A) This script summary outlines the key elements of the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" directed by Charlie Kaufman. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2005. B) The film tells the story of Clementine undergoing a procedure to erase her memories of her ex-boyfriend Joel from her mind after a painful breakup. We learn about this core plot element of erasing one's memory early in the script. C) As a feature-length film, the script has a three-act structure to help audiences easily follow the quite complex plotline. Narrative theories by Branigan and Altman are referenced in analyzing the film's genre and how it combines

1. A) This is the script from the film ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ by Charlie
Kaufman, the film is a drama/sci fi film. We can see from the pages; the format of the
script illustrates a feature length movie. The film won Academy Award for Best
Original Screenplay in 2005
B) After a painful breakup, Clementine undergoes a procedure to erase memories of her
former boyfriend Joel from her mind. We learn about the main plot of erasing
memory very early on in the film. If we are going off the idea of 1 page is equal to a
minute of screen time, we
learn quickly that
Clementine is trying to
forget her ex.
C) There is the 3 act piece
within this film, this is
because it is a feature length
film. It needs to have a structure that audience can follow, with quite a complex plot
line, the structure needs to be easy to follow. The main narrative theory you’d apply
to this script is the one from Edward Branigan, he argues that narrative is ‘a way of
organising spatial and temporal data into a cause-effect chain of events with a
beginning, a middle and end that embodies a judgement about the nature of events.’
Branigan’s key point is that the narrative will embody a judgement – ideology and
narrative.
D) A combination of Sci-fi, romance and comedy. It’s hard to distinguish reading the
script however there are some parts which show the different elements of each
genre. The main one is the sci fi undertone, undergoing a process to lose memory
does not convey love by any means. The confusion between what is going on where
reflects in Rick Altman’s theory, stating that ‘“there is no such thing as “pure” genre
anymore. Genre is progressive, in that it will always change.”
E) With quite the diverse mix of genres its hard to pin down a target audience. However,
its evident that with a big name like Jim Carrey, there is a big comedy aspect to the
film, this will attract millennia’s mainly as they are most likely to be entertained by his

2. comedy. Saying this though, if it was just based off the script. Id say the demographic
would be between from the late teenage years to about 40/50, you reach an age
where cheesy Jim carey comedy just isn’t funny, and feel that could be the case with
this film/script.