Narrative Theories

After doing research on narrative theories, this is what i found.
A brief outline of the 4 main narrative theorists; Propp, Todorov, Barthes and Levi-Strauss.

Narrative Theory

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I think our film will be a modern combination of all of these narrative theorists showing aspects of each.

Breif Story Arc

The classroom

Student and young teacher having a secret love affair
They break up, because the students friend finds out
The friend reports the teacher and he is fired and put in prison
Student and teacher hate each other
Student realises she is pregnant and goes to prison to tell him
They fall back in love
She has the baby, drops the charges against him, and live as a happy family

Key Elements For Our Film

• The Name of the film must appear at the beginning of the opening titles

• The writer has to be mentioned.


• The Production Company’s name is to be mentioned.


• The Lead Actors Names

• It should hint at the theme/ Genere of the film.

In particular to our Opening Titles.
Music : needs to be upbeat, interesting and exciting
Actors: not to old, not to young. preferibly similar age to target audience (15+)
Colours: need to be bright, fun and eye catching
Action: not telling the whole story in 2 minutes, however giving a hint to story line, but not giving too much away.

The Type of Institutions that would produce, exhibit and distribute our film.

Previously I did some research on our genre 'Independent films' such as "Juno" and during the research I encountered the companies that were commissioned to support Independant films.

Fox Searchlight is a branch of 20th century Fox and it is the the branch that is dedicated to supporting Independent films. They have supported films such as 'Once,' 'Sideways,' 'Juno' and 'Little Miss Sunshine.'



Here is a list of modern independent studios:

 Film4 Productions
 Lions Gate Films
 Summit Entertainment
 Overture Films
 IFC Films
 Samuel Goldwyn Films
 The Weinstein Company/Dimension Films
 Magnolia Pictures
 Palm Pictures
 Tartan Films
 Newmarket Films
 ThinkFilm
 Troma Entertainment
 First Look Studios
 Image Entertainment
 Yari Film Group

For our film :

Paper Street Films Production company.
Has Produced films such as 'Detached' which is similair genre and theme
Paramount Pictures has prodcued, distributed and exhibit films such as Mean girls. With a large budget this could be useful in creating our film, the only negetive effect is that pararmount pictures is an american production company. Here at Filmhouse Productions we feel strongly about creating a film set in britain with a british sense of humour running through it.
Channel 4 Television Corporation Although this is a Television Company I feel Channel 4 would embrace the contraversionl nature of this film and also the Bristish essence.

Pearl and Dean Categories Of Audience

Pearl and Dean separates an audience into 3 groups.

15+.... "Young cinemagoers who are young and upmarket"

Family....."Family Focus which attracts a house wife and child audience"

Art House....The art house cinemogoer is older and more ABC1"

Our film fits in perfectly under the 15+ category

Which Tribe???

On www.findyourtribe.co.uk i came out as a "Rah"
However i think the audience for this film should be a combination of tribes.
Rahs, Casuals, Trendies, Chavs and possibly Townies!

Audience Research

What attracts people to Films and what puts them off?
I did some research about 'What attracts people to films and what puts them off' and this involved carrying out a questionnare with the people in my school. I asked the questions: 'What attracts you to films? What puts you off films? And What are the best opening titles you have ever seen.' Although people struggled to come up with the best opening titles they have seen, they told me a few descriptive words that they felt best summed up a good opening to a film:



"Original and good trailer"

"Un Predictable"

"When you see the end at the beginning and then it explains the story, and shows the beginning again at the end"


'Things like Love Actually when lots of stories are combined and meet at the end"


'The plot is very important and shocking beginnings.'

'When you are having fun watching it.'


'Good acting, clever plots such as inception"

'Genre and funny opening.'


Here are things that people said that are bad about films and their openings:


'Too predictable.'


'Too dark, depressing and I hate subtitles.'


'Scary films always have bad acting'


'Bad continuity, dont make sense.'


'Boring.'

'Cheesiness.'