Overview
Aims
to familiarize students with the connection between their story and ”the grammar of film image”
to make students achieve more storytelling techniques as the use of ellipsis and of flashback
to make students better understand the relation between the artistic expression of the plot and the film editing techniques
Course contents
In this course, students will explore Steven Maras’s commentaries on the screenplay and its history. Given that students this year are preparing their graduation films, we will examine the connection between screenwriting and the so-called "elements of audiovisual grammar." Specifically, we will touch upon the concept of the "match" (or continuity link)—and several types thereof—as presented in Dan Curean’s book. I believe that mastering the principles of continuity can contribute to writing a strong screenplay. We will also discuss the five types of montage identified by Pudovkin (as cited by Henry Agel); a firm grasp of montage techniques can likewise aid in the crafting of a film narrative. Furthermore, we will examine the use of the ellipsis and the flashback within cinematic storytelling.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- better understand the relationship between the screenplay, direction, and film production;
- develop the cinematic narrative for their graduation film with a better grasp of continuity;
- develop the cinematic narrative for their graduation film with a better understanding of the principles of film editing.
Assessment
oral exam, personal project presentation