Story Lecture - Semester 2 - Part 1

Front 1

Describe an Analogy

Back 1

A similarity between like features of two things, on which acomparison may be based.

Analogy allows you to understand something newby comparing it to something you know.

“A heart is like a pump”

Front 2

Describe a Parable

Back 2

A short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth,religious principle, or moral lesson.

Front 3

What is used for comparing two things indirectly

Back 3

Metaphor

Front 4

What is "The apple of my eye”

Back 4

A Metaphor

Front 5

What is "The Good Samaritan"

Back 5

A Parable

Front 6

What is "A heart is like a pump"

Back 6

An Analogy

Front 7

What are Analogy, Metaphors and Parables useful for?

Back 7

Conveying your message clearly to your audience!

Develop Subtext

Front 8

Describe Subtext

Back 8

The unspoken intent or expression of our stories.

What we find when we “read between the lines”.

BASIC level- it’s about using these tools to effectivelyconvey your message to your audience.

Front 9

What is “We’re gunna need a bigger boat..”

Back 9

Subtext

Front 10

Cut + Shot =

Back 10

MONTAGE!!

Front 11

Describe a Montage

Back 11

montage means editing.

Front 12

Why is the term "Montage Sequence" a misleading term?

Back 12

since ALL editing is in fact,montage.

More correct to think of a “montage sequence” simply as a sequencewithin the film.

Front 13

How do Film Makers apply Constructivist Theory?

Back 13

Feed into your audience’s expectations, build patterns thatare predictable, safe, expected

OR

undercut it, playwith it, destabilize your audience after they think they aresafe WITH PURPOSE, not “just ‘cause”.

Must play by the rules of visual storytelling before you breakthem.

Front 14

Describe the Constructivist Theory

Back 14

Constructivism is basically a theory -- based on observation and scientific study -- about how people learn. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.

Front 15

What would you call the general system of relationshipsamong the parts of a film?

Back 15

Film Form

Front 16

What is the trick to understanding Film Form?

Back 16

It occurs over time!!

Now it's here oh! now it's not!!

Front 17

What are the five general principles of film form?

Back 17

1. Function

2. Similarity and Repetition

3. Difference and Variation

4. Development

5. Unity/Disunity

Front 18

Describe the FUNCTION principle of Film Form

Back 18

Every element in a film has one or morefunction.

To determine function, ask: “What otherelement(s) demand that it be present?”

Helpful to ask:“What is the element doingthere?”

What is the motivation of that element?

-costume, lighting, character, props, etc are allmotivated in some way

Consider the function of this character’s camerain Rear Window...

Front 19

Describe the Similarity and Repetition principle of Film Form

Back 19

Consider this pattern:ABABCDAEFGAHIJA

The repeated “A” in the pattern establishesand satisfies our expectations. (music –verse, chorus, verse, chorus)

MOTIF:any significant repeated element in a filmA motif can be:

-an object

-a location

-a line of dialogue

-a pattern of lighting

-a character trait

Consider the motif of the red jacket inSchindler’s List...

Front 20

Describe the Difference and Variation principle of Film Form

Back 20

Consider the pattern:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--- It would make a pretty boring film!

To notice Similarity/Repetition is toalso notice Difference/Variation.

Charting these changes helpus understand how the film isdeveloping over time.

To find these changes, “flip” back andforth between Similarity and Difference(just like flipping your drawings).

Front 21

Describe the Development principle of Film Form

Back 21

Development is progression moving forward from beginning throughmiddle to end.

Consider this pattern:ABABCDABCABCDAEFABHIJADKLMNABCAOPQRSTABCTUVABCWXYAZ

We can see the progress through the alphabet from beginningthrough middle to end.

To understand a film’s progression, we can usesegmentation.

Front 22

Describe the Unity/Disunity principle of Film Form

Back 22

Do all the previous principles exist inneat, tidy, and satisfying ways?If so, the film has unity.

We can think of unity within a filmas a woven rug. Are all the elementswoven together?

If so, the filmhas unity.If there are stray elements that arenot woven in neatly, the filmhas disunity.

