Director/Narrative/Genre Theory

The Director's Idea: Ken Dancyger -  Notes 

What does a director do?

"A director is responsible for translating a script (words) into visuals (shots) that will be turned over to edit to put together into a film."

Dancyger highlights the blurred lines between what a director does and states that they can also be involved in pre-production script writing, or post-production, editing; including sound design, music composition, recording and mixing etc. He also states other Director responsibilities, such as:

• Interpreting the screenplay via blocking and breaking down of the script into specific shots.
• Modulating the performances of actors.

Narrative Theory - Notes

5 forms of conflict:

1. Character vs character: protagonist vs antagonist
2. Character vs self: internal conflict - objective and need in opposition to each other. Key question screenwriter must ask: "How will I externalize this conflict? What will the audience actually see of it on the screen?" Usually another character is used to externalize this inner conflict.
3. Character vs society: Society = an established authority i.e. government. How does the screen writer embody this society. Character can't literally fight against a whole government. Society may be represented in form of a leader of that society. Similar to character vs character
4. Character vs nature: Living things (an animal), natural occurrences (twister, hurricane) or geography (a mountain to climb)
5. Character vs fate: Gods/spirits being defied - not usually seen in film - in Ancient Greek Theatre it was prominent. 

The type of conflict in our film is the commonest form: character vs character and so should be relatively straightforward to convey. The couple have definite arguments and resolve these throughout.

The 3 part nature of screenplay structure

SETUP

Setting: time and place of action

Backdrop: a location or perhaps a line of work (police department) or way of life (theatre group)

Tone: general sensibility of film e.g.: light or brooding

Protagonist: film is story of protagonist - introduce that character as early as possible.

A hint of the conflict to come: Characters must generate conflict. Conflict should begin to take place before start of film.
The direction of the plot: Setup should make a subtle suggestion as to which direction action is headed.
The inciting incident: Event that takes action into full motion

Setup in a short screenplay 7-12 pages long should be 1-1 and a half pages.

Exposition (in setup)
Challenge of writing set up - certain information important to the understanding of plot isn't clear from the events on screen. Exposition = provides this info. May be a relationship between characters, or a situation. 
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In the case of our film, the exposition in the setup is in the situation i.e. - being trapped in a showroom.
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RISING ACTION

• Central conflict emerges when a character/protagonist has a plan and it doesn't work out due to a crisis. Protagonist is forced to take action, whilst still trying to pursue his/her objective. 

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In the case of our film there are is the major overarching conflict (A plot) of the characters being trapped in a showroom and attempting to leave, and then a series of minor conflicts (B plot). The first minor conflict arises when the man refuses to take part in larking about in the showroom, as the woman (protagonist) suggests. This is easily overcome, as the man is eventually persuaded. Secondly, it is when the man insults the woman's appearance. This conflict is overcome when the man tries to be nicer to the woman and starts up a conversation with her. Thirdly, is the major argument in which the man shouts at the woman to shut-up, and this is overcome when he apologises at the end and compliments her. The major conflict is then overcome as the showroom reopens (Resolution).
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• Each crisis should appeal to the audience in one of three ways: concern for the characters, curiosity about the direction of the plot, or a combination of the two.

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Our film is more likely to appeal to audiences in terms of the curiosity about where the direction of the plot will lead.

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Mystery: Audience knowing less than characters do.

Suspense: Audience knowing as much as characters do.

Dramatic Irony: Audience know more than characters do - outcome is already known.

Our film uses a mix of suspense and mystery throughout as the audience, to begin with, do not know the relationship of the couple, so this is mystery, but at the audience finds out they characters are trapped in a showroom at the same time as they do so therein lies the suspense. At the end, the audience also find out the store is reopening at the same time as the characters do (suspense)

Defining the Genre of our Film

Our film has elements of comedy and romance in it. It is also drama based. Dan Gurski's breaks the comedy genre up into sub-genres.

Comedy:

Black: comic treatment of a serious subject - e.g. murder.

Farce: over the top comedy derived from improbable situations populated by stereotypical characters.

Mockumentary: fake documentary.

Romantic: love from a humorous perspective 

Parody: comedy that comes from copying and mocking another film or work of art.

Satire: an attack on vices and stupidity, usually of an institutional variety.

Screwball: broad situational comedy in which women are shown to be superior to men while common working-class people are shown to be superior to wealthy, socially prominent individuals. (i.e. role reversal)

Slapstick: physical comedy, often featuring exaggerated but harmless violence.

Our film falls under 2 of the aforementioned sub-genre's: Romantic comedy and Parody.

It could also be part of the "coming of age" genre - which means a rites of passage film in which the protagonist grows and matures - frequently combined with comedy and romantic comedy. 

In our film the Man matures personality wise, as he tries harder with the woman and stops being so self absorbed.