1. Find and post a working definition for the term Screenplay.

The term ‘screenplay’ can refer to any film, television or video game script, written for narrative or documentary film purposes.

“A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for a film, television program, or video game. These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression and dialogues of the characters are also narrated.”

2. Share a theatrical poster for a film which you think has an excellent screenplay.

Introduction: Robin Hardy’s 1973 film The Wickerman and Ari Aster’s 2019 Midsommar are both distinctive folk horror films. They are incredibly recognisable, from the weird, unsettling atmosphere in The Wickerman, to the well-known actors that appear in Midsommar. These films have been chosen as they were made in contrasting eras of the folk horror genre, so the development of the genre can be clearly seen. It can be argued that Midsommar is inspired by The Wickerman, as many similar aspects can be seen in the two. Hardy’s film follows Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) who arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents’ frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders’ strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child. Midsommar also features a similar scenario just with a different narrative, as a dysfunctional couple Dani and Christian, played by Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor, travel to Sweden with a group of friends for a midsummer festival, only to find themselves in the clutches of a sinister Scandinavian pagan cult.

 How the folk horror sub genre has changed over time?

The Wickerman (Robin Hardy, 1973)

Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019)

New Wave:

• Discontinuity editing
• Dialogue is absurd and appears unscripted
• No establishing shot
• Crossing the line on purpose/ backs of heads are used as much as close ups
• Extreme close ups are used for aesthetic purposes
• Jumpcuts are left in
• Hand held camera
• Real locations
• Long take
• Breaks 4 wall

Hollywood:

• Continuity editing
• Focus on plot
• Dialogue advances the plot
• Establishing shot
• Close ups to tell the story
• Smooth shot
• Technicolor

The institute was founded in 1919 by the film director Vladimir Gardin as the Moscow Film School and is the oldest film school in the world. From 1934 to 1991 the film school was known as the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography.

The founding of the institute was authorized by V. I. Lenin in 1919. Its work in the early years was hampered by the shortage of film stock. It has had an illustrious history as one the oldest of the film schools in existence; many great film directors have taught at the institute. During the period of the Soviet Union it was a requirement of the state to attend VGIK in order to be allowed to direct a film. More recently, its alumni were drawn both from the USSR (Soviet Union) and from other socialist and other countries, though it was a requirement for students to first learn Russian prior to attending. It is among the few film schools which offer scriptwriting courses.

It was an era in which they experimented with lighter and more informal storytelling methods, like handheld cameras, jump cuts, fast cutting, location shooting, and improvisation. The result was a new kind of cinema that rejected many of the conventional rules of Hollywood filmmaking and relied on experimentation.

Techniques included fragmented, discontinuous editing, and long takes that allowed actors to explore a scene. The combination of realism, subjectivity, and commentary allowed these movies to have ambiguous characters, motives, and even endings that were not so clear-cut.

The movement aimed to give directors full creative control over their work, allowing them to eschew overwrought narrative in favor of improvisational, existential storytelling.

Left bank– The French New Wave extended past just the filmmakers associated with the magazine “Cahiers du Cinema.” The next most distinguished sect was called the “Left Bank,” a group with shared progressive political leanings and documentarian pasts.

Right bank– The corresponding “right bank” group is constituted of the more famous and financially successful New Wave directors associated with Cahiers du cinéma (Claude Chabrol, François Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard). Unlike the Cahiers group, Left Bank directors were older and less movie-crazed.

The Labyrinth:

Rocky:

Montage Example #1 – Requiem For A Dream

This montage in Requiem For A Dream shows the organised yet chaotic impact of the metric/intellectual montage. Each shot is given nine frames and a distinct sound effect. The montage demonstrates drug taking’s disorientating effect.

The shot timing is frantic yet regimented. Consequently, it gives the sequence a psychedelic style. It is effective in progressing the story and portraying the descent into addiction for each of the characters.

Montage Example #2 – City of God

In this scene from City of God, a tonal montage tells the history of an apartment. Voiceover narration and montage quickly explain everything that has happened in the apartment. It catches the audience up to speed on how local dealer, Blacky, got control of this turf.

It’s a montage that moves the plot along but also contains a lot within it. Its existence as a static shot allows this scope, containing a whole journey and world within a small frame.

Montage Example #3 – Hot Fuzz

The rhythmic montage serves the purpose of quick and effective exposition. Wright uses the montage to introduce us to the main character rapidly. The montage shows Nicholas Angel’s CV through voiceover over scenes showing him in the activity described.

Montage Example #4 – Rocky

This rhythmic montage in Rocky is the epitome of a training montage. The montage condenses Rocky’s training into a short musical montage, which briefly summarises his training and progression.

Montage Example #5– Trainspotting

Another example of fantastic world building and character exposition through montage is in Trainspotting. Specifically, the timeless ‘Choose Life’ speech and Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life.

This montage also introduces us to the main themes of the film: Drug abuse, addiction and nihilism. The wide array of the character’s experiences is shown in this introductory montage.

An “Auteur” means a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their author.

An auteur is a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp. Creating meaning that only he can, using the tools of filmmaking, through the lens of his mind and personality.

Examples of Auteurs:

Wes Anderson:

Tim Burton:

Joel and Ethan Coen:

Steve McQueen: