Question 1B: Film Opening in Relation to Narrative

Narrative + Film opening

- Narrative is the way the story is told

Different types of narrative:

• Linear - start, middle, end 
• Open - audience left to wonder what happens next 
• Closed - definite conclusion 
• Non-Linear - Jumps back and forth between events

Narrative techniques showing manipulation of time:

• Flashbacks
• Ellipsis - leaving out a portion of the narrative, but audience still gathers what has happened by surrounding scene

My film opening follows a non-linear narrative style as the storyline jumps back and forth between events. I was able to do this by showing events towards the end of the narrative at the start of the footage, and then including a flashback to show events which had happened a short time beforehand. I used a ellipsis to manipulate time in the narrative, as the protagonist is in a different setting in comparison to where he was before the flashback scene was shown - this suggests that he has carried on fleeing from the scene of the stabbing through the deprived area, as he is still sounded by cramped housing and blocks of flats, and is walking at a fast pace with his hood up and hands in his pockets.

Theorists to include:

• Todorov - five stages theory - Equilibrium, disruption, recognition of disruption, an attempt to repair damage, new equilibrium - The narrative within my opening does not conform to Todorov's five stages theory, as the first scene of my footage shows the protagonist running away from something, showing disruption rather than equilibrium. Challenging the five stages theory by starting with disruption is risky, as the audience has had no time to empathise with the protagonist or make a connection towards his character, this could make it hard to capture their attention. However such a choice of narrative structure could work too excite the audience and make them want to keep watching, Skyfall (2012) is a film which clearly shows this technique can work well as it starts with an opening scene of disruption, and went on to be a hugely successful film.
• Barthes - Enigma code theory as part of the narrative codes theory - As a follow on to point of trying to excite the audience using a disruption from the outset, Bathers enigma code theory as part of the narrative codes, can be applied to reinforce this view as it suggests that the audience is "entertained" through being left with "unanswered questions", which entices them to keep watching. Therefore I felt that disruption from the outset was a necessary risk that would pay off.
• Propp - Wrote that narrative structure includes stock characters - My narrative supports what Propp wrote as I have included a hero and a villain. Although there is a blurred line of distinction between whether my protagonist is good or evil as he is a drug dealer, criminal actions do not always present characters as villains, the protagonist in the film Harry Brown for example murders various other characters but is still presented as the righteous hero. Showing a blurred line of distinction between whether the protagonist is good or evil in the narrative, was a good way for me to capture the audiences attention, as it raises questions in their minds, in turn making them want to keep watching in order for these questions to be answered. The audience of my film opening would therefore want to watch the whole film.
• Levi-Strauss - Binary opposites, Rich/Poor - The costume mise-en-scene of my characters shows binary opposites in a way suggesting working class vs middle class within the narrative. The protagonist is dressed in a tracksuit and trainers (working class stereotype), whilst the antagonist is wearing smart shoes and a suit (middle class stereotype). Typically audiences may expect these appearances to be the other way round as stereotypes would usually present the middle class hero to be a victim of the working class villain. I choose to subvert these binary opposite appearances in order to perhaps do something which is uncommon in film which engages the audience more as it is unusual to them.

Essay Plan

Intro:

Narrative refers to the way a story is told and presented to an audience. For my main task in my Foundation Portfolio I created a film opening based in the crime genre named Only Business. The basic  plot follows a young drug dealer who is simply trying to make some money in an area with little wealth and opportunity, however the narrative takes a twist as it is revealed that things did not go quite to plan for him as he comes face to face with danger. I will be analysing this film opening in regards to narrative.

Para 1:

My film opening follows a non-linear narrative structure, as the storyline jumps back and forth between events, at times leaving the audience with unanswered questions. I was able to structure my narrative in this way through manipulation of time, by using a flashback scene which I created on Premiere Pro which reveals to the audience why the protagonist was running in the opening scene. However I used an ellipsis from the action within the flashback when the antagonist is stabbed, too what happened to him afterwards. This leaves the audience with unanswered questions such as is he alive?. I chose to follow a form of narrative structure which jumps around the storyline slightly as I thought this was a good way of keeping the audience engaged with the action, in turn making them want to keep watching. Barthes theory would reinforce the idea that my film opening is successful in entertaining and capturing an audience as "tension" is built up and viewers are left with "answered questions" making them want too keep watching.

Para 2:

Within my film opening I have shown binary opposites between the characters, suggesting middle class vs working class within the narrative. Levi-Strauss's theory would reinforce an idea that my film opening works to entertain the audience by showing such oppositions as stated above. I was able to present these oppositions through characters appearance and dialogue. Stereotypes may suggest that these appearances are backwards as the antagonist may perhaps be expected to be the more passive type character whilst the protagonist to be the victim dressed in smart clothing. These subverted stereotypes within character appearance are uncommon and I feel are therefore a good way to capture the audiences attention engaging them with the action as it is not something which they would expect to see.

Para 3:

I challenged Todorov's five stages of narrative theory, started with a diselibrum, this is risky as the audience has had no time to engage or connect with the character, however can prove successful as sky fall does this and is hugely successful film, challenging todorovs theory is a good way to make my narrative different from other crime genre films, meanig i can capture audiences attention.