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Writing
What is the writerscontribution?
Can you name ascreenwriter?
How many writerswork on a film?
How much is thedirector and howmuch is the writer?
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Writing
Reading a
screenplay - what is
there and what ismissing?
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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
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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
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Writing
Screenplay Structure
Three Acts
Act I - Set up First quarter of the movie
Premise defined
Obstacles laid out
Casablanca
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Writing
Screenplay Structure Three Acts
Act II - Confrontation
First quarter of the movie
Protagonist fights obstacles
Reversal of fortune in middle
Casablanca
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Writing
Screenplay Structure Three Acts
Act III - Resolution
What happens as a resultof the climax
Casablanca
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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
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Writing
Point of View
First person narrator
Omniscient point of
view
Third person narrator
Objective point of
view
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Writing
First person narrator
Tells his/her own story
or an objectiveobserver
Can be reliable or not
Can be the camera
A Clockwork Orange
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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
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Writing
Objective point of
view
Variation ofomniscient
Records events
impartially - ideally
suited to film More realistic as
there is less
distortionThe Passenger
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Writing Non-verbal or
figurative techniques
The Shining&
Diane Arbus Twins
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Writing
Motifs
Integrated within the
realistic texture of afilm
Anything that is
systematically
repeated, yet does
not call attention to
itself - unduly
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Writing Symbols
Being There
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Writing Symbols
Planet of the Apes & Godzilla
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Writing Metaphor
A comparison that
cannot literally be
true Two items that are
not normally together
- devoured be love
2001: A Space Odyssey
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Writing Allegory
Avoidance of realism
Connection between
a character orsituation and a
symbolic idea or
complex ideas
The Seventh Seal
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Writing Allegory
Avoidance of realism
Connection between
a character orsituation and a
symbolic idea or
complex ideas 8 & 1/2
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Writing Allusion
Implied reference to
a well-know person,
event or work of art
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Writing Allusion
Implied reference to
a well-know person,
event or work of art
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Writing
Homage
Like a quote or
tribute to a colleagueor established
master
Battleship Potemkin
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Writing
Homage
Like a quote or
tribute to a colleagueor established
master
The Untouchables
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Writing
Psycho & Halloween H20
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Writing
Literary adaptations
Loose
Faithful Literal
Emma
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Writing
Faithful
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Writing
Literal - often
reserved for stage
plays
Proof- the film
and the play
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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)
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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