Narrative

How does a film tell a story?


Story can be split in two ways: Story and Plot


Story = everything that happens
Plot = what filmmaker chooses to show you


e.g. in BOTSW, it could start at Hushpuppy's birth


Basic storytelling tools:


7 Story Types
Monster attacks, hero steps forward with a side kick + helper
A hero is doubtful of abilities and rejects destiny, then embraces goal and becomes hero
Flawed character meets woman of dreams, overcomes flaw and becomes a better person, fall out and separate before reuniting at end
etc.


Conventional Narrative
Narrative has cause and effect with an overall trajectory of enigma resolution
NCFOM doesn't have linearity - Anton taken out by accident etc.
The trajectory is what the plot is aimed for
Enigma resolution is fixing a problem


Most narratives focus on a goal driven main character
Character has goal they need to complete - a quest
Usually a time limit to complete the goal


This narrative is based on a series of cause and effect events


Syd Field's 3 Act Structure
Act 1: Set up - usually first 1/4, learn about world, incident that disrupts normality
Plot point one - an event takes the plot in a new direction and ends Act 1 Anton killing two associates


Act 2: Confrontation - usually next 2 1/4s, hero undergoes development, improves skills or awareness
Plot point two - ends with another major plot point, sets up Ac 3, Llewellyn dying


Act 3: Resolution - usually last 1/4 films climax


When in Active spectatorship, narrative isn't clear, so the plot points can vary depending on perspective i.e. BOTSW a plot point 1 could be Wink in hospital gown or the flood


Claude Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposites
All narratives about binary opposites

Good vs. Evil, Man vs. Machine, Man vs. Nature, Civilization vs. Wild, Loyalty vs. Betrayal
Useful for identifying themes, which effects audience therefore spectatorship
The type of spectator you are governs with binary oppositions + themes you see
Blade Runner: Slavery vs. Freedom, Man vs. Machine, Duty vs. Morality, Man vs. God/Father vs. Son
Vertigo: Perception vs. Reality, Money vs. Morality, Man vs. Himself, Loyalty vs. Betrayal
No Country for Old Men: Rich vs. Poor, Individual vs. Corporation, Old vs. New
Beasts of the Southern Wild: Civilization vs. Wild, Utopia vs. Dystopia, Nature vs. Artifice, Childhood vs. Adulthood, Imagination vs. Reality, Freedom vs. Responsibility


Todorov's Theory of Narrative
Most conventional films follow the structure
Equilibrium - Normality in the world
Disruption of Equilibrium - Something changes the status quo
Recognition of Disruption - Characters recognize the disruption
Attempt to Repair the Disruption - Making it right
Equilibrium - Doesn't have to be the same as before, but disruption ended


Alternative Narratives
Jean Luc Godard - 'I agree that a film should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order'


Some narratives do not follow this basic structure. Called 'Alternative Narratives'


Some narratives are out of the sequence or disjointed. Tell the stories in the wrong order or use flashbacks


Can go further by not having logical order to story


Some narratives are made up of little short stories - called 'Episodic Narratives'


Omniscient or Restricted Narratives
Omniscient - Audience knows more than the characters, great for tension + suspense (i.e. coin toss in NCFOM, we know more than the petrol station employee)
Restricted - Only know as much as the characters (usually protagonist)
Linear or Non-Linear Narrative
Linear - Show events in chronological order)
Non-Linear - Not chronological, via flashbacks, montages etc.
Open or Closed Narrative
How the narrative ends
Open - Audience is left wondering what will happen next at end of film. E.g. a cliffhanger
Closed - Narrative ends with a definite ending where everything is resolved 'happily ever after'
Single or Multi-Strand Narrative
Single strand - Only one story in film, follows protagonist
Multi-strand - When the film has more than one story, involving several characters of equal importance
Enigma
A riddle or puzzle to be solved
Most narrative driven by an enigma that drives film. Introduced when equilibrium is disrupted.
Keeps viewer guessing interested story. Not answered until end.