For the narrative, I need to use plot blocking to be clear on the most important moments within the film. This means that Karlton and I will be able to confidently be able to point out what narrative points our target audience will associate our film with. Plot blocking is almost like a storyboard, but without the large amount of detail and description for every shot. It means that the key moments are placed into a list in the order shown in the film if it were created. Plot blocking is an excellent way to consolidate our final idea as it involves blocking out the key parts of our film - making what happens within the narrative clear.
1. Two best friends - one of them goes missing.
2. The protagonist is introduced to a game in order to find her friend.
3. She does tasks and earns clues - risking her life.
4. The protagonist starts to put the clues together to find her friend.
5. She finds her friend.
Due to it being a film trailer and not a film itself, means that I won't necessarily need to include all of these five blocks. Trailers aim to give only a sense of the narrative, without giving away what happens. It likes to keep the idea of mystery which is exactly what keeps the audience wanting to watch it - to find out what happens.
Applying it to TODROV'S theory:
Todrov's narrative theory is based around the idea that most story/plot lines have a pattern of five steps.
The Equilibrium is the idea that a film will start out happily, as we are introduced to the characters. A lot of films use this time to show the characters living their everyday lives. In my own piece, this would be the beginning of the trailer. We would need to show our protagonist living their normal life. A trailer will often use only glimpses of it, just so the audience get the idea of who the protagonist is. In this case, we could use this to introduce the two best friends.
The Disruption will be a problem that approaches within the narrative. This would be the thing that disrupts the happiness within the Equilibrium. When looking at my own narrative, the disruption would be the friend going missing. This brings in the idea of the happiness being interrupted and ruined.
The Recognition is the realisation of the problem within the narrative. In my film trailer, I would need to show the protagonist realising/finding out that the friend is missing. This would be a vital point, as the audience would be aware of both the close emotional relationship between the two friends, and the fact that she's missing - the reason for her being missing being shown with some scenes with the antagonist.
An attempt to repair the disruption is the fourth stage to Todrov's theory. This stage is based around the protagonist trying to fix the damage and get rid of the problem. In the film trailer, this will be the point where the antagonist will give the protagonist a chance to repair the issue, and get her friend back. This gives the idea that the antagonist is giving her a chance to fix everything, which would be the game he introduces to her. The protagonist would then use this stage of the theory and play the antagonist's game to find her friend. She will do the tasks set for her in order to get clues - trying to repair everything. In the trailer, I would want to show glimpses of the tasks she does, not giving too much away - however scaring the audience at the same time.
The NEW Equilibrium will, in a sense, be the new beginning or the ending of the narrative. It's the end result of the protagonist's journey. Whether this ending will be happy or not, is another matter. Not all narratives end happily, which I think I would apply to my own work. It's unconventional and leaves the audience in shock- craving more.
An example of this in 'Would You Rather.'
A similar narrative to the one Karlton and I are creating is 'Would You Rather.' It's a 2012 American film directed by David Guy Levy following the narrative of a popular game -'would you rather.' A young woman, struggling to pay for her ill brother's surgery and medication, accepts the invitation to join a game. The game is based around the idea of choice, for example, would you rather hurt the person next to you, or hurt yourself.
The Equilibrium - The audience are introduced to the characters, both the protagonist and the ill brother. They're living at home, both relatively happy.
The Disruption - Iris, the protagonist, is introduced to a game of 'would you rather' in order to earn money to pay for her brother's medication. She goes off and meets others that had also been invited to the same game. 'Would you Rather' begins.
The Recognition - Iris realises that something is wrong - the game is sinister and life threatening. She carries on playing due to her desperately needing the money.
An attempt to repair - The tasks get too much and the protagonist tries to escape, however fails. She is then forced to carry on playing the game. She wins the game and earns the money.
The NEW Equilibrium - She gets home to tell her brother she's got the medication to cure him, however he is dead.
Example of plot blocking -
1. The audience see the relatively happy life that the characters are living - seeing their home life.
2. Iris is invited to play a game of 'Would you Rather' in order to get money and medication for her sick brother. She accepts
3. The game is more sinister and cruel than she once thought. It puts her life in danger. She has to do grotesque tasks including hurting others around her.
4. She tries to escape, however fails - being forced to play the game. She wins the game and earns the medication she needs.
