Test 2 Flashcards
Motivation
Behaviors shaped by earlier experiences
Exposition
The opening scenes of a film, during which a great deal of information about the characters and situation is imparted
Backstory
The story events that take place before the film begins
Screenplay
The written blueprint for a film, composed of three elements: dialogue, slug lines, and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages.
Spec Script
A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement.
Pre-production
The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed, sets and costumes designed, and locations scouted.
Shooting script
The annotated script, containing information about set-ups used during shooting.
Screen Time
The length in time for a film to play in its entirety. AKA Running Time.
Flashbacks
The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world.
Direct Address
Sound and visual technique that present one or more characters speaking into the camera as if talking to the film audience.
Three-act Structure
The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complications leading to a climax; the third act contains denouement and resolution.
Denouement
The falling or unraveling action after a climax of a narrative that leads to revolution.
Closure
A characteristic of conventional narrative form, where the conclusion of the film wraps up all loose ends in a form of resolution, though not necessarily with a happy ending.
A point-of-view shot
A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the direction that the character looks, simulating the characters field of vision.
Flashforward
The non-chronological insertion of events from the future into the present day of the story world.
Plot Lines
The narrative path of the main or supporting characters, aka line of action. Complex films may have several.
Frame Narration
The plot line that surrounds an embedded tale. May or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale.
Episodic
A non-standard narrative organization that assumes a “day in the life” quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative, and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships.
Open Ended
A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines, nor tie up all loose ends.
First Person
A story narrated by one of the characters within the story, using the “I” voice
Third Person
Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character
Omniscient
The technique of telling the story from an all knowing viewpoint rather than of one individual character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audiences perception to what one particular character knows, but may insert moments of omniscience.
Diegesis
The imagined world of a story.
Non-diegesis
A term used for any narrative, sound, or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called extradiegetic.
Protagonist
A films main character, one who’s conflicts and motives drive the story forward.
Antagonist
A character who in some way opposes the protagonist leading to protracted conflict.
Shooting script
The annotated script containing information about set-ups used during shooting.
