GCSE Film narrative lesson

1. GCSE FILM
Narrative and Plot

2. Narrative
• Narrative is the story
• Beginning – middle -
end
i.e. Peter Parker becomes
Spiderman – he battles
the Green Goblin – saves
the day, gets the girl
What are some other Superhero film narratives?
Are any of them iconic?

3. Plot
• Plot is how the story is
constructed, it tells the
individual characters
stories, often as Sub-
Plots
i.e. Peter has always loved
Mary-Jane and starts to What are the plots and sub-
charm her as Spidey. Peter plots of other Superhero
must also deal with his films?
guilt over his Uncles
death. Etc...

4. • The term 'narrative' is often confused
with the term 'plot,' but they're not the
same thing.
If I tell you that the king died, and then
the queen died, that's not plot, that's
narrative.
But, if I tell you that the king died, and
then the queen died of grief, that's plot."

5. • Linear narrative = the structure is in
order i.e. beginning, middle, end
• Non-linear = out of order i.e. end,
middle, beginning
• Flashback = characters remember
past events to help show audience
what happened. Flashbacks are non-
linear

6. • Parallel narratives = two or more
characters share different stories
centring on the same event
• Formulaic = film contains the same
codes, conventions and iconography as
others in the genre

7. Task
• As a scriptwriter for a major Hollywood studio
you are tasked with coming up with a new
Superhero Film
1. Invent the Origin Story for your hero. Discuss
this with a friend, do you keep origin secret
from audience or start the film with it?
2. Write a brief synopsis for your film. Include
details about the narrative and plots