8/14/2019 Writing 09a

1/30

Writing

What is the writerscontribution?

Can you name ascreenwriter?

How many writerswork on a film?

How much is thedirector and howmuch is the writer?

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

2/30

Writing

Reading a

screenplay - what is

there and what ismissing?

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

3/30

Writing

Classical Paradigm Dominant narrative

structure in American Film

Protagonist - initiatesaction

Antagonist - resists action

Dramatic question - How

does the protagonist getwhat he/she wants

Conflict/opposition

Patterns of action - cause& effect until climax andresolution

Casablanca

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

4/30

Writing Dramatic unity

Plausible motivations

Coherence

All equal a smooth flow ofaction

Deadlines help move theaction

Often Classical Narrative is ajourney, chase or search

Protagonist is goal-oriented -passive characters are notdeemed as interesting Casablanca

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

5/30

Writing

Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act I - Set up First quarter of the movie

Premise defined

Obstacles laid out

Casablanca

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

6/30

Writing

Screenplay Structure Three Acts

Act II - Confrontation

First quarter of the movie

Protagonist fights obstacles

Reversal of fortune in middle

Casablanca

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

7/30

Writing

Screenplay Structure Three Acts

Act III - Resolution

What happens as a resultof the climax

Casablanca

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

8/30

Writing

Chekhovs Gun If you see a gun on

the wall in Act I, it

better go off in Act III

Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

9/30

Writing

Point of View

First person narrator

Omniscient point of

view

Third person narrator

Objective point of

view

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

10/30

Writing

First person narrator

Tells his/her own story

or an objectiveobserver

Can be reliable or not

Can be the camera

A Clockwork Orange

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

11/30

Writing

Omniscient point ofview Camera or narrator

is an all-knowingobserver like in anovel

Every time the

camera is moved,you are given a newway to evaluate thescene

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

12/30

Writing

Objective point of

view

Variation ofomniscient

Records events

impartially - ideally

suited to film More realistic as

there is less

distortionThe Passenger

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

13/30

Writing Non-verbal or

figurative techniques

The Shining&

Diane Arbus Twins

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

14/30

Writing

Motifs

Integrated within the

realistic texture of afilm

Anything that is

systematically

repeated, yet does

not call attention to

itself - unduly

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

15/30

Writing Symbols

Being There

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

16/30

Writing Symbols

Planet of the Apes & Godzilla

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

17/30

Writing Metaphor

A comparison that

cannot literally be

true Two items that are

not normally together

- devoured be love

2001: A Space Odyssey

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

18/30

Writing Allegory

Avoidance of realism

Connection between

a character orsituation and a

symbolic idea or

complex ideas

The Seventh Seal

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

19/30

Writing Allegory

Avoidance of realism

Connection between

a character orsituation and a

symbolic idea or

complex ideas 8 & 1/2

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

20/30

Writing Allusion

Implied reference to

a well-know person,

event or work of art

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

21/30

Writing Allusion

Implied reference to

a well-know person,

event or work of art

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

22/30

Writing

Homage

Like a quote or

tribute to a colleagueor established

master

Battleship Potemkin

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

23/30

Writing

Homage

Like a quote or

tribute to a colleagueor established

master

The Untouchables

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

24/30

Writing

Psycho & Halloween H20

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

25/30

Writing

Literary adaptations

Loose

Faithful Literal

Emma

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

26/30

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

27/30

Writing

Faithful

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

28/30

Writing

Literal - often

reserved for stage

plays

Proof- the film

and the play

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

29/30

Writing Casablanca

1942

Dir. Michael Curtiz

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid

Bergman, Paul Henreid &Claude Rains

Voted #2 film of all time by theAmerican Film Institute

Nominated for 7 Oscars - won3 - Best Picture, Best Director& Best Screenplay

Written by Murray Burnett andJoan Alison (play EverybodyComes to Rick's), Julius J.Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and

Howard Koch (screenplay)

8/14/2019 Writing 09a

30/30

Writing

Casablanca Here's looking at you,

kid" was voted as the #5movie quote by theAmerican Film Institute

"Louis, I think this is thebeginning of a beautifulfriendship." was voted as#20

"Round up the usualsuspects." was voted as#32

"We'll always haveParis." was voted as #43