Stories hold a unique power over us. They entertain, educate, and transport us to worlds both fantastical and familiar. But what makes a truly compelling story? The answer lies in a set of storytelling techniques that writers have passed down for a long time and now have made their way to you. Check out the glossary below and dive deep into the techniques to make your screenplay pop off the page. The Storytelling Technique GlossaryCharacter:Types of Characters: Beyond the basic protagonist/antagonist division, think of characters as fulfilling roles within the story's structure. Round vs. Flat: Round characters are complex, with motivations and flaws. Flat characters serve a specific purpose but aren't fully developed.Static vs. Dynamic: Static characters remain the same throughout the story. Dynamic characters undergo significant change or growth.Stock Characters: These are archetypal figures (e.g., the wise mentor, the damsel in distress) that audiences easily recognize.Character Development: How are characters revealed? Methods include:Direct description (physical appearance, personality traits)Actions the character takesInternal dialogue or thoughtsDialogue with other charactersConflict:Types of Conflict: Conflict comes in various forms:Person vs. Person (your classic hero vs. villain)Person vs. Nature (characters grappling with a natural disaster)Person vs. Society (a character challenges social norms)Person vs. Self (internal struggles over decisions or beliefs)External vs. Internal Conflict: External conflict is driven by outside forces, internal conflicts come from within a character's mind.Plot: Structure The most common plot structure is Freytag's Pyramid:Exposition: Introduces setting, characters, and background information.Inciting Incident: The event that triggers the main conflict.Rising Action: Build tension through...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 18 April