Film 101

First person narrator

A character in the narrative who typically imparts information in the form of voice over narration

Round character

A character who is a complex, real person. Example: Harold (Will Ferrell) in Stranger Than Fiction. Opposite of flat character

Flat character

A character with a narrow range of personhood. Example: Penny, the writer's assistant (Queen Latifah) in Stranger Than Fiction. Opposite of round character

Linear film

A chronologically delivered story

Narrative

A cinematic structure in which the filmmakers have selected and arranged events in a cause and effect sequence occurring over time. The narrator delivers the narration that conveys the narrative.

Extrinsic metaphor

A heavy handed metaphor: occurs out of nowhere, doesn't build naturally

Intrinsic metaphor

A more subtle metaphor that stems naturally from a scene

Externally observable truth

A style of fiction. Creates high sense of verisimilitude/is very close to reality, believable as true events

Artistic semblance of truth

A style of fiction. Doesn't at all resemble reality but we buy into it/it's compelling still because it's close enough to the truth. Ex: fantasy films

Internally observable truth

A style of fiction. Filled with characters, lessons, and stories that we hope/wish represented reality but doesn't actually. Example: stranger than fiction

Symbol

A thing/object with multiple meanings. Often introduced as a symbol through repetition, characters telling you, the presentation of it, or the context. Example: the watch in Stranger Than Fiction and Pan's Labyrinth

Developing character:

Character that changes throughout the film. Example: Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth. Opposite of static character

Narrative movies

A typical movie: a story telling movie, sometimes based on real events, based on screenplays with actions and dialogue planned out. Fiction films

Internal action

Action in which a scene is trying to build understanding of what's happening emotionally

External action

Action in which people are fighting with exaggerated body language

Foil

Acts as opposite force to any character, often to create change. A foil character example: Ana, the rebellious baker (Maggie Gyllenhaal) in Stranger Than Fiction

Catalyst

After the character and world have been established, the story is started by something occurring to change the normal world. This is the catalyst or inciting incident and presents character with the goal that drives the narrative

Static character

Character that doesn't change/stays stationary throughout film. Example: the professor in Stranger Than Fiction. Opposite of developing character.

Metaphor

An action with at least two meanings, one literal and one figurative

Familiar image

Any image that a director periodical repeats I'm a movie (with or without variations) to help stabilize its narrative

Dutch angle/oblique angle

Camera angles start tilting to emphasize increased weirdness or chaos of a scene

Emotional restraint

Common in critically acclaimed films- tease audience with suspense and draw it out as long as possible

Non diegetic elements

Elements of a film that we see and hear on screen that do not come from inside the world— movie scores, titles and credits, voice overs from third person narrators

Allegory

Essentially a large scale metaphor. The entire story has at least 2 meanings, a literal and figurative meaning.

Order of events of a narrative film

Exposition: introduction to characters Inciting incident/catalyst Rising action: complication, obstacle in way of growth/ function Crisis: the narrative peak Climax: protagonist faces the major obstacle Resolution: aftermath and tying up loose ends of story Usually has 3 act 4 component structure

Styles of fiction

Externally observable truth, internally observable truth, and artistic semblance of truth. Which one applies to a film isn't a hard set answer: has to be argued

Backstory

Fictional history behind the situation existing at the start of the main story

Cinematic time

How cuts and other editing devices punctuate the flow of the narrative and graphically indicate that the images occur in human made cinematic time, not seamless real time

Types of irony

Irony, dramatic irony, irony of situation, irony of character, irony of setting , and irony of sound/tone

Documentary movies:

Movies that use actual people, places, and events as source material. Narrative to documentary is fiction to non fiction except documentaries don't always ref elect objective truth because of the storytelling factor

Restricted narration

Narration using suspense— limits the information it provides the audience with to things known only to a single character.

Omniscient

Narrative can be omniscient meaning it knows all and can tell us whatever it wants us to know. Omniscient narration has unrestricted access to all aspects of the narrative

Third person narrator

Narrative voice that knows all and can provide information not accessible to a narrator who is part of the story.

Repetituon

Number of times that a story element recurs in a plot

Conflict

Opposing forces that can't exist at the same time

Anti-hero

Protagonists who are unsympathetic and chasing less than noble goals.

Foreshadowing

Slipping in hints at the future. Example: stone engravings of the faun, Ofelia, and her baby brother standing at the portal foreshadow to the end of the movie when Ofelia is asked to spill her brother's blood

Irony

Something unexpected or the opposite of expected occurs. Example: dramatic irony:

Non linear film

Story with events not delivered chronologically (flashbacks, moments outside of time, ect)

Mark Forester Zack Helm Will Ferrell-Harold Crick Maggie Gyllenhaal-Ana Pascal Emma Thompson-Karen Eiffel Queen Latifah-Penny Escher Dustin Hoffman-Professor Jules Hilbert

Stranger Than Fiction director, associated crew member (screenwriter), major performers and their characters names

Narration

The act of telling the story. The narrator delivers the narration that conveys the narrative.

Story duration

The amount of time that the implied story of a film takes to occur

Irony of character

The character's actions or words go against the stereotyped/presented character

Diagesis

The cinematic world in which a story takes place

Verisimilitude

The closeness to reality a piece of art has

Plot duration

The elapsed time of the events within the story of a film (the elapsed time of a plot)

Diegetic elements

The elements that make up a movie's world: events, character, objects, settings, and sounds

Normal world

The first few minutes of a movie establish the rules of this universe, and set our expectations of time. Character is also often established here

Duration

The length of time events in life and in the movie take to occur

Screen duration

The movie's running time on screen

Antagonist

The opposing force to the protagonist

Scope

The overall range, in time and place, of the movie's story

Protagonist

The primary character who pursues a goal

Setting

The time and place in which a movie's story occurs

Dramatic irony

We the audience know something but the characters don't

Characterization

What makes up/creates a unique character. Including appearance (costume design and make up), name, dialogue, action (internal and external), own behavior and reactions to other's behavior

Suspense

When a narrative is purposefully withholding information to make audience more involved/curious

Stretch relationship

When screen duration is longer than plot duration

Summary relationship

When screen duration is shorter than plot duration

Real time

When screen duration responds directly to plot duration

Direct address narration

When the first person narrator interrupts the narrative to deliver direct address narration directly to the audience— breaking the fourth wall

Voice over narration

When we hear a character's voice OVER the picture without actually seeing the character speak the words

Narrator

Who or what tells the story. The narrator delivers the narration that conveys the narrative. In movies the camera is often the primary narrator.