STORIES

Narrative form was the main topic of today’s tutorial. Stories are the main element of narrative. Putting it simply a beginning a middle and an ending. Stories surround us. Our lives are filled with numerous amounts and each day brings the prospect for new chapters to enter our realms of narrative. I think story telling is one of my weaknesses. As such when forming a decision between a bachelor of communications in media or fine arts in filmmaking I chose media. I enjoy making media products, but I can sometimes struggle with clarity in narrative form. When I was young I was obsessed with writing and my family has a history of good writers. But in more recent times I have tended to stray away from narrative and focused on production.

It is not hard to find inspiration for narrative. It only seems hard when you are forced to do so. Last year I had to make a short film with a narrative, and I had a deadline that dictated my movements in attempting to do so. Everyday I would spend time actively sitting at my computer trying to brainstorm ideas. Of course I had concepts for short stories and such, but coming up with something that I would realistically be able to capture in film was a different task. I lent my hand towards simplicity in trying to create my first original ‘media’ narrative. It had few characters, little development and was just a scene of a much larger political and social situation. I based it in saffron revolution of Burma and have attached my first attempt at a treatment below:

We were asked the comprehensive question of what is a narrative when show Daniel Askill’s short film We Have Decided Not to Die. Abstract in its form, how would we be able to identify if a narrative was possible?

Why is it a narrative?

– Beginning, middle and end

– ‘Everything is a story’

– Each character would have a story but only a sequence is seen

– Through the titles the events are connected (gives a sequential structure)

– Patterns of representation

– Journey within the scenes

– Making a choice is an action that is a plot point

– Elements of the heroes journey in the title

 

Why it is not a narrative?

– Lack of cohesion

– Lack of conclusion or explanation, no sense of closure

– No character motivation

Tension between narrative and aesthetics (art) BLOG

 

Watching a film of similar nature usually does not lead one to question whether or not a narrative is present. Robert Mckee explains it in the substance of a story – the easiest way to convey a narrative is through stories. And we are lucking to be surrounded by so many.