Three Act Structure #9

Three Act Structure

Blog Post #9

Three-Act Structure Diagram

Act One

Act I - The first act (Act I), compromises the first quarter of the screenplay. (For a two hour movie, Act  I would be approximately 30 minutes)

What happens in Act I? (Setup)

Exposition: The part of the story that gives the characters an introduction, this basically gives the audience an insight of the characters and what type of characters they are; it shows some of their interrelationships and place them within a time and place.

This part of the story introduces three separate aspects; the main character, the dramatic premise and the dramatic situation.

Main Character:  The person in the story who has a need/object to achieve and whose actions determine the drive of the story.

Dramatic Premise: What the story itself is about

Dramatic Situation: The circumstances which is surrounding the action.

Inciting Incident - An event that sets the plot of the film in motion. It occurs about halfway through Act I.

The ''Plot Point'' - According to field, the three acts are separated by two plot points. A plot point (which is sometimes referred to a reversal) is an event that thrusts the plot in a new direction, leading into a new act of the screenplay. Later screenplay gurus have built on Field's theory by stating that plot point #1, which leads into Act II, is the moment when the hero takes on the problem.

Act Two

Act II - The second act (Act II), compromises the next two quarters of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act II would approximately be 60 minutes) 

What happens in Act II? (Confrontation)

Obstacles - In the second act, the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle that prevent him from achieving his dramatic need.

First Culmination - This is the point just before the hallway mark of the film where the main character seems close to achieving his or her main goal/objective. Shortly afterwards, everything falls apart which then leads to the midpoint.

Midpoint - This is the point approximately halfway through the film where the main character reaches his/her lowest point (weakness) and seems very far away from fulfilling the dramatic need/objective. 

Act Three

Act III - The third and final act (Act III) comprises the final quarter of the film. (For a two hour movie, Act III would approximately be the final 30 minutes)

What happens in Act III? (Resolution)

Climax (Second Culmination) - This is the point at which the plot reaches its maximum tension and the forces in the opposition confront each other at a peak (highest/tension point) of emotional or physical action.

Denouement - The brief period of calm at the end of the film where a state of equilibrium (which was seen at the start of the film) returns.



Summary of a basic 'Three Act Structure'

 

Genre Typecasting of Actors - Blog Post #8

Genre Typecasting of Actors

 Blog Post  #8

 In TV and film typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups. In some cases there has been situations where the actor has been so strongly identified with a role to make it difficult for him or her to find work playing other characters. 

However, an alternate situation is where a director may choose to cast an actor ''against type'', for example a role that would be unusual for that actor, to create a comedic or dramatic effect.

Examples of characters playing against the type:

Action Adventure & Comedy

Arnold Schwarzenegger: 

Arnold is most commonly known for playing his role as 'The Terminator', he has frequently been typcasted in action films as a brute force tough guy regardless of being a protagonist or an antagonist who seems to always evade death. However in the comedy 'Twins' starring himself and Danny DeVito, Arnold seems to play the 'gentle' giant to his twin Danny. Arnold spent the late 1980's and 1990's alternating between action films and comedies.

Fantasy Comedy & Family Film

Eddie Murphy:

Eddie Murphy is mostly known for comedy within films, he usually portrays sharp tongued characters. He is known for playing a big part in Dr Doolittle (1998), the film itself is about a doctor (Dr. John Doolittle - Eddie) who can communicate with animals and the animals can also communicate back. However, Eddie Murphy also plays a dark vampire character in 'Vampire in Brooklyn' (1995) which is about Maxmillian (Eddie) who is the only survivor from his race of vampires on a Caribbean island and he must find a mate to keep the line from ending.

Thriller:

Tom Cruise:
Tom cruise is known to be in a lot of thriller films, he is usually portrayed as the protagonist in films such as Jack Reacher (2012), which is a 2012 American thriller film about a homicide investigator who digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who has shot five random victims. Tom Cruise has also starred in other thriller films such as 'Risky Business' and 'Rain Man'.