5. Her brother is dead and it's too late.
Plot blocking is effective when it comes to thinking scenes and key moments of the narrative through, making it easier and clearer when thinking about the film. In a film trailer, this may be slightly different due to it being designed to market a film, without revealing too much to the audience. Film trailer show moments that will draw the audience in to watch it. In our film trailer, Karlton and I may think about showing...
> Moments of the two best friends, happily together in each other's company.
> Missing posters - showing the audience that one of them has gone missing.
> The antagonist torturing her as time runs out.
> Victims being tied up - crying and in pain.
> The end - five victims with nooses around their necks.
Applying it to TODROV'S theory:
Todrov's narrative theory is based around the idea that most story/plot lines have a pattern of five steps.
The Equilibrium is the idea that a film will start out happily, as we are introduced to the characters. A lot of films use this time to show the characters living their everyday lives. In my own piece, this would be the beginning of the trailer. We would need to show our protagonist living their normal life. A trailer will often use only glimpses of it, just so the audience get the idea of who the protagonist is. In this case, we could use this to introduce the two best friends.
The Disruption will be a problem that approaches within the narrative. This would be the thing that disrupts the happiness within the Equilibrium. When looking at my own narrative, the disruption would be the friend going missing. This brings in the idea of the happiness being interrupted and ruined.
The Recognition is the realisation of the problem within the narrative. In my film trailer, I would need to show the protagonist realising/finding out that the friend is missing. This would be a vital point, as the audience would be aware of both the close emotional relationship between the two friends, and the fact that she's missing - the reason for her being missing being shown with some scenes with the antagonist.
An attempt to repair the disruption is the fourth stage to Todrov's theory. This stage is based around the protagonist trying to fix the damage and get rid of the problem. In the film trailer, this will be the point where the antagonist will give the protagonist a chance to repair the issue, and get her friend back. This gives the idea that the antagonist is giving her a chance to fix everything, which would be the game he introduces to her. The protagonist would then use this stage of the theory and play the antagonist's game to find her friend. She will do the tasks set for her in order to get clues - trying to repair everything. In the trailer, I would want to show glimpses of the tasks she does, not giving too much away - however scaring the audience at the same time.
The NEW Equilibrium will, in a sense, be the new beginning or the ending of the narrative. It's the end result of the protagonist's journey. Whether this ending will be happy or not, is another matter. Not all narratives end happily, which I think I would apply to my own work. It's unconventional and leaves the audience in shock- craving more.
An example of this in 'Would You Rather.'
A similar narrative to the one Karlton and I are creating is 'Would You Rather.' It's a 2012 American film directed by David Guy Levy following the narrative of a popular game -'would you rather.' A young woman, struggling to pay for her ill brother's surgery and medication, accepts the invitation to join a game. The game is based around the idea of choice, for example, would you rather hurt the person next to you, or hurt yourself.
The Equilibrium - The audience are introduced to the characters, both the protagonist and the ill brother. They're living at home, both relatively happy.
The Disruption - Iris, the protagonist, is introduced to a game of 'would you rather' in order to earn money to pay for her brother's medication. She goes off and meets others that had also been invited to the same game. 'Would you Rather' begins.
The Recognition - Iris realises that something is wrong - the game is sinister and life threatening. She carries on playing due to her desperately needing the money.
An attempt to repair - The tasks get too much and the protagonist tries to escape, however fails. She is then forced to carry on playing the game. She wins the game and earns the money.
The NEW Equilibrium - She gets home to tell her brother she's got the medication to cure him, however he is dead.
Example of plot blocking -
1. The audience see the relatively happy life that the characters are living - seeing their home life.
2. Iris is invited to play a game of 'Would you Rather' in order to get money and medication for her sick brother. She accepts
3. The game is more sinister and cruel than she once thought. It puts her life in danger. She has to do grotesque tasks including hurting others around her.
4. She tries to escape, however fails - being forced to play the game. She wins the game and earns the medication she needs.
5. Her brother is dead and it's too late.
Plot blocking is effective when it comes to thinking scenes and key moments of the narrative through, making it easier and clearer when thinking about the film. In a film trailer, this may be slightly different due to it being designed to market a film, without revealing too much to the audience. Film trailer show moments that will draw the audience in to watch it. In our film trailer, Karlton and I may think about showing...
> Moments of the two best friends, happily together in each other's company.
> Missing posters - showing the audience that one of them has gone missing.
> The antagonist torturing her as time runs out.
> Victims being tied up - crying and in pain.
> The end - five victims with nooses around their necks.
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