure in any form of narrative is vital, whether it be in films, books, theatre, etc. It is a frame
for a story to work within. While there is a traditional method and formula to structuring a film
narrative, filmmakers all over the world have experimented with breaking the norm and trying
new ways to structure a film. It tested the viewer’s notion of what structure is and how a
narrative can be told. It was also new and something that audiences were not used to. Even now,
a film that moves too far away from the traditional three-act-structure, is highly experimental and
usually only seen in independent or student films.
In this essay I will look at the film “Slacker” (Linklater, 1991) and see how they structured the
narrative and compare and contrast it to three-act structure used by most films. I will also explore
how I, as editor, will structure our group’s experimental project.
In his book titled “Me and You and Memento and Fargo”, Murphy (2007:241) notes that the film
“Slacker” does not have a three act structure. “…the characters in Slacker never reconnect, there
are no major turning points along the way to provide complications in a larger plot or to divide
the film into separate acts.” At first look, this film is without structure. It feels random and as if it
was not even scripted. The story moves seemingly from one character to the next, creating
questions without giving answers and never shows the audience that character again.
Although the director Richard Linklater did allow for a lot of improvisation from the actors, it
was scripted and they did have a structure that was based on character. (Murphy, 2007:239)
While there are a few events in “Slacker”, most of the film is centered...
... middle of paper ...
...l relevance and weight to the story. It
serves to explain why the character is acting in the way that he does. “These memories intrude
anguish, and…propose that extreme lives are propelled by extreme trauma…the effect of
repressed personal history on present behavior.” (Rabiger, 2008:184)
Conclusion
It is important comparing these narrative structures as no good story is without it. Before one can
experiment with how the story is told one must know what the conventions and rules of
storytelling is. To break the rules of structure, we must first know what they are.
Works Cited
Field, S. 2005. Screenplay. Revised ed. New York: Bantam Dell
McKee, R. 1997. Story. New York: HarperCollins
Murphy, J.J. 2007. Me and You and Memento and Fargo. New York: Continuum.
Rabiger, M. 2008. Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics. Fourth Ed. New York: Focal
Press
November 1998, written for FILM 220: Aspects of Criticism. This is a 24-week course for second-year students, examining methods of critical analysis, interpretation and evaluation. The final assignment was simply to write a 1000-word critical essay on a film seen in class during the final six-weeks of the course. Students were expected to draw on concepts they had studied over the length of the course.
First and perhaps most essential to any story is the plot. The plot is defined as,
Classical Hollywood Cinema is a chain of events that has a cause – effect relationship within a time and space. The environment looks realistic and believable to the viewers because the style is predictable, and the time is linear throughout the film. Each scene with the development of the plot and story is motivated by cause and effect. The filmmaking process involves four major steps that cut across the board. The process revolves around these levels that make it orderly to every individual involved in filming. The process has the following stages: Idea and Development, Pre-Production, Production and Post- Production. In Idea and Development it is normally
characters engage in, it becomes a challenge to keep up with the motives and truthful
...movie. The other characters in this movie also did well in portraying themselves as panicked by the killings that were going on in the movie.
...g and appreciation of qualities of characters, and hence, a deeper understanding of underlying motives and psyche. Intricate and methodical characterization is crucial to grasp the full meaning of a narrative.
As you can see, the actions and events in the story were very dramatic and probably a little fake.
According to historians like Neil Burch, the primitive period of the film industry, at the turn of the 20th century was making films that appealed to their audiences due to the simple story. A non-fiction narrative, single shots a burgeoning sense
As an audience, we become involved in the plot not through learning about characters’ backgrounds and traits. Instead, we learn information at the same time through the mechanics of the plot and editing. We are made to work to understand the workings of the plot. As we watch the film unfold, the editing takes the along for the ride rather than watching from a distance. the audience and characters sweat together as surprises arise in the well-thought out plan and the way the movie ...
Think about your favorite movie. When watching that movie, was there anything about the style of the movie that makes it your favorite? Have you ever thought about why that movie is just so darn good? The answer is because of the the Auteur. An Auteur is the artists behind the movie. They have and individual style and control over all elements of production, which make their movies exclusively unique. If you could put a finger on who the director of a movie is without even seeing the whole film, then the person that made the movie is most likely an auteur director. They have a unique stamp on each of their movies. This essay will be covering Martin Scorsese, you will soon find out that he is one of the best auteur directors in the film industry. This paper will include, but is not limited to two of his movies, Good Fellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street. We will also cover the details on what makes Martin Scorsese's movies unique, such as the common themes, recurring motifs, and filming practices found in their work. Then on
Neal, Pete, ed. "The Elements of Plot Development." Annenberg Learner. Annenberg Foundation, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2014. .
A set of practices concerning the narrative structure compose the classical Hollywood Paradigm. These conventions create a plot centering around a character who undergoes a journey in an attempt to achieve some type of goal (). By giving the central character more time on screen, the film helps the audience to not only understand the character’s motivation but also empathize with his/her emotional state. Additionally, some antagonistic force creates conflict with the main character, preventing immediate success(). Finally, after confronting the antagonist, the main character achieves his or her goal along with growing emotionally(). This proven structure creates a linear and relatively easily followed series of events encompassing the leading character and a goal.
...verything around us is made by our actions. Positive or negative they cause an effect that will ultimately lead to a different story base on how we interpret life. Narrative elements are used as a bridge by the directors in their film to create any master plot that is currently known. Any modification at any narrative element used by the director at important moments inside the story can help you portray a different master plot. This used of narrative elements can be best described as an ever changing process that takes place inside an individual’s head. Depending on the individual that may be exposed to those narrative elements can create different meanings. This new interpretation can be different for everyone. We have to be aware that one change in the surface scenery can lead to many ideal outcomes in our minds and that is the main power the audience has.
'The Screenwriter's Bible' by David Trottier offers a good insight in script writing and story structure. It deals with the basic elements of a typical screenplay, and explains what it actually is that an audience craves. Many of the principles can and should be applied to any story whether a screenplay, theatric play, novel or short story.
1800’s. Therefore the story is more open for the mind and it is more pleasing.