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STORY

ELEMENTS
CCOPSSS
CCOPSSS
Characters
Cause and effect
Opening and closing sequence
Point of view
Setting
Storylines
Structure of time
CCOPS
SS
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand the"nature
and function of and relationships between story elements in fictional media
narrative,including:establishment and development of and relationships
betweencharacters."
It is important to understand that this element is NOT character motivation - that comes
under cause and effect.
We need to look at a few things with the element
establishment of relationships
development of relationships between characters.

Establishment refers to how the characters / relationships are introduced. Think about
the first few scenes with these characters together.
How are CAMELS used to represent the characters? What clues does this give to
theaudience?
The development refers to how relationships grow over the narrative. Is there a key
moment / scene that changes therelationship?
The best thing to do is to pick a couple of character relationships and follow them
through the film text we study.
Key points to think about:
How, when and where do we meet theprotagonistand the antagonist?
What is the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist at the start of the film?
How does this change? Is there a key scene where their relationship changes?
Rear Window (Hitchcock, 1954)
How are we introduced to all the characters?
How is Jefferies introduced?
What does he represent?
Describe his relationship with the other characters.

https://youtu.be/CC7rzCzJ5cg
The Dark Knight (Nolan, 2008)
How are we introduced to The Joker?
What does he represent? What kind of character is he?
Describe the relationship he has with the other clowns.
What production elements are used to show The Joker?

https://youtu.be/0OYBEquZ_j0
https://youtu.be/yZxs_jGN7Pg
EXAMPLE RESPONSE:
CHARACTER
In The Sixth Sense the production element of CAMERA is used

to develop the character of Cole. In the opening of the film,


Cole is often captured through the use of high camera angles,
which convey to the audience the constant distress and
anxiety inherit in his character. These high angles, which
depict Cole's vulnerability, become less frequent as Cole
further develops a relationship with Malcolm. Low angles of
Cole are scattered through the later stages of the narrative, in
particular when Malcolm visits Cole in the Church after
discovering his secret. The low angle, which frames Cole
standing in a position of power over Malcolm accentuates that
Cole has developed into a character who has a clear
understanding of his situation. Furthermore, this camera angle
signals a shift in the relationship between Cole and Malcolm.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Cause and Effect is what drives the narrative forward and engages the
audience. It is a series or chain of events / actions that progress the
direction of the narrative.
Cause and Effect often consists of character motivations. A character is
motivated to achieve a goal, they go on this mission, this leads other
characters to help / prevent this achievement.
Cause and Effect can beevidentin both linear and non-linear films.
Within our linear narrative The Sixth Sense, Malcolm is motivated not to fail
another patient (as he did with Vincent Grey), so he is motivated to help
Cole. This leads Malcolm into Cole's life and he continues to try and gain
Cole's trust to help him. Malcolm's new motivation therefore drives the rest
of the narrative forward as he seeks to make up for his failure with Vincent.
OPENING, DEVELOPMENT +
CLOSING
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand the"nature
and function of and relationships between story elements in fictional media
narrative,including:the opening, development and resolution of the narrative."
The opening sequence has several purposes:
Introduces the characters
Themes / Issues are shown
Genre is clear
Begins the story
Establishes the setting

We need to not only look at just the opening but how the film develops from this
opening and how these ideas are resolved at the end of the film. Some narrative films
don't resolve all ideas at the end of the narrative. This is to leave the audience open to
think and reflect upon what the further possibilities are of the characters.
https://youtu.be/3RAkY4R691E

Hot Fuzz (Wright, 2007)

In the opening sequence of Hot Fuzz it's difficult to ignore notice the use of camera
(keep an eye out for the use of whip pans - really fast camera panning). The opening
of this film also offers an interesting look at how to establish a character quickly.
How is the character introduced to the audience?

What Production Elements are used to help the audience understand this character?

How is this achieved through the use of Story Elements?

