Student Opening Sequences: What's Effective?

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Narrative Theory: Divergent (2014)

TODOROV’S THEORY OF NARRATIVE

Todorov was a Bulgarian literary theorist. He suggested that conventional narratives were structured in four stages, staring with a state of equilibrium in which life is normal and the protagonist is happy. This state of normality is then disrupted by an outside force, which has to be fought against in order to return to a state of equilibrium again.

Narrative Stage	Explanation
Equilibrium	Where everything is normal and happy at the beginning
Disruption	Something happens to disrupt the happiness
Battle for resolution	Someone tried to restore the equilibrium by solving the disruption
New Equilibrium	Where everything becomes normal and happy again at the end

In the film Divergent (2014)- Directed by: Neil Burger, this theory is shown.

Divergent- Narrative Theory

Character Theory: The Amazing Spiderman 2 (2014)

VLADIMIR PROPP’S COMMON CHARACTER’S THEORY

Vladimir Propp was a Russian critic and literary theorist. After analysing over 100 Russian fairytales in the 1920s, he proposed that it was possible to classify the characters and their actions into clearly defined roles and functions. Propp suggested that characters took the role of narrative “spheres of action” or a function. He states that there are six main character types: 

Character Type	Role In Narrative
The Protagonist (Hero/ Heroine)	Leads the narrative, tries to solve the disruption
The Antagonist (Villain)	Tries to prevent the protagonist from achieving the resolution
The Dispatcher	Someone who gives the quest to the hero/ sends the hero on his quest
The Princess/ Prize	A male, female or object as a prize for the protagonist
The Helper	A character whose job is to help the protagonist- often a sidekick
The Donor	A character who gives the protagonist something which helps them in their quest

This theory is applied to many different films today, especially those from the thriller genre. I will relate the theory to the film, The Amazing Spiderman 2 (2014).


The Protagonist- Peter Parker/Spiderman

-Undercover as a heroic figure

-Saves the characters from the antagonist

-Main character who leads the narrative

The Antagonist- Electro/ Max Dillon and Green Goblin/ Harry Osborn

-Max is mutated into a living electric generator and wants power and authority over Spiderman and the city.

-Harry Osborn helps Electro to escape and get revenge on spiderman

-Harry finds a suit made with venom from genetically altered spiders and transforms into a goblin-like creature

-Both attack against spiderman

The Dispatcher- Harry Osborn

-Convinces Peter to find spiderman and ask for his blood.

-Old friend of Peter, turns out to become the antagonist.

The Princess/ The Helper- Gwen Stacey

-Is taken by the villain and must be rescued by the hero

-Girlfriend to the protagonist

-Helps spiderman get the power back up across the city and fight against the antagonist.

The Donor- Aunt May

-Tells Peter about his parents in order for him to solve the mystery of their suspicious death.

Audience Theory: The Hunger Games (2012)

Describing Audiences

Young and Rubicam

Young and Rubicam created a table of different audience characteristics in order to categorise them.

Uses and Gratifications

Suggests that audiences enjoy products which offer them opportunities to do one of the following things:

I will relate this theory to the film, The Hunger Games (2012)- Directed by: Gary Ross.

The socio-economic group status of the target audience for 'The Hunger Games' is C2, D and E. The audience demographic for the film is mainly straight, single, working class men and women aged from 12-30. The target audience would most likely have an interest in action/adventure films and admire qualities such as independence, freedom and power.

According to the Uses and Gratification theory, the trailer fits into the category of 'Escape'. This is signified by the interpretation of the future world where an individual must fight for their beliefs in a hegemonic society.

According to Young and Rubicam's theory, the film reflects the characteristics of 'The Struggler'.The main characters seek escape and they seen as being at the hierarchical society, which the audience may relate to. Also, the audience would display characteristics such as an interest to try out new ideas and experiences like 'The Explorer'. Due to the action based scenes and images, 'The succeeder' could relate to the film as well. 

Analysis of Script Writing: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction (1994) was directed by Quentin Tarantino. I analysed the opening script of this film in order to clarify the features used and to utilise them in my own opening sequence scripting. The main features used are descriptive details of the locations/characters and narrative enigma to engage the audience.

This script introduces the location in great detail by describing the country, time, specific location, business of the area and the surroundings. The script then introduces the two main characters of the opening: a young man and a young woman. Not giving the characters specific names from the start creates narrative enigma for the audience. The descriptions include the age, accent and a character trait of the individual. However, for the young woman, this is limited and thus creates suspicion towards her identity. Before the dialogue, the script specifies how the conversation is to be spoken. The conversation starts midway, giving the audience many unanswered questions. Using the word 'risky' in the first line evokes connotations of danger or illegal actions, however this seriousness is contrasted later by the use of humorous duck 'quacks'. This creates suspense and makes the audience curious as to what is being discussed. The use of narrative enigma convinces the audience to continue watching a film in order to figure out the unanswered questions they have.

Director Research: Christopher Nolan

Name: Christopher Nolan

Born: 30th July 1970

Director of:
-Memento (2000)
-Insomnia (2002)

-The Prestige (2006)

-The Dark Knight (2008)

-Inception (2010)

-Interstellar (2014)

Education:

Born in London in 1970, Christopher Nolan began making films at the age of seven years using his father's Super-8 camera and an assortment of male action figures. Chris studied English Literature at University College London while starting to make 16-millimetre films at the college film society. 

Interesting Facts:

-Opening scenes are usually a flashback or a piece of a scene from the middle or end of the movie.

-His films usually revolve around characters that are afflicted with some kind of psychological disorder.

-Very frequently his films contain blackmail, attempted blackmail or a reference to blackmail.

-Never uses non-diegetic soundtrack music - soundtrack music is always used dietetically.

-Films often take place with scenes out of chronological order with multiple flashbacks.