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1/26/10 Dramatic Structure Theatrical/Film Formulas What are some of the structural formulas that are most familiar to us? sitcom: begins with problem, character development where character addresses problem in various ways, climax, resolution, ends with moral action movie: good vs. evil, hero vs. villain, love interest (damsel in distress), fighting resulting in climax, good guy generally wins, usually death scene Consider: structure of the story approach to character use of design and music Melodrama Stock characters (characters that take predictable actions) ?hero is hero, villain is villain Plot more important than character Music tells you what to feel (melodrama) melody Clear, unambiguous morality (good guy is always good, bad guy is always bad guy, although sometimes good guy is confused but makes right decision in end) Damsel in distress Virtuous hero, but weak (sometimes makes poor decisions) and victim of outside pressures Ruthless, completely evil villain Hero and heroine threatened in some way often sensational and/or spectacular scenic effects All about getting the audience to have an emotional experience Couple gets together at end (Spiderman), or hero dies in lover?s arms (Titanic) Important Terms of Dramatic Structure Conflict: hero vs. villain Stasis: period at beginning where things are in state of balance, exposition Protagonist: hero, story is about, getting plot moving Antagonist: villain, causes some sort of obstacle to plot, against protagonist Dramatic action: deliberately shaped telling you what is happening and why, containing beginning, middle and end Inciting incident: what it is that sets story in motion (Spiderman getting bitten by spider) Point of attack: where playwright begins to choose telling the story (Spiderman living with grandparents)