Narrative in Film

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Narrative in Film

• SPH 106 Broadcasting Film
• Prof. Gary Christenson

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• Narration is fundamental to film
• First narrative film made in 1895, The Gardner
  Gets Watered
• Until then, actualities were made
• Comedies begin to appear in 1902
• Nickelodeons appear in number by 1910

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• Fiction films represent 97 of industry by 1909.
• D.W. Griffith perfects narrative film with more
  advanced editing techniques and multiple camera
  shots. This is best seen in Birth of a Nation.

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Fundamentals of Narrative Film

• A contract between filmmaker and audience that
  determines interpretation.
• Story (total event) and plot (sequencing of
  sub-events).
• A narrative point of view (first person, third
  person)

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Narrative Structure

• Story, which designates the larger set of events.
• Plot, which refers to the sequencing of events.
• Flashback, a return to an earlier event, often
  for purposes of advancing the narrative. Examples
  found in Annie Hall and Citizen Kane.

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• Elliptical narrative, one that jumps around in
  many different time frames. Ex. Annie Hall.

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Authorship Point of View

• Implied author, the artistic perspective or
  style that a film has. Consider the different
  styles between a Spielberg film and a Kubrick
  film. One is noted for being fanciful and
  uplifting while the other is known for cyncism
  and a darker look.
• Real author, the flesh and blood creator of the
  work.

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• Point of view determines camera shots and
  transitions.
• First person, implicit or explicit, (events shown
  through eyes of character)
• Third person (most often used with character
  reacting to events)

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Classical Hollywood Narrative

• Features a main line of action and subplots.
• Plot is directed by a main character
  (protagonist) pursuing a goal.
• Conclusion shows characters achieving or failing
  to achieve goals.

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Narrative Orders

• Explicit causalityone event clearly causes
  another in the narrative. Ex. Death Wish
• Implicit causalityevents are more loosely
  related to one another. Ex. The Conversation

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Viewers contribution

• Suspensegiving viewers enough information to
  create involvement and even anxiety. Ex.
  Cliffhanger
• Surprisewithholding information from viewers.
  Ex. Psycho

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Genres

• A set of interrelated stories and associated
  images. Cultural motifs.
• Western
• Gangster film
• Musical
• Horror film
• Sci-fi film