1

Lecture 9:Lecture 9:Building the TensionBuilding the Tension

Professor Christopher Bradley

Psycho (1971)

Screenplay by Joseph Stefano, based on the novel by Robert Bloch

Previous LessonPrevious Lesson• Finding Meaning

– Aesthetic Emotion

• Finding (or creating) meaning out of life’s random events

– Premise

• And the “What if” question

• Other inspirations

2

Donnie Darko (2001)

Screenplay by Richard Kelly

Previous Lesson (Cont.)Previous Lesson (Cont.)

• The “Controlling Idea”

– What is it?

– What will you prove?

– Avoiding didacticism!

– How do you find it?

– The Counter-Idea

– Progressions

3

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Screenplay by Hubert Selby

Previous Lesson (Cont.)Previous Lesson (Cont.)• Identifying Your Story Type

– What kind of story is your story?

– Idealistic

– Pessimistic

– Ironic

4

The Bicycle Thief (1948)

Screenplay by Cesare Zavattini & Suso Cecci D’Amico & Vittorio De Sica & Oreste Biancoli & Adolfo Franci & Gerardo

Guerrireri

This LessonThis Lesson• Complications

– Complexity on Three Levels:

• Inner Conflict

• Personal Conflict

• Extra-Personal Conflict

5

The Insider (1999)

Screenplay by Erik Roth & Michael Mann

Based on an Article by Marie Brenner

This Lesson (Continued)This Lesson (Continued)

• Reversals

– In Scenes

– In Sequences

– In Acts

• Assignments

6

Fargo (1999)

Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

ComplicationsComplications

7

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Screenplay by Callie Khouri

Lesson 9: Part I

Complications (2)Complications (2)

• You build tension in 2 ways:

– Complications

– Complexity

8

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Screenplay by Callie Khouri

Complications (3)Complications (3)

• Inciting Incident

• Points of no return

• Build, build, build!

• Remember! Story moves forward only by conflict.

9

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

ComplexityComplexity

• Complexity happens on 3 levels:– Inner Conflict– Personal Conflict– Extra-Personal Conflict

10

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

• Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a perfect antagonist. She’s right. These are deranged men who cannot care for themselves.

1111

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

(A Note About the Antagonist)(A Note About the Antagonist)

• She is stern, but never, never unkind. She is perfectly justified to herself, which is what makes her so haunting and terrifying.

1212

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

(A Note About the Antagonist) - 2(A Note About the Antagonist) - 2

• Now, please watch the clip from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

1313

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

Clip and ComplexityClip and Complexity

Inner ConflictInner Conflict

• Billy is internally conflicted in what ways?• How are the other characters experiencing

inner conflict, particularly McMurphy?

14

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

Personal ConflictPersonal Conflict• With which other characters is Billy in

conflict? Nurse Ratched yes, but who else?• How are the other characters in inner conflict

and in conflict with each other?

15

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

Extra-personal ConflictExtra-personal Conflict

• In what ways are the characters in conflict with the larger world? (Families, the government and society with its concepts of mental illness might be three ways.)

16

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

Building Tension!Building Tension!

17

• Point of no return

• Build, build, build! No regression!

• Moving the story forward by conflict

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey

ReversalsReversals

18

Lesson 9: Part II

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Screenplay by Callie Khouri

ReversalsReversals• In every scene, every sequence,

every act and, of course, in the entire story.

19

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Screenplay by Callie Khouri

• Please watch the clip from Thelma & Louise.

2020

Reversals (2)Reversals (2)

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Screenplay by Callie Khouri

Reversals (3)Reversals (3)

• In what state of power are Thelma & Louise at the beginning of the scene?

• Louise being watched by the women inside– what does she learn about herself through their eyes? Why does she throw away the lipstick?

21

Reversals (4)Reversals (4)

• What state of power are the women in at the end? How does each woman’s interpretation of where they stand conflict?

• How does their state of power in relation to the FBI agents and Thelma’s husband change?

22

Reversals (5)Reversals (5)

• Going back to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in what state of power are McMurphy, the patients and Billy Bibbit at the beginning of the scene?

• What are some moments when they claim and lose power?

23

ComplexityComplexity• In Thelma & Louise, what are the 3

levels of complexity represented?– How are they in inner conflict?– Interpersonal conflict?– Extra-Personal conflict?

24

AssignmentsAssignments

25

Lesson 9: Part III

Vertigo (1968)

Screenplay by Alec Coppel & Samuel Taylor

ReadingReading

• Read Chapter 9 in Story, “Act Design”.• Do the Reading Review to be sure

you’re clear on what you’ve read!

26

27

E-Board PostE-Board Post• In a favorite film, cite a specific moment

when the tension in the story ratchets up suddenly.

• Considering today’s readings and lecture, identify why this scene is so effective.

27

End of Lecture 9End of Lecture 9

Next Lecture:

Keeping the Audience in the Story

Psycho (1971)

Screenplay by Joseph Stefano, based on the novel by Robert Bloch

28