dramatic elements of a story
TRANSCRIPT
Dramatic Elements
of a StorySCRIPTWRITING – SEYMOUR B. SANCHEZ
THEME
The larger cultural meaning, message or significance of a story
PLOT
A scheme, plan or
method to
execute the
premise
The execution of
the story
The HOW of the
story
SAMPLE PLOT: CINDERELLA
SAMPLE PLOT: THREE LITTLE PIGS
SUBPLOT
Mini-stories that may or may not be related to the
main story
Generally involves incidents surrounding some
character(s) other than the main characters
SAMPLE: THE HUNGER GAMES
CONFLICT
Dramatic structure that is important for the story
“man versus self”
“man versus nature”
“man versus man”
OBSTACLE
A barrier or impediment to reaching a goal – something that
the main character(s) must bypass or overcome
CRISIS
A challenge, threat, or problem for the protagonist
Developed in the middle section of the story through a series
of crisis
The largest crisis usually comes just before the climax
CLIMAX
The emotional and often physical high point of the story
Resolves the suspense of the storyline
DENOUEMENT
Short wind-up of the story that occurs after the climax
STORY
ELEMENTS
BACKSTORY
Events that happen
before a script begins
that are important to
the story
A character’s previous
history
EXPOSITION
Information given to the audience
about something that happens off-
screen or before the story begins
(backstory)
It is most commonly given in
dialogues because this is the
easiest way to communicate
information
Other ways are through flashback,
a narrator, or even a title (“A long
time ago in a galaxy far away…)
PREPARATION
Technique to set up the audience for something that will be
important later
It prepares us for certain actions or events, or for the
appearance of a special object or person in the story.
Later occurrences no longer seem overly coincidental or
contrived
PLANT
(Preparation Technique)
Preparation technique in which an
object or person is presented so
that it may be used later
To paraphrase Chekhov, if you’re
going to use a gun in Act III, show
it in Act 1
FORESHADOWING
(Preparation Technique)
Setting up events to come
Used both in suspense and
preparation
Suspense foreshadows – the
audience is cued to expect
something, and anticipates
the payoff
HOOK
A plot twist or development that
grabs the audience’s attention
and compels them to keep
watching
JEOPARDY
A character in physical or emotional danger
Typical way to end a television or radio drama act (cliffhangers)
REVERSE
A twist in the plot
A turnaround of a character (as from bad to good) or character
fortune
FLASHBACK
Scenes that go back in time to
reveal prior events in the story
Is a cinematic technique where
we are transported back in time
to see some event visually take
place
For this technique to work well,
audiences need to know this is a
flashback and that they are
seeing something out of the past
so it is not confused with the
present
SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF
The audience’s deliberate withholding of their expectations of
reality in a story’s plot
ON THE FLY
A story that begins quickly with lots of actions
WITH ADAGIO
A term for a story that begins with a subtle, often slow opening
GENRE
GENRE
Genres identify
similar film and
television types. This
is because of plot
similarities, typical
characters, themes,
settings, or even the
“look” of the film
Examples: westerns,
action/adventure,
romance, comedy,
science fiction,
gangster, horror,
disaster films, etc.
GENRE
To write within a genre, it is necessary to study the form.
Who are the heroes and how are they portrayed?
What is ritualistic elements are usually present?
Remember.
Producers buy genres.
COINCIDENCE,
CONVENIENCE,
and the
CONTRIVED
COINCIDENCE, CONVENIENCE, and the CONTRIVED
Using incidents that seem coincidental, convenient, or
contrived strains credibility and makes the audience feel
manipulated. The audience is inclined not to believe these
things.
Coincidences happen by chance rather than logical plotting.
They include overheard conversations, chance sightings, and
items forgotten or found
One type of blatant convenience is the IDIOT PLOT in which
the plot develops as a result of a character’s doing something
completely stupid and idiotic