Research on narrative

Narrative:

Tzveten Todorov, a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher and theorist looked into the linear narrative of stories, in particular folk and fairy tales, and recognised that all the stories followed a particular chronological structure. Todorov noted that in most stories a classic narrative pattern would occur, this pattern followed:

1.     Equilibrium- all is in order, ‘normal’ and happy.

2.     Disruption- disruption to the equilibrium by the means of an event or action.

3.     Recognition- there is recognition of a disruption has taken place.

4.     Repair- an attempt to repair the damaged caused by disruption.

5.     New equilibrium- the problem is solved and we return to a new type of equilibrium.

Classic narrative pattern in ‘Cinderella’-

1.     Equilibrium- Cinderella lives happily with her parents.

2.     Disruption- Cinderella’s mother dies and her father remarries an evil women.

3.     Recognition- Cinderella is not longer happy and is made to work in the house and see no one.

4.     Repair- a fairy godmother allows her to go out to a ball were she meets a prince who could free her

5.     New equilibrium- the prince finds her and they get married and live happily ever after.

    Classic narrative pattern in 'The Hunger Games'-
    This film does not fit Todorov's classical narrative structure which highlights a weakness to his theory. The Hunger Games is an example of one or many films which do not fit this as it does not start with an equilibrium, instead it starts with disruption. It shows that not all films are based upon a set classical structure and not all films are aiming to solve a problem. For example in the Hunger Games, nothing is being solved and there is no repeated structure within it's narrative.  

Vladimir Propp, another theorist who studied folk and fairy tales identified that there were always distinctive character types, for example heroes and the vulnerable. Claude Levi-Strauss developed this theory and focused on the connections between characters and themes, he named these binary opposites. They are used to construct contrasts within the narrative within a text or film to establish stereotypes and different ideologies. For example, Cowboys and Indians, good and bad, hero and villain.  

Binary opposites in ‘Cinderella’-

-Good and bad: Cinderella is good and kind as she never defies her stepmother and does all she says. The stepmothers and stepdaughters are bad as they make Cinderella work all the time and never let her leave.

In my film I will aim to follow Todorov's classical narrative structure as I feel this will work well in most genres and will be simple yet very effective to follow. Following this, if I were to make a horror opening sequence then I would incorporate Propp's binary opposites as it works will in this genre, due to the conflicts of good and bad.

Research on genre- Period/ historical

Genre: Period/ historical

Narrative/ theme: 
-Forbidden love (Wuthering Heights 2011- Cathy and Heathcliff)
-War (E.G We were soldiers 2002 - Vietnam War)
-Family

-Fighting
-Rich and poor
-Revenge
-Wealth (The Great Gatsby 1974)

Setting:
-Depending on the theme of the film depends on its setting. However, they are always set in a particular time period and therefore echo whatever that was.
-Castles/ manor houses
-Villages/ townships
-Country retreats
-Inner cities
-Palaces

Characters:
-Kings, Queens (E.G Elizabeth- The Golden Age 2007)
-The poor
-Family and extended family
-Slaves
-Army
-Socialites

Music/ sound: 
-Music of the period in which the film is set in. For example jazz music is playing in the film 'The Great Gatsby' as it was set in the 1920's.
-Orchestral

Lighting: 

-In most historical films they're set way before electricity and therefore the lighting is mostly natural. For example from the sun or from candles and fires.

Examples: 
'The Great Gatsby' (1974)
-Plot: Nick Carraway, a young Midwesterner now living in Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbour, the nouveau riche Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
-Theme: Wealth, forbidden love, rich and poor
-Setting: East and West Egg in Long Island.
-Characters: Socialites (Daisy, Jay, Tom, Jordan) the poor (Myrtle, George)

Research on genre- Romance

Genre: Romance

Narrative/ theme:

-Boy meets girl E.G 500 days of summer

-Love triangles E.G Bridget Jones diaries

-Marriages/ weddings E.G My big fat Greek wedding

-Forbidden love E.G Romeo and Juliet, Twilight

-Teen Romance E.G LOL

-Love

-Lust

-Jealousy

Setting:

-Anywhere, depending on narrative. For example a teen romance will most likely take place in a high school.

