REVIEW EXERCISE 3: DIALOGUE
>> PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE
- We write best what we know well
DYNAMIC ACTION
<< STORY IS ACTION >>
No action => No interaction => No reason for conflict
- Action encompasses any kind of movement, activity and interaction between the characters and also between the characters and their surroundings.
- Talking about how one feels is not as powerful as illustrating why one feels the way they do through action.
<< FILM IS BEHAVIOUR >>
- Action is the manifestation of behaviour.
- The complexity of the human psyche and interaction is better understood when it is possible to watch the actions, nuances and reactions of the characters.
<< DYNAMIC ACTION >>
- Has the potential to enrich the experience of the audience by heightening the stakes and increasing the tension.
MOVING PICTURES
THE POWER OF ANY STORY LIES IN THE NARRATOR’S ABILITY TO PROJECT A MENTAL PICTURE FOR THE AUDIENCE
Pabrik Dodol
Story is about the difference between rich companies with technology and poor companies with only human workers.
>> PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE
- Addresses the problem many newbies have to screenwriting:
How to convey visually any sense of inner conflict of emotion.
EXERCISE:
In groups of 3, students randomly selected a scenario and act it out
RULES OF THE GAME:
Translating emotional responses into actions WITHOUT the use of dialogue
STEVE PVOLSKY’S “INJA” (Australia, 2001) 17 Minutes
Review: Inja
Recall and explain some actions/behaviour that was a result of emotions the characters felt.
Thembile loved the dog -> Stole rope from the flag to make a collar for it
Thembile scared of boss -> Forced himself to put the dog in the bag
Boss jealous of Thembile -> Wants dog to be more loyal to him
Thembile loved the dog -> Did not want the dog to think that the person who hit him was him
Boss and Thembile feel happy together -> Both laughed when the twig fell on the boss
Dog likes Thembile and doesn’t like boss at first -> Listens to his whistle but not to the boss’ whistle
Dog scared of Thembile -> Runs away after thinking Thembile was the one who hit him
Dog likes the boss more after the kicking incident -> Listens to boss but not Thembile
Dog likes the boss -> Tries to protect the boss
Dog fears that Thembile will attack the boss -> Tries to chase Thembile away
Thembile still loves the dog -> Does not want to shoot it even though boss told him to
Boss is selfish and desperate -> Cares about his own life more than the dog and asks Thembile to shoot the dog
ASSIGNMENT
1st DRAFT of STORY due Wed, 6 Jan 2010.
Printed copy in class. Softcopy on SafeAssign.
Format: Courier 12, single spacing. Minimum 2 pages, Maximum 3 pages.