How are narrative possibilities / the genre introduced?


https://youtu.be/UX_rPkWzlqs

Ferris Bueller's Day Of (Hughes, 1985)


What do you think is going to happen and why?
What elements has the director used and why?
Consider the term 'narrative possibilities' - what does this short clip
suggest / explain about the development of the narrative from the opening
sequence?
POINT OF VIEW
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand
the"nature and function of and relationships between story elements in
fictional media narrative,including:point/s of view from which the
narrative is presented."
Point of view is who's perspective is the story told from. This can change
during a film. There are two types of point of view:
SUBJECTIVE: This is when the story is presented through one character's
point of view. This can be very obvious through the use of a narration /
voice over or it can be very subtle though the use of camera and editing.
OBJECTIVE: This point of view is third person. Think of a fly on a wall - not
a singlecharacter'spoint of view dominates.
https://youtu.be/5aa_kvfMxBs
https://youtu.be/uNPU0cPPsmA

Flipped (Reiner, 2010)


In this beautiful coming-of-age tale, the story is told from two different perspectives,
which 'flip' between each other throughout the film. It offers the audience insight, and
also allows us to understand how the two protagonists react differently to the same
situation.
How is Point of View established in these clips?
Is this told in subjective or objective POV?
What effect do you think this has on the way the audience understands the narrative?
What is the audience told about each character?
SETTING
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand
the"nature and function of and relationships between story elements in
fictional media narrative,including:the function of setting in the narrative."
Setting is important in a film. It has several functions:
Set the time and place where the storyline takes place
Sets the genre of the film.

Within any films we have the major setting - this could be as big as the city
where the story takes place. Within this bug setting we have sub settings -
this could include character's houses or workplaces.
Setting and location are different things: The Dark Knight is set in Gotham
but the filming location is Chicago.
https://youtu.be/4uABsht2bgY

Indiana Jones (Spielberg, 1981)


How is the time and setting linked?
STORYLINES
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand
the"nature and function of and relationships between story elements in
fictional media narrative,including:the relationship between multiple
storylines."
Storyline is the plot of the film. Many films have multiple storylines to keep
the audienceengaged.Sometimes thesestorylinesstay veryseparateand
other times they crash into each other - as seen in Lock, Stock and Two
Smoking Barrels (Ritchie, 1998), and also in our Narrative film Snatch, by
Guy Ritchie.
Sometimes the multiple storylines havecharactersthat do not know each
other but are linked by an event or one character.
https://youtu.be/KyyZqCl8kXQ

Snatch (Guy Ritchie, 2000)


In this scene, each of the multiple storylines interject for the first time, as
they crash together to add to the audience's understanding of the
narrative.
How dies this aid / add to the audience's understanding of the narrative?
Take note of other Production / Story elements at work within this scene,
and how they too add to the narrative.
STRUCTURE OF TIME
Looking at the Media Study Design Key Knowledgewe need tounderstand
the"nature and function of and relationships between story elements in
fictional media narrative,including:the structuring of time and its impact
on narrative progression."
Structure of time is achieved through the production element of editing.
Withinstructureof time - time is either sped up or slowed down or real
time.
Consider:
Why do you think the director might change the structure of time within a
narrative?
What effect might this have on audience engagement?
While audiences are familiar with the conventional, linear presentation of
time in which they see a story unfold from beginning to end, filmmakers
can challenge these conventions through restructuring the order of time.
Michael Gondry uses a non-conventional structuring of time in Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) by mixing present time with
memories, flashbacks and dreams throughout the narrative. The
unconventional time structure of the film develops the theme of confusion
and loss, which is part of the story of two lovers who have their memories
of one another erased.(Heinemann Media ed.2)
INCREASED TIME - (EXPANDED / SLOWED DOWN)
This is when time is slowed down. This give the audience a moment to stop and take in what
has just happened. This is a common edit technique when something dramatic had just
happened. Think of major fight scenes in films. As the punch is blown the film slows down so
we the audience can take it all in. In some cases, the punch is then shown from multiple
angles, to further engage the audience. This is the editing technique of overlapping editing.
REAL TIME
The TV show24does real time very well. The whole24episode series takes place in a single
24 hour period. Every episode is one hour of Jack Bauer's life and the editing even takes into
account theadvertisementsthat will be aired on TV.Two films that work in real time areRun
Lola RunandGo!- if you are interested in real time filming - these are some great places to
start.
DECREASED TIME - (COLLAPSED / SPED UP)
This includes scenes in films such as montages - we see a lot of quick shots
ofsomethingthat might haveoccurredin the story world over months and we the audience
see it in a matter of minutes: think Rocky becoming super fit and watching his crazy training.
We, the audience, don't need to see every minute of every character's life. We can piece
together the parts that are not shown. Some films take place over weeks and others years. By
time being collapsed we theaudiencecan see a two year long story take place in 1.5 hours.
https://youtu.be/DP3MFBzMH2o

Rocky (Avildsen, 1976)


How is time compacted? Why?
https://youtu.be/2PD7qi8VK_o

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