The story structure and synopsis are starting points for creating a screenplay for video production. Not all conventional films follow the 3 Act Structure. A better alternative is too focus on sequences. A sequence is a coherent collection of scenes with beginning, middle, and end. It runs in a similar format to the 3 act structure but has many smaller plots.
Don’t forget that the unit of a screenplay is a scene. You have to make each of them count. Scenes are so important that there’s a new heading (or slug line) before a new one. Scenes should not merely fill space between plot points. Each scene must be unique and move the story forward.
Don’t forget that the unit of a screenplay is a scene. You have to make each of them count. Scenes are so important that there’s a new heading (or slug line) before a new one. Scenes should not merely fill space between plot points. Each scene must be unique and move the story forward.
Scene from Karate Kid
What’s the scene really about? On the surface, it’s about learning karate. But it has other elements going on. There’s a sacred pact that’s made here (“I promise teach, you promise learn”). There’s also a clash of culture and age, combined with the reluctance of a boy who doesn’t see the value of the task at hand. It may not be the scene you remember walking out of the theater (I agree, the fighting is more fun), but it’s a scene nonetheless, and it’s a great one in the big scheme of things. In addition to foreshadowing later events, it also establishes conflict between two of the good guys.
Story Structure Assignment Part A
Use a Google doc to complete the following questions for the story set-up:
Carnelle Scott is young and full of dreams and feeling marooned in Yazoo city, Mississippi. Her only way out is by winning the town's beauty pageant on the Fourth of July.
Carnelle Scott is young and full of dreams and feeling marooned in Yazoo city, Mississippi. Her only way out is by winning the town's beauty pageant on the Fourth of July.
| script.storyline.docx |
Synopsis Part B
Screenwriting suggests that there are 10 basic story types: (1) Romance, (2) Unrecognised Virtue, (3) Fatal Flaw, (4) The Debt Must Be Repaid, (5) Spider and The Fly, (6) The Gift Taken Away, (7) The Quest, (8) Rites of Passage, (9) The Wanderer, (10) The Character Cannot Be Put Down. Other story types offer us a sub-genre, which are:
The following screenplay 'Joyride', by Jim Gillespie, outlines a basic story type.
Watch video 'Joyride', by Jim Gillepspie, at totalshortfilms.com
- Maturation Plot (the coming of age story "The Lion King")
- Redemption Plot (moral change in protagonist from bad to good - "Pulp Fiction")
- Punitive Plot (protagonist changes from good to bad and is punished - "Kill Bill")
- Testing Plot (willpower versus the temptation to surrender)
- Education Plot (protagonist's view of life/self/people changes from negative to positive)
- Disillusionment Plot (protagonist's worldview changes from positive to negative)
The following screenplay 'Joyride', by Jim Gillespie, outlines a basic story type.
Watch video 'Joyride', by Jim Gillepspie, at totalshortfilms.com
Use the following document to complete Part B: Story Structure; Theme; and Story Story Acts
1) Download the attached files.
2) Watch the film "Joyride"; Read through the attached synopsis.
3) Complete the assigned questions and share your completed document with the teacher using Google Classroom.
1) Download the attached files.
2) Watch the film "Joyride"; Read through the attached synopsis.
3) Complete the assigned questions and share your completed document with the teacher using Google Classroom.
| joyride.questions.docx |
| synopsis.docx |