Chapter 4
Narrative Form
Exposition
• The dense amount of detail/information
conveyed in the opening scenes of a film
Backstory
• The details of a character’s past that emerge as
the film unfolds, and which often explain a
character's motivation.
Diegetic Material
A term used for any narrative, sound, or
visual element contained in the imagined
world of the story- (Characters see or hear it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCysb4_-4jU
Non- Diegetic Material
A term used for any narrative, sound, or
visual element not contained in the story
world. (Ex: credits, score)
Point of Attack
The first event the audience sees in the film
Running time/Screen time
The length in minutes for a film to play in it’s entirety.
Running time vs. Real time- When a film is REAL TIME
it’s running time is the same as if it were filmed “live”
Fabula (story)
A chronological and complete account of all the
events in a narrative. (The story as it happened
chronologically including backstory)
Syuzhet (plot)
The selection and ordering of narrative events
presented in a film. (The story as shown)
Non-chronological ways to tell story:
• Flashback
– Non-chronological insertion of events from the
past into the present day of the story world
• Flashforward
– Non-chronological insertion of events yet to
happen into the present day of the story world
Three Act Structure
• Act I- Introduce characters, goals, conflicts,
Ends with a turning point/change
• Act II – protagonist (main character) meets
obstacles (possibly caused by antagonist)
conflicts increase leading to major turning
point /climax
• Act III- dénouement, conflict resolution and
closure
The “Rules” for classic Hollywood
narrative film
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Clarity
Unity
Characters
Closure
Unobtrusive craftsmanship
Point of View Shot
• A technique in which the audience
temporarily shares the visual perspective of a
character or group of characters. (Camera
shows what the character sees)
Chapter 5
Mise en Scene
Mise En Scene
• Definition: Integrated design of a film that is
composed of:
–Setting
–Human Figure
–Lighting
–Composition
Setting
• Establish time and place
• Introduce themes & ideas
• Create mood
Three ways
to create setting:
• On location
• Soundstage
• CGI
Human Figure
• Casting
• Figure Placement & Movement
• Costumes & Props
• Makeup
Typecasting:
The practice of repeatedly casting
actors in similar roles across different
films
Method Acting:
A style of stage acting developed from the
teachings of Stanislavski which trains
actors to get into character through the
use of emotional memory.
Figure Placement /Movement:
Two Planes:
• Foreground/Background
• High /Low
Connotations:
• Foreground/higher
shows dominance
power or oppression
• Background/lower
shows submission, or vulnerability.
• Same plane = equitable relationship- balance.
Composition
The arrangement of all visual elements in the
frame
Elements of Composition
• Balance & Symmetry
– Balanced symmetrical
shots Imply harmony &
order
– Imbalanced
or asymmetrical shots
suggest lack of
equilibrium
Elements of Composition
Lines & Diagonals
• Diagonal = Anxiety (Visually strongest of the
three)
• Vertical = Strength (2nd strongest impact)
• Horizontal= Peace (3rd)
Diagonal Composition
Diagonal = Anxiety
(Visually strongest of the three)
Vertical
• Vertical = Strength
(2nd strongest impact)
Horizontal
• Horizontal= Peace (3rd)
• Framing
– Loose: Figures have a lot of space in the shot;
Implies freedom or isolation
– Tight: Lack of space around figure contributes to
sense of constriction. Implies entrapment or
intimacy .
• Foreground & Background
• Light & Dark
• Color
– Saturated – strong & vivid
– Desaturated – less pure- contain more white ,
washed out
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Exposition
Backstory
Diegetic
Non-Diegetic
Point of Attack
Running Time
Fabula
Syuzhet
Flashback
Flash Forward
Point of View Shot
Mise En Scene
Typecasting
Method Acting
• “Rules” of Narrative
• Three Act Structure
Mise En Scene
• Setting (ways to create & purpose)
• Figure Placement
• Composition
– Balance & Symmetry & meanings
– Lines& Diagonals & meanings
– Framing ( types & meaning)
• Color
– Saturated/De-saturated & meanings