VV 301 – FILM STUDIESSTORY ANALYSIS

Prepared by:

WAN FARHANAH BINTI WAN ISMAIL

(PTSS, 2012)

STORY ANALYSIS

� Every good story is made up of different

elements.

� But these elements will not ensure the story will

turn out to be good, unless they were nicely turn out to be good, unless they were nicely

meshed up together.

� It’s not easy to create a good story, because

usually it requires a lot of natural talent, but

sometimes it can be achieved by using good

skills and deep understanding about the

elements.

STORY ELEMENTS

� These are the elements to compose a good

storyline:

a. Plot

Themeb. Theme

c. Premise

d. Setting

THE ELEMENTS - PLOT

� Plot – the series of events and relationships

forming the basis of a composition.

� Plot can also be described as the events that

make up a story, particularly as they relate tomake up a story, particularly as they relate to

one another in a pattern, in a sequence,

through cause and effect, or by coincidence.

THE ELEMENTS - PLOT

� There are 6 phases in the plot line: exposition, risingaction, conflict, climax, falling action, andresolution.

source

THE ELEMENTS - THEME

� Theme - The theme is a major idea in a story, ora message conveyed by a work. It is usuallyabout life, society or human nature.

� Example of a theme: The mystery of death, the political situation of a post-war countries, the Example of a theme: The mystery of death, the political situation of a post-war countries, the climate change of nature.

� Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated.

� Themes arise from the plot of the story, the characters and the writer's style.

THE ELEMENTS - PREMISE

� Premise – a fundamental concept that drives theplot.

� It is the central idea, an intriguing set-up or asituation that makes people want to read or watchfurther.further.

� The premise should be the driving force behindevery event in the screenplay.

� A good premise is derived from emotions; love,hate, fear, jealousy, desire, etc.; and revolvesaround a character, a conflict and a conclusion.

THE ELEMENTS - PREMISE

� Examples of a premise:

Titanic - Love conquers all,

physically and spiritually

The Silence of the Lambs –

Courage destroys evil

THE ELEMENTS - SETTING

� Setting - the time, location, and everything in

which a story takes place, and initiates the

main backdrop and mood for a story.

� In other words, setting includes the time (time� In other words, setting includes the time (time

period) and place in which the film's story

occurs, including all of the other additional

factors, including climate (season), landscape,

people, social structures and economic

factors, customs, moral attitudes, and codes of

people’s behavior.

CHARACTER

� Character is people that act in a story.

� Character is used as one of a medium to

convey the story besides the situation, theme

and background.and background.

�We can exploit the story by the character's

belief, physical need, physical capabilities,

relationship, personality, background and

behavior.

CHARACTER TYPES

� There are several types of character that plays

the role in any screenplay:

a. Protagonist

Antagonistb. Antagonist

c. Hero

d. Villain

e. Sidekick

f. Guardian

PROTAGONIST

� Protagonist - the lead or main character (the

focal figure) in a screenplay in which the

narrative's plot revolve.

Bella Swan

(Twilight)

Neo

(The Matrix)

Jake Sully

(Avatar)

ANTAGONIST

� Antagonist - a person, or a group of people

who oppose the main character, or the main

characters.

Darth Vader

(Star Wars)

Sauron

(The Lord of

The Rings)

Voldemort

(Harry Potter)

HERO

� Hero - a main character which possess great

strength and courage to face danger and

difficulty, sacrifice himself to serve greater

good to all humanity.

Peter Parker

(Spiderman)

Frodo Baggins

(The Lord of the Rings)

Harry Potter

VILLAIN

� Villain – a bad or evil character who involves in wickedness or crime and typically tends to have negative effects on other characters especially to the hero.

Magneto

(X-Men)

Joker

(Batman)

SIDEKICK

� Sidekick - a close companion who is regarded

as a subsidiary and an alternate point in terms

of skills, knowledge or anything else that hero

doesn’t have .

Hermione & Ron

(Harry Potter)

Samwise Gamgee

(The Lord of the Rings)

GUARDIAN

� Guardian – a caretaker or advisor to the

characters especially to the hero.

Dr. Carlisle & Esme Cullen

(Twilight) Gandalf

(The Lord of the Rings)

Professor Dumbledore

(Harry Potter)

CONFLICTS

� Referring to the PLOT LINE that is stated earlier,

there is Conflict that cause a storyline. What is

a Conflict?

� Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, � Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument,

typically a prolonged one.

� In other words, conflict can also be described

as a complication in a plot event that

confounds or tightens the tension of a film.

TYPES OF CONFLICTS

� Conflicts can be divided into three categories:

� Personal

� Social

Environment� Environment

PERSONAL CONFLICTS

� Interpersonal Conflicts - an expressed struggle

between at least two interdependent parties

who see incompatible goals, scarce resources,

and interference from the other party in

achieving their goals.achieving their goals.

� Intrapersonal Conflicts – a struggle within

her/himself.

PERSONAL CONFLICTS

� Example of Interpersonal Conflicts: Allie and

Noah who were misunderstood to each other

for 7 years before happily married together.

(The Notebook, 2004)

PERSONAL CONFLICTS

� Example of Intrapersonal Conflicts: Frodo is torn between the quest to destroy the Ring to Mordor, or to hold back and live peacefully in the Shire. (The Lord of The Rings)

SOCIAL CONFLICTS

� Social Conflicts - is the struggle for agency or

power in society.

� It occurs when two or more actors oppose

each other in social interaction, commonly each other in social interaction, commonly

using social power in an effort to attain rare or

incompatible goals and prevent the opponent

from accomplishing them.

SOCIAL CONFLICTS

� Example: The conflicts of naming the King of Gondor because of the fights amongst the heirs. The King throne finally goes to Aragorn son of Arathorn.

(The Lord of the Ring – The Return of King)

The Return of The King

movie poster

ENVIRONMENT CONFLICTS

� Environmental Conflicts – a complication between human and the nature/environmental issues; such as pollution, energy, chemicals, food; and it’s impact to the economic cycle and human lifestyle.

� Example : the conflicts of Jake Sully in saving the land � Example : the conflicts of Jake Sully in saving the land of Na’vi in Pandora. (Avatar)

EXPOSITION

� Exposition – the conveyance (usually by

dialogue or action) of important background

information for the events of a story.

� In other words, it is also the set up of a film's � In other words, it is also the set up of a film's

story, including what's at stake for the

characters, the initial problem, and other main

problems.

EXPOSITION

� Example: the introductory of the characters,

the background or places he lives in, the

history behind his roots, etc.

Frodo and The Shire

CRISIS

� Crisis – A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or

danger where a difficult or important decision

must be made.

� In other words, crisis is the point at which events � In other words, crisis is the point at which events

reach their highest level of tension in a story or

a screenplay.

CRISIS

� Example: The Cullens family protecting Bella from James and his clans after he smelled the scent of Bella’s blood in the field.