Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Rules of Engagement
Shortcuts (2005)
Raymond Carver (Writings)
Robert Altman (Screenplay)
Previous Lesson
The Problem of
Comedy
Subgenres
Negotiating Laughs
This Lesson
The Story
Spectrum
The Key
Factors
Assignments
Mckee
- Robert
Lesson 7: Part I
Classical Design
According to McKee: Classical Design
means a story built around an active
protagonist who struggles against primarily
external forces of antagonism to pursue his
or her desire, through continuous time,
within a consistent and causally connected
fictional reality, to a closed ending of
absolute irreversible change.
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Minimalism
According to McKee: Miniplot and Multiplot
are characterized by the following:
Open Ending
Internal Conflict
Multi-Protagonists
Passive Protagonists
Anti-Structure (Antiplot)
According to McKee:
Antiplot is
characterized by:
Coincidence
Non-linear Time
Inconsistent Realities
After Hours (1985)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Written
by Joseph Minion.
Non-Plot
According to McKee:
non plot is
characterized by:
Slice of life
No character arc
No significant climax
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
John OBrien (Novel)
Mike Figgis Screenplay
Lesson 7: Part II
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Multiple Protagonists
Pause the lecture
and watch the clip
from Short Cuts.
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Short Cuts
Notice how the opening sequence
introduces the multiple protagonists and
ties them together through location.
The spraying for the medfly connects them
all to Los Angeles, and they are all tied
together in the third act by an earthquake.
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After Hours
The erratic driving of the cab driver
appears unmotivated, disconnected from
the needs of the passenger and the traffic.
The twenty dollar bill accidentally blows out
and will appear in a papier mache
sculpture later punctuating the randomness
of life.
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Consistent vs.
Inconsistent Realities
Consistent Realities Fictional settings
that establish modes of interaction between
characters and their world that are kept
consistently throughout the telling to create
meaning.
Whether Action or Fantasy in an archplot
the rules of the world are never broken.
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Inconsistent Realities
Inconsistent Realities - Settings that mix
modes of interaction so that the storys
episodes jump inconsistently from one
reality to another to create a sense of
absurdity.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Waynes World
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The Politics
Classic Design Archplot is the most
commercial.
Whether you are writing
for film or television
mastery of the archplot
is for all practical
purposes essential.
The Godfather (1972)
Mario Puzo (Novel)
Mario Puzo (Screenplay)
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Assignments
Shortcuts (2005)
Raymond Carver (Writings)
Robert Altman (Screenplay)
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Screening Assignment
Watch Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pay attention to the structure, and what you
think makes it an engaging film.
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E-Board Post #1
Revised Outline
List any changes from your previous
treatment that you would like to implement
as you move forward in the script.
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End of Lecture 7
Next Lecture:
Departing from the 3 Act Structure