Sources: IMDB & Wikipedia

There are various benefits of genre typecasting of actors, this is because a person may watch that film because a person may want to see a film because of their favourite actor plays a certain role (for example Tom Cruise playing an antagonist). As well as an audience this may help the producers, as it can attract more audiences, as well as that for a new producer it can help identify the actors typecasting because they may have seen other films that specific actor is associated with. 

However typecasting can also restrict some actors, this is because it may seem odd if they decided to play a different role that they are not associated with. For example, if Danny DeVito decides to play an antagonist it wouldn't seem right as we would expect him to funny with comedic elements. Therefore typecasting can be hard for actors and actresses in order for them to try something new which they audience may not like. It could be argued that females are typecast more than men this is because some female characters are associated as an identifiable characters, For example we associated (Angelina Jolie), in terms of Lara Craft Tomb Raider as a kick-ass chick because she is a lone female protagonist.

Narrative Post #7

Narrative

Blog Post #7

Narrative:

Narrative is the order in which a film is told. In terms of Media and films narrative is the coherence/organisation of media texts (eg. the story). The human brain needs narrative to make sense of things. We connect events and make interpretations based on those connections. Narrative is correlated with genre as some genres have typical story-lines.

Narrative Enigmas:

The purpose of this engages audience attention, maintains curiosity and interest within the narrative chain of cause and effect.

Difference between narrative story and narrative plots

A narrative story is what happens in the film which includes a backstory as well as those projected the story whereas a narrative plot is the order in which the story is told. 

For example the a series of events from a narrative story could be in this order: 

Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed
Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals

However, the story events could be re-arranged in a different sequence to make the narrative more interesting, for example the plot could be:

Crime Discovered
Detective investigates
Detective Identifies criminals
Crime Conceived
Crime Planned
Crime Committed

Narrative Analysis in Media Studies:

             

Summary of the video:

When watching the video I learnt that you must remember six things when analysing media text, these things are:

Technical Code - This is to do with anything 'technical' that goes into the narrative process such as camera angles, sound, designs and editing.

Verbal Code - The way the language is used to convey the story, verbal codes are both written and spoken.

Symbolic Codes - Clues within the narrative for example a character may be driving a broken down old car suggesting the character is poor

Structure - Most structures can be summed up using Tsvetan Tordorovs theory which suggests all narratives follow a five part structure:
Equilibrium: (beginning) where everything is 'hunky dory'.
Disequilibrium: (middle) where something goes along to disturb the equilibrium.
New Equilibrium: (end) This is usually the bit where the hero restores the equilibrium. 

Character -  Protagonist: The stories hero
                     Antagonist: The stories villain
                     Heroine: Love interest for the protagonist.
                     Father: An authoritative figure, often the one who rewards the protagonist.
                     Helper: Someone who helps the protagonist, often a sidekick.
                     Mentor: Teacher and guide of the protagonist.

                                   
Theorists:

Narrative Conflict - Claude Levi-Strauss (20th century theorist) suggested that all narratives are moved forwards by conflict and that this conflict is caused by opposing forces for example: rich and poor, love and hate etc. Also opposites within a storyline are extremely important in a successful story, as drawing two different worlds or characters together inspires conflict and interesting narrative.

Roland Barthes suggested that there are codes within a film which serves to engage audiences.
The Enigma Code generates and controls what information a viewer is aware of within a narrative and holds their interest throughout the film. It introduces problems or puzzles which must be solved as well as mysteries which must be uncovered.
The Action Code refers to events which occur that the viewer immediately can identify as being significant to the development of the narrative. Resolution also may be achieved through action.

ProppNarrative Devices:

Vladimir Propp also proposes narrative structure which is similar to Todorov's, but slightly more detailed and complex:

• Preparation - Introduction to the story.
• Complication - Keys or clues to the direction of the story.
• Transference - The donor events.
• Struggle - Dealing with complications.
• Return - Back to 'home' however there are still issues remaining.
• Recognition - Loose ends are tied up.

