Prepartion for writting scripts to maths

1. The film narrative theoryThe film narrative theory
Eirini Arnaouti, English Teacher
M.A. in Literature, Ph.D. in Media Education
Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna
school year: 2016-2017

2. Narrative theoryNarrative theory
Narrative theory about the structure of the films,
i.e. about how their stories work. Used by the
classic films and based on Aristotle’s Poetics.
Each film consists of three different parts:
• Equilibrium (Introduction) →Disequilibrium
(Subversion, Crisis)
• Development → Climax
• Resolution (Catharsis)

3. EquilibriumEquilibrium
• Equilibrium (Latin word): ‘balance’
• Calm period of the beginning, everything in order, no obvious
problems
• Introduction to the time, place, characters, film subject
E.g. In the beginning of “The Theory of Everything” (2014) about
Stephen Hawking’s life, Stephen is a happy smart student of
Physics, who leads a nice student life.
• Disequilibrium: opposite of equilibrium, lack of balance,
subversion, crisis
• Period of unsettlement and disquiet due to a cause
• It pushes the action and brings the film characters together.
E.g. In the same film, the disequilibrium is marked by the
diagnosis of Stephen’s fatal illness.

4. DevelopmentDevelopment
• Development of the film’s plot: the action the characters
take, the evolution of the events reaching a climax, a very
crucial moment, until the end of chaos.
• The climax consists of a conflict, very often an internal
conflict between what the main character wants and what
he/she needs.
• The longest part of the film
E.g. In the same film, the common life between Stephen and
his wife constitutes the development while the climax is
reached when she cannot stand this situation anymore and
she feels lonely and weak.

5. ResolutionResolution
• End of chaos and of period of unsettlement and
disquiet
• Problems are resolved.
• Protagonists get what they deserve (Catharsis).
• Peace and harmony come back.
E.g. In “The Theory of Everything”, the order is
settled down when we see Stephen’s wife having
a new “life”, him being taken care of by a
professional and both being in good terms with
their children.

6. Summing upSumming up
• Equilibrium introduces the background and
the main characters of the film.
• Disequilibrium presents a problem that
needs to be solved.
• Development presents in detail the action
taken by the protagonists in order to solve
this problem.
• Climax is the most crucial point of the
development.
• Resolution is the re-settlement of the order
and the return to equilibrium.

7. BibliographyBibliography
Burn, A. & Durran, J. (2007) ‘Media Literacy in Schools: Practice,
Production and Progression’. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
IMDb.com Inc. The Internet Database. (2016) The Theory of
Everything (2014). [Online]. Available at:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/. [Last accessed 23/11/2016].
Media@SIS. (2010) ‘Narrative Theory’. [Online]. Available at
http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory. [Last
accessed on 5/2/2010].
Γιώτης, Κ. (2012) «Σεμινάριο Συγγραφής Σεναρίου». Αθήνα.