Component 3: Examples and Genre

Task 1:

Which screenplay and DSB did you enjoy the most and why? Did you see anything that has inspired ideas for your own coursework? 

I enjoyed the screen play ‘Compos Mentis’ by Sian Taylor the most as it included short yet detailed and effective scenes which I believe built suspense and establishes a fast pace and chaotic mood to the film. I liked the way in which the scenes switched back and forth between locations and times of the day, making for a jarring and disrupted screenplay which overall mimicked the narrative. This also made the narrative at some points quite ambiguous which, as an audience member, kept me wanting to read more and find out what happens. I especially think the use of detail and setting description clearly set the scene and created a vivid image in the audience’s mind. For me the narrative arch was very gripping and interesting, and particularly unique.

Genre research task:

Genre- Drama

What are the typical conventions of this genre?

• Exhibits real life situations with realistic characters, setting and stories
• Portrays journeys of character development
• Intense social interaction
• Purpose of a dramatic story line to move the audience emotionally
• Portrays a hard-hitting ending leaving a lasting impression upon the audience
• Shows conflict , depictions of hardship, difficulties, emotional, metal or even physical pain
• Steady increase and build up of tension with determined climaxes to keep the audience hooked
• Characters are believable in such a way that the audiences sympathises with them

Genre Setting:

• Locations that make the story realistic and relevant to everyday

Genre Themes:

• Often include current social issues, injustices, corruption of power or societal ills

Genre Characters:

• Focus on the story and development of a main character that has a goal
• Main character usually flawed and has a journey to go on
• Realistic and relatable to audience- can sympathise with them or relate in some way
• Someone stopping this character from achieving their goal

Genre Props:

• Everyday normal mundane objects. Eg. mobile phone.

Genre Aesthetics:

• Dull lighting- portray the gritty and realistic nature
• Close ups of characters- to emotionally engage in the film
• Low angle/high angle shots- to portray power amongst the characters
• Different use of camera angles- to reveal the characters hidden motivations

Genre Narrative:

A drama is then divided into five parts, or acts, which some refer to as a dramatic arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and catastrophe:

Task 3: List as many films that include one of the four narrative requirements

• Under the skin – begins with enigma
• The Social Network – develops a single character
• Dark Waters- develops a single character
• Marriage Story- portrays conflict between 2 characters
• The Lighthouse- begins with enigma
• Thunder Road- develops a single character
• I,Tonya- portrays conflict between 2 characters
• Moon- begins with enigma
• Pan’s Labyrinth- develops a single character
• Blade Runner- develops a single character
• The Martian- develops a single character
• Beasts of the southern wild- develops a single character
• The Prestige- portrays conflict between 2 characters/ narrative twist
• The Truman show- develops a single character
• Misery- portrays conflict between 2 characters

Task 4:

Narrative beginning with an enigma: Under The Skin

Under the Skin (Glazer, 2013) opens with an enigma as we don’t know who the main character is or where she is come from. The abstract imagery at the start gives the impression the character is not human however this is not made explicitly obvious to the audience. The lack of dialogue or exposition appears ambiguous and unclear where the film is set or what the intentions of the character are. In the opening we see her stripping another woman of her clothes and proceeding to go to a shopping mall to buy clothes and makeup, however it is not until later that we find out that this is in order to seduce men.

Narrative that establishes and develops a single character: Thunder Road

Thunder Road (Cummings, 2018) focuses on the story of police officer Jim Arnaud and how he tries to balance dealing with the loss of his mother, his job and parenting his young daughter after a divorce from his wife. This follows his journey and what he experiences going through all this. We first see the Jim at his mother’s funeral where he gives an awkward speech about her, and how she would sing the Bruce Springsteen song “Thunder Road” to him. Jim attempts to dance to the song, but his CD player malfunctions and he stumbles away in tears. Jim appears as emotionally struggling , going through phases of anger, upset and depression, all of which the audience witnesses, making us feel sympathy for him.

Narrative portraying conflict between two central characters: Marriage story

Marriage Story (Baumbach, 2019) looks at the conflict between a stage director and his actor wife struggle through a divorce that shows the extremes of marriage and their relationship. They are introduced as a couple which constantly fight and argue back and forth making for an unhealthy relationship.

Task 5: Thunder Road (Cummings, 2018)

What characters are we introduced to: Police officer Jim ‘James’ Arnaud

• Awkward/ clumsy/ uncomfortable/ unsettled
• Wearing his typical police uniform
• Bad at social interaction
• Weirdly optimistic
• Unprofessional/ uncoordinated
• Easily emotional- try to act put together
• Inappropriate -calls someone a ‘bitch’ at the funeral
• Feel sorry for him
• Easily distracted and sidetracked

Key themes:

• Establishes dark comedy- uses subtle uncomfortable humour
• Regret
• Family

Genre conventions:

• Shows a real life situation and setting (Funeral, death of a loved one)
• Portrays journeys of character development (Jim)
• Main character Jim is flawed and has a metaphorical/emotional journey to go on

Key Film Form:

• All one take- using a tracking shot from a long shot to a close up of Jim
• Only dialogue- no background music to emphasise the importance of what Jim is saying
• Camera tracks to follow Jim and his movements- as Jim becomes more restless so does the camera