-Places of significant beauty E.G beaches, lakes etc.

-Cities E.G 500 days of summer (2009) set in Downtown LA

-High school E.G teen romance films, for example Wild Child (2008) is set in a boarding school in England.

-Church, Synagogue or Mosque E.G Four wedding and a funeral (1994) set in a church for wedding scenes.

Characters:

-Couples

-Single man and women

-Jealous relative or love interest

-Family

Music/ sound:

-The sound is usually non-diegetic and very uplifting, light and harmonious to parallel the image on screen.

-Love songs are usually played as backing music for example Celine Dion- my heart will go on, played in Titanic (1997)

-Light romantic songs are played to suit the mood of the scene.

Lighting:

-Lighting is dependent on the mood of the scene, for example in a romantic intimate scene, the lighting may be dim or candle lit to parallel the feel and mood.

Example:

'500 days of summer' (2009)

-Plot: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her.

-Theme: boy meets girl

-Setting: city- Downtown LA

-Character: single man, single women 

Research on genre- Action

Genre- Action

Narrative/ theme: 
-Car chase

-Violence
-Villain/ hero
-Escape/ siege
-Revenge
-Assassination
-Oppression
-Threat

Setting: 
-Anywhere, depending on the narrative. For example with a theme of car chases the main set might be a city like in 'Bullet' were the road layouts are interesting (San Francisco- hilled roads). Another example could be at a car garage like in 'Gone in sixty seconds' which is centred around stealing cars and bringing them back to the garage which is the base location.

-With the theme of oppression, the location could be a prison or other isolated but controlled area. For example in 'Battle Royale' or 'The Hunger Games'.

Characters:
-Villain
-Hero
-Select racial minority
-Gang

Music/ sound:
-Energetic, uplifting sound which may match the fast-paced tone of the film.
-Depending on the mood and scene, the sound my be dark or light. It mainly depends on the mood.

Examples: 
'Gone in sixty seconds' (2000)
-Plot: A retired master car thief must come back to the industry and steal 50 cars with his crew in one night to save his brothers life.
-Theme: Violence, car chase, threat.
-Setting: Long beach, California
-Character: Villain, gang

Research on genre- Horror

Genre: Horror

Narrative/ theme:

-Dramatic climaxes/ suspense.

-Death/ murder/ torture

-Escape and chase

-Dark

-Confinement

-Supernatural/ spirits

-Madness/ psychotic

Setting:

-Isolated areas, buildings or towns. E.G Derelict buildings, wooded areas or post-apocalyptic city.

-The setting is invariably dark to add tension to the atmosphere and give a sense of the unknown.

-Dungeons, castles, caves, the underworld

-Lost islands, worlds, cities

Camera movement:

-Canting is used in lots of horror films to give an off balance feel or to make the audience feel disorientated. It may indicate that a character has been drugged or is deranged.

-Hand held shots are used a lot in horror films as it adds to the sense of realism; it also conveys a sense of immediacy and intensity. 

Characters:

-Villain E.G Sweeny Todd

-Vulnerable and weak

-A supernatural being E.G demons, aliens, witches.

-Monster creations E.G King Kong, Frankenstein, lock ness monster.

-Psychopaths, the possessed, the obsessed, the brainwashed. E.G Emily Rose is possessed in ‘The exorcism of Emily Rose’

Music/ sound:

-Dark, eerie and ominous sound, which is usually non-diegetic.

-Music is often fast paced to increase suspense and intensity in a scene. It builds up the action on screen to its pinnacle point.

-There are often non-diegetic sound effects such as ghostly shrieks, howls and groans.

Lighting:

-The use of shadows is common to hide objects/ characters or so the audience can only see parts, which heightens the mood and atmosphere.

-Dark, low key lighting is also used for the same effect.

Example:

‘The haunting in Connecticut’ (2009)

-Plot: a family is forced to relocate for their son's health; they begin experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, which turns out to be a former mortuary.

-Theme: Dark, supernatural, death, suspense.

-Setting: House was previously a mortuary.

-Character: vulnerable and weak- boy has cancer is taken over by the spirits of the dead.