Propps also looks at character theory which identifies more character roles than the previous antagonist and protagonist. Propp identifies seven main roles:

• The villain
• The donor - Prepares the hero or gives them a magical object
• The (magical) helper - Helps the here throughout the quest
• The princess - Object of the heroes desire, sought for during the narrative
• The princess's father - Rewards the hero
• The dispatcher - Character to send the hero off
• The hero (victim/seeker) - Reacts to the donor, weds the princess, completes the quest
• The false hero, usurper or anti hero

Thriller moodboard - Blog Post 6

Conventions of thriller - Moodboard

Blog Post #6

This is a moodboard of the conventions of thriller which I created on Photoshop CS6. As you can see the thriller convention predominantly consists of use of weaponry and blood. These are the main conventions and allows the audience to identify that specific genre. 

Sub-Genre Post #5

Sub Genres

Blog Post #5

Sub- genres are identifiable sub-classes, almost like sub-heading, within a larger film genre, with their own distinctive subject matter, style, formulas, and iconography. 

However, some films can fit into the Action Adventure genre such as James Bond: Skyfall, but can also fit into sub genres, these sub genres can be:

• Espionage
• Political thrillers 
• Martial arts films
• Race against time

Other films containing sub genres:

Bourne Identity (2002)
Theatrical Poster

Another well known subgenre is 'On the run', this usually features the main character(s) running away from criminals in order for protection and to save their lovers life. In this case I will be discussing about 'The Bourne Identity' - 2002. The film starts off with an Italian fisherman rescues the unconscious American (Jason Bourne - played by Matt Damon) with what appears to be two bullet holes on his back and a loss of memory. The whole movie revolves around  Jason Bourne eluding assassins and to recover from his amnesia.

Speed (1994)
Theatrical Poster

Another sub-genre in which i will be discussing is 'Race against time', films with this specific genre tend to be fast paced at the majority of times and usually features a 'ticking clock scenario' as the main character has to acquire certain tasks before its too late, for instance the film 'Speed' - 1994, starring Keanu Reeves (Officer Jack Traven) and Sandra Bullock (Annie Porter) revolves around a young cop who has to keep a number of civilians safe and to prevent a bomb exploding in a bus by keeping it above 50 mph. The fact that the bus cannot go below 50 mph keeps the audience at the edge of their seat as they are unsure of what is going to happen.


In conclusion, films have sub-genres to help the audience distinguish what type of film it is within the main genre for further personal preference.

Source: Internet Movie Database (IMDB)

Hybrid Genre Post #4

Hybrid Genre

Blog Post #4

A hybrid genre is a combination of two or more genres, Hybrids can have larger audiences due to appealing to more people through their multiple genres. This would be more lucrative for the film companies. Some people consider them more 'exciting' and creative.

As horror movies are perennially popular, film-makers might start with a set of horror paradigms to guarantee audience interest, before throwing other tropes into the mix.

Examples of genre hybrids:

• Horror romance (eg. Twilight, Night tide, The girl next door)
• Horror war (eg. Word war Z, Dead snow)
• Horror historical drama (eg. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
• Horror rom com (eg. Shaun of the Dead)

Genres are not static but evolve. Therefore, their common attributes change over time. Most films are hybrid genres, since they possess the common attributes of more than one genre. - Warren Buckland

Combining to genres together can potentially increase the target market as people from the two specific genres as audiences will supposedly want to see the film.

Films with hybrid genres: 

Paul (2011)
Theatrical Poster

An example of a film containing a hybrid genre is 'Paul' - 2012, this film falls into the 'comic science fiction genre' the film itself is about two comic geeks (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) travel across the United States of America to encounter an alien outside Area 51. The fact that this film is a hybrid of the comedy genre and the science fiction (sci-fi) genre it can expand its audience putting together those who like comedy films and those who like sci-fi films.

