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.