Ex. briefcase in Pulp Fiction

Front 23

How many stages does the hero's path have and what are they according to Joseph Campbell

Back 23

Separation-- Initiation-- Return

Front 24

What is the hero's story for Woody?

Back 24

deals with being replaced by a new toy, a space ranger called Buzz Lightyear.

Separation-- Initiation-- Return

Front 25

What is the hero's story for Promethus?

Back 25

ascended to heavens, stole fire, returned to earth

Separation-- Initiation-- Return

Front 26

Describe a PROTAGONIST

Back 26

A protagonist is as a protagonist does.

A protagonist is not born, a protagonist is made.

A protagonist is what we wish we could be.

Front 27

Describe a CATHARSIS

Back 27

The purging of emotions. This is the basis of drama. Getting ride offear or pity.

Front 28

What literary device lets is reach Catharsis? And how is it used?

Back 28

The Plot through the Protagonist

Front 29

Describe ANTAGONISM

Back 29

A force that opposes theprotagonist’s efforts.

Not the same as “antagonist”.

Front 30

If some stories have Antagonists what do all stories have?

Back 30

ANTAGONISM

Front 31

What is the Protagonists goal?

Back 31

CATHARSIS

Front 32

What does the Protagonist drive?

Back 32

PLOT

Front 33

What is in the Protagonists way?

Back 33

Always ANTAGONISM

Sometimes Antagonist

Front 34

What does the Protagonist need?

Back 34

An OBJECTIVE

Front 35

What does the OBJECT of a story need?

Back 35

- clearly defined

- strongly motivated

Front 36

objective + obstacle=

Back 36

conflict

Front 37

How do we measure an OBJECTIVE in a story?

Back 37

1. INTENSITY- How strongly does a character want it - will they expend effortto realize it?

2. DEPTH- How far into the character’s being is it rooted?

3. ACCESSIBILITY- Can you bring the audience to an emotional understandingof it?

4. CONCRETENESS- Is it something that can be attained, and how will we knowand feel its attainment?

5. ANTAGONISM- Is it possible to generate obstacles to it?

6. RELEVANCE- Is the action that will follow from this objective the story youwant to tell?

Front 38

What do you use INTENSITY, DEPTH, ACESSIBILITY, CONCRETENESS, ANTAGONISM and RELEVANCE to measure?

Back 38

The stories OBJECTIVE

Front 39

What does a protagonist need to be healthy andsuccessful?

Back 39

Objective

Obstacles

Conflict

...not sure if this is phrased correctly

Front 40

What are the three kinds of CONFLICT?

Back 40

INTERNAL (human vs. self)

INTERPERSONAL (human vs. human)

EXTERNAL (human vs. world)

Front 41

What is potentially the RICHEST form of CONFLICT?

Back 41

INTERNAL

Front 42

Describe Act 1

Back 42

The Set Up

This portion of the story establishes:

1. Who is the main character?

2. What is the dramatic premise?

3.What is the dramatic situation (in other words- setting)?

Front 43

Describe Act 2

Back 43

Confrontation

This portion of the story:

Depicts the main character’s struggle against obstacles tohis/her/its objective.

The majority of the action takes place in this portion of the story.

Front 44

Describe Act 3

Back 44

ResolutionThis portion of the story:

1. Completes the dramatic premise.

2. Answers the BIG story questions.

For example: Does she escape the zombie plague? Does the lostchild find his parents?

Front 45

Describe Kinetic Typography

Back 45

Moving text to express an idea or emotion usinganimation

Title sequences, television commercials, trailers…

Composite layers of text (or shapes) to animateindividual letters or words

Front 46

What is Saul Bass famous for?

Back 46

His use of Kinetic Typography

Front 47

Who uses Expressive Typorgraphy

Back 47

Comic Books

Kids Books

Comics

Graphic Novels

Front 48

Describe Calligram

Back 48

A calligram is a poem,phrase, or word inwhich the typeface,calligraphy orhandwriting isarranged in a waythat creates a visualimage. The imagecreated by the wordsexpesses visually whatthe word, or words,say.

Front 49

Whats the trick to Kinetic Typography according to Saul Bass?

Back 49

“Design is thinking made visual.”-Saul Bass

Always think about what you’re trying to say, and useyour font choices to help says it.