Scary MoVie (2013)
Theatrical Poster

Scary MoVie (2013) also falls into a hybrid genre, the hybrid genre associated with this film in this case is 'Comedy Horror'. The film itself is about a couple who begin to experience some unusual activity after bringing their lost nieces and nephew home. After using the help of home surveillance cameras they realise that they are being stalked by a 'nefarious' demon. The film features well known celebrities such as Charlie Sheen, Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex.

In conclusion, producers combine two or more genres within a film. This can benefit  the company as the revenue is more likely to increase because having multiple genres will have  larger target market thus having a greater audience overall.

Souces from: Mediaknowall - Hybrid Genres and Wikipedia.org

How genres have changed over time #3

How genres have changed over time

Blog Post #3

In order for me see how genre has changed over time I was given a case study called 'The Western'. Whilst reading 'The Western' case study I had learnt various factors. 'Western' is a type of genre which commonly features their protagonists as cowboys, gun slingers and bounty hunters. Many people are fascinated by the western genre due to its 'mystical context'. Western genre films tend to be set in isolated and abandoned places allowing filmmakers to explore moral and social ambiguities. 

During the 1920's-1930's vast amount of westerns were made and it was considered as the most predominant cinematic genres. Alan Lovell identified four principle elements which contributed to the western genre;

The Covered Wagon - 1924

• A structure drawn from the 19th century melodramatic literature, involving a virtuous protagonist and a wicked antagonist who menaces a virginal heroine.
• An action story, composed of violence, chases and crimes appropriate to a place like the American West in the 19th century.
• The introduction of the history of the migration westwards and the opening of the frontier signaled in such films as the 'Covered Wagon' -1924 and 'The Iron Horse' -1924.
• The revenge structure, which was present by the time of Billy the Kid in 1930.

Italian Director Sergio Leone

During 1939, Stagecoach was released, this was specially known as the first ever 'modern western', this is when things started going up for the western genre as their was a significant development in the growth of the genre. As well as directing films such as Stagecoach John Ford also directed films such as 'My Darling Clementine' - 1946 and 'The Searchers' - 1956. During this period, the introduction to 'stylised' western also came to the film industry with films such as 'Johnny Guitar' - 1954 and 'High Noon' - 1952, this period was also cited as the 'classical' western period after its peak and breakthrough however shortly after wards the genre was facing a huge downfall in the late 1950's to the early 1960's. After that a new type of western came out called 'spaghetti western' which was produced by numerous Italians (Sergio Leone and Serigio Corbucci) which usually stars Clint Eastwood, a notable film is 'Fistful of Dollars' - 1964 and its sequels.

The late 1980's and early 1990's saw the dearth of westerns. The genre had lacked in contemporary audiences and other genres such as horror and science fiction (sci-fi). However towards the end of this period, they were making 'new' westerns, in 1988 'Young Guns' was released combining key conventions of a western with the 'bratpack' of young characters who at the time were popular, it also included a modern popular soundtrack. Shortly afterwards directors started to cast Native Americans (Indians) in a much more positive light. Very soon, even the white male protagonist (central to any western) was being displaced with 'Black westerns' . In 1992, Clint Eastwood turned to a director as well as an Actor,

In conclusion, you can see that the western genre developed over a certain period of time in order to survive, There has been many types of westerns such as stylised, new and classical. There have been quite a significant amound of western films in the 21st century such as 'True Git' - 2010 and a highly successful one 'Django Unchained' - 2013.

Genre Blog Post #2

Genre Blog Post #2

Genres function according to sets of rules and *conventions, which govern their capacity and range. They respond to these rules and conventions by developing formulas and patterns (*paradigms). Over time. these formulas and patterns may acquire not only typical, but even archetypal force, dominating ways of seeing and of representing the world around us.

* Paradigm - The overall pattern created by a film that helps us categorise it.

* Conventions - The individual elements to help specify a genre in which the film belongs to

e.g. the convention of action; Weapons, explosions, damsel in distress, protagonist, antagonist, big set piece, etc.

