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Writing What is the writers

contribution?

Can you name ascreenwriter?

How many writerswork on a film?

How much is thedirector and howmuch is the writer?

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Writing Reading a

screenplay - what is

there and what ismissing?

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Writing Classical Paradigm

Dominant narrativestructure in American Film

Protagonist - initiatesaction

Antagonist - resists action

Dramatic question - How

does the protagonist getwhat he/she wants

Conflict/opposition

Patterns of action - cause& effect until climax and

resolution

Casablanca

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Writing Dramatic unity

Plausible motivations

Coherence

Deadlines help move theaction

Often Classical Narrative isa journey, chase or search

Protagonist is goal-oriented- passive characters arenot deemed as interesting

Casablanca

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act I - Set up First quarter of the movie

Premise defined

Obstacles laid out

Casablanca

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act II Confrontation Protagonist fights obstacles

Reversal of fortune in middle

Casablanca

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act III - Resolution What happens as a result

of the climax

Casablanca

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Writing Point of View

First person narrator

Omniscient point of

view

Third person narrator

Objective point of

view

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Writing First person narrator

Tells his/her own story

or an objectiveobserver

Can be reliable or not

Can be the camera

A ClockworkOrange

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Writing Omniscient point of

view

Camera or narratoris an all-knowingobserver like in anovel

Every time the

camera is moved,you are given a newway to evaluate thescene

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Writing Objective point of

view

Variation ofomniscient

Records events

impartially - ideally

suited to film More realistic as

there is less

distortionThe Passenger

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Writing Non-verbal orfigurative techniques

The Shining&

Diane Arbus Twins

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Writing Motifs

Integrated within the

realistic texture of afilm

Anything that is

systematically

repeated, yet does

not call attention to

itself - unduly

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Writing Symbols

Being

There

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Writing Symbols

Planetofthe Apes & Godz

illa

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Writing Metaphor A comparison that

cannot literally be

true Two items that are

not normally together

- devoured be love

2001: A Space Odyssey

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Writing Allegory Avoidance of realism

Connection between

a character orsituation and a

symbolic idea or

complex ideas

The Seventh Seal

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Writing Allegory Avoidance of realism

Connection between

a character orsituation and a

symbolic idea or

complex ideas 8& 1/2

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Writing Allusion Implied reference to

a well-know person,

event or work of art

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Writing Allusion Implied reference to

a well-know person,

event or work of art

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Writing Homage

Like a quote or

tribute to a colleagueor established

master

Battleship Potemkin

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Writing Homage

Like a quote or

tribute to a colleagueor established

master

The Untouchables

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WritingPsycho & Halloween H20

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Writing Literary adaptations

Loose

Faithful Literal

Emma

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Writing Loose

KingLearandRan

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Writing Faithful

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Writing Literal - often

reserved for stage

plays

Proof - the film

and the play

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Writing Casablanca 1942

Dir. Michael Curtiz

Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid

Bergman, Paul Henreid &Claude Rains

Voted #2 film of all time by theAmerican Film Institute

Nominated for 7 Oscars - won3 - Best Picture, Best Director& Best Screenplay

Written by Murray Burnett andJoan Alison (play: EverybodyComesto Rick's), Julius J.Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and

Howard Koch (screenplay)

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Writing Casablanca

Here's looking at you,kid" was voted as the #5

movie quote by theAmerican Film Institute

"Louis, I think this is thebeginning of a beautifulfriendship." was voted as#20

"Round up the usualsuspects." was voted as#32

"We'll always haveParis." was voted as #43

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act I - Set up First quarter of the movie

Premise defined

Obstacles laid out

Casablanca

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act II Confrontation

Protagonist fights obstacles

Reversal of fortune in middle

Casablanca

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Writing Screenplay Structure

Three Acts

Act III - Resolution

What happens as a resultof the climax

Casablanca