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Image of Preacher, Billy Sunday
Once you have a sense of what your character's story is about,
Once you have a sense of what your character's story is about,
we need to consider how you can convey your 'moral vision' through this story,
we need to consider how you can convey your 'moral vision' through this story,
without being 'preachy' -
without being 'preachy' -
Film & TV audiences don't like to be preached at, it is boring, patronising and the intention (moral vision or moral argument) of the story is made too obvious -
Film & TV audiences don't like to be preached at, it is boring, patronising and the intention (moral vision or moral argument) of the story is made too obvious -
which negates the point of engaging with a story in the first place,
which negates the point of engaging with a story in the first place,
It's like giving away the punchline of a joke too soon.
It's like giving away the punchline of a joke too soon.
GENRE
GENRE
One effective way to get away from being 'preachy',
One effective way to get away from being 'preachy',
now that you know your character and their situation,
now that you know your character and their situation,
is to consider what GENRE your character's story matches.
is to consider what GENRE your character's story matches.
This can give you a refreshed, objective viewpoint on how your story works, as a film.
This can give you a refreshed, objective viewpoint on how your story works, as a film.
It can also initiate new ideas in terms of how you might use the
It can also initiate new ideas in terms of how you might use the
themes and symbols, inherent in your character's story-world.
themes and symbols, inherent in your character's story-world.
Task 3.
Task 3.
Read the following explanations of genre, consider and note what classifications your character's situation matches -
Read the following explanations of genre, consider and note what classifications your character's situation matches -
it could match with more than one...
it could match with more than one...
From: Alternative Scripwriting, Writing Beyond the Rules, Dancyger & Rush
From: Alternative Scripwriting, Writing Beyond the Rules, Dancyger & Rush
Dancyger & Rush conclude:
Dancyger & Rush conclude:
"Working with genre is probably the most topical and typical activity of today’s screenwriters.
"Working with genre is probably the most topical and typical activity of today’s screenwriters.
Whatever story you choose to write, you’re probably working with genre.
Whatever story you choose to write, you’re probably working with genre.
Consequently, it is critical that you be familiar with the motifs of each genre.
Consequently, it is critical that you be familiar with the motifs of each genre.
To involve the audience more rapidly in your story, use the expected signposts of the genre, which are a shorthand that audiences absorb from their earliest viewing."
To involve the audience more rapidly in your story, use the expected signposts of the genre, which are a shorthand that audiences absorb from their earliest viewing."
Task 4.
Task 4.
Having identified the genre/s that your story fits with - test it by creating a table of comparison,
Having identified the genre/s that your story fits with - test it by creating a table of comparison,
as in the examples below,
as in the examples below,
for each WHOLE genre match,:
for each WHOLE genre match,:
Recognising how your concept works within these genres can give you the objective perspective of an established framework to write out from, and also, more importantly, invigorates the story world for you;
Recognising how your concept works within these genres can give you the objective perspective of an established framework to write out from, and also, more importantly, invigorates the story world for you;
Looking at the genre matches for 'Harder' (above), from this point I could now consider the melodramatic nature of my premise, in terms of its potential as a horror story.
Looking at the genre matches for 'Harder' (above), from this point I could now consider the melodramatic nature of my premise, in terms of its potential as a horror story.
How will your story find renewed life through it's matching genres?
How will your story find renewed life through it's matching genres?
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