Substance

The reading this week was quite basic and straight forward, however was also really interesting to read and have a think about the concept of narratives. As a media student, movies are one of my favourite mediums. All different types, and yet all share a very similar structure. Anyway- Robert Mckee’s writings on ‘Style, Structure, Substance and the Principles of Screenwriting’ focuses mainly around narrative, from many perspectives, the ‘substance’ and soul of it, from the audiences view of the protagonist. Which usually is the case of urging the protagonist to achieve his/her goals within the movie, a ‘shared humanity’ to satisfy their own personal goals. When a narrative goes a individuals way, they are personally satisfied with the resolution of the film.

After reading the text, and having a new view and perceptive of narrative- i went to see the film ‘Eye in the Sky’, having such an emotional and physiological involvement towards so many of the characters. As a usual film urge an audience to stand towards one ‘right’ viewpoint and correct side, Eye in the Sky challenges the audience with such a moral dilemma, people are literally positioned to have an internal debate, to go down such an implosive path of what is right, and wrong. And since the film does not tell you this, the audience gets so emotionally attached to the narrative. Such a twist can make a movie so much better!!