Hello! This week in our film class we got cracking on the structure and elements of our film. Despite not having a complete understanding of the three act structure and tropes prior to the creation of our script, our script tends to follow the traditional setup of modern films. So what is a trope? A trope is an element used in film-making that the audience is able to recognize. Here are some examples:
Anti- Hero: MAN is the driving force of the film yet he is not portrayed positively. Round Character: MAN means well, but he still does bad things. Enemy Within: The entire film is based on the mentality of MAN; his problems are those which he creates. Red Shirt People: The people who die (MAN and Victim A) Static Character: None of our characters change so they are all static. These elements (and more) are the framework of our film. Now for the three act structure. In our film, we flip back and fourth between MAN's home and his secretive lifestyle. The contrast that we present is meant to focus on the extreme "normalcy" in contrast to the darkness that is within him. Since MAN does not perceive his actions as wrong, the attempted normalcy represents his inability to relate to society and the ethical guidelines. We plan on presenting the house with a greater amount of light (at least in the beginning) so that the transitions between the two can be communicated. We decided to include the little flashbacks/ hints in the film in order to bring a bit of confusion to the film, allow the audience to piece together the events, and to serve as a contrast in order to emphasize the duality of the MAN. Act One: -Scene One: Presentation of setting -Scene Two: Vague presentation of problem *We should probably start with it and combine Scene One and Three* -Scene Three: More use of setting; problem is alluded to -Scene Four: Person is kidnapped -Scene Five: Inciting action with the Victim dying Act Two: -Scene Six: Rising action with a victim escaping. Act Three: -Scene Seven: Climax- MAN decides to stay with family, Falling action- MAN dying
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The Three Act Structure has been used for thousands of years, beginning when Aristotle officially created it. The structure has a series of events that should exist in the film making process. Our film strays from the structure in some ways, but it allows us to communicate elements like normalcy and time more efficiently without adhering strongly to the structure. Act I: The inciting incident begins the film as a person is being kidnapped and bound. Following that, more information about the situation and the characters happens as daily life is introduced. Act II: There is no tension at first because the situation is not strange for MAN. Therefore, MAN has no false victory or plan to save himself. Instead, tension increases as one victim dies and one runs away. The escaped victim is the major source of distress for MAN. Act III: In his frenzy, MAN decides to stay with the family despite his acceptance of the police arriving. His decision is the climax. The falling action is when MAN dies from the paralytic drug.
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