Why do we categorise films? 

As far as TV and film is concerned, this commercial idea of genre grew with the evolution of the film industry but was particularly developed in Hollywood in the 1920s/1930s when the major studios were being established. Film producers wanted a new way to attract audiences and to establish what kind of films they like in order to make a profit, this lead to marketers to give films a label o that audiences know what to expect, this then lured them into cinemas.

By creating a genre the marketers can also aim a film to the correct audience age as well as the specific target market. Certain genres are considered appropriate to certain age/genders in society, and choices are made accordingly e.g. teen movie, 'chick flicks' have systems of expectations about the content and a style of a text, according to its genre.

Iconography means the visual images and symbols used in a piece of work (ie. Film) to help the audience study or interpret it. 

Advantages and disadvantages of genre:

There are various advantages and disadvantages of genre. One of the main advantage of genre (in the perspective of a producer) is that it allows to producer to have a clear insight on what to do, this is because mise-en-scene, editing and sound is all defined by genre. A disadvantage is that it can often restrict the producers interpretations, for example the convention of action is usually associated with weapons and explosions therefore it may be difficult for a producer to go out of their comfort zone and change things up because they may be straying away from that genre.  

In terms of audience, an advantage of genre, is that the audience can search the genre of the film and see whether it is a genre they like, for example I personally like horror films over comedy films and if there were two films on the shelf, one being horror and the other being comedy; without a doubt I would pick the horror as it appeals to me as a person the most. 

However, this has it's disadvantages, a person may prefer a particular genre which might not let them explore into other genres. For example, as mentioned earlier I wouldn't pick a comedy film if there was a choice between horror, however the comedy film could be more interesting than the horror film therefore I missed out an opportunity to watch a great film. This means that it can stray away other audience just because they are not familiar with that specific genre.

Source of information: mediaknowall

Genres #1

Genres - Blog Post #1

Many films are categorised in genres, genres are identifiable types, categories classifications or groups of films that have similar techniques or paradigms (conventions). The paradigms are grouped into three sectors; Iconography, Structure and Theme. Initially Genres came from books and were later inflicted into movies.

There are many types of films with different genres, some typical genres which you would expect from common films are listed below:

• Action 
• Adventure
• Drama
• Science Fiction
• Horror

Different genres appeal to different audiences, some audiences prefer sticking to one genre, for example I usually stick to horror when i watch movies because I like the eerie and mysterious feel to it which undoubtedly makes me more engaged to a movie, however others like to watch a variety of genres.

Theatrical Poster from
James Cameron's Avatar

Avatar for example falls into the Science Fiction (sci-fi) Genre, a key convention from a science fiction movie such as Avatar is extraterrestrial life form rather than a human being. Just by looking at the poster you can see a blue extraterrestrial life 'creature' like human which instantly connotes that it fits into the sci fi genre, stereotypically speaking most science fiction movies contain futuristic settings, parallel universe and paranormal abilities.

 Terminator starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Other films such as Terminator fall into the Action Genre, once again by looking at the poster we can connote that it is an action film because there is a gun in the picture, weapons such as a gun are one of the main key conventions within an action film, the colour such as red also suggest blood and gore which can be linked to blood, furthermore linking into the action genre.

Some films do not specifically have one genre because there are no boundaries, some films have multiple genres. For example the genre rom-com can be sub-categorized with romance and comedy, films that are about romance yet have that comedy element have been very successful with films in the past having big hits such as The Proposal, Friends with Benefits and Love Actually.

In conclusion, there are many genres in the film industry and are not necessarily restricted to one as there are no boundaries, different genres engage different audiences, for example a person may love science fiction movies but may not like Dramas, this can be seen as a good thing because that person could specifically look under the science fiction genre if they wish to see a film with that specific genre. Each individual genre has a unique convention, for example action and use of weaponry, horror and a haunted house and science fiction and extraterrestrial life all go together. Many film choices today are down to personal preference which is why there are so many different choices today.