✓1 intro | loglines 7✓ tv pilots
✓2 basics of drama 8 supporting elements
other ✓3 basics of character 9 books | articles | sources
✓4 three act structure 10 identifying story problems
✓5 genre + audience 11 development notes
✓6 midterm may 10 12 career opportunities Supporting Elements of Drama ✦ Dialogue
✦ Theme
✦ Subplots
✦ Unity
✦ Tone
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Dialogue Why does a person speak the way they do?
What factors do you imagine influence this?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS passions age wounds race family religion dreams sexuality wantsloves beliefs career I.Q. secrets emotionsneeds society happiest memories education parents lies
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Dialogue Dialogue is an extension of character within a specific world.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme Theme is the expression of the unending, universal struggles of man.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme At its most simplistic: theme is ‘message’ of the story.
Love conquers all. Slow and steady wins the race. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Women are every bit as capable as men (and probably more so).
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme At its most simplistic: the ‘message’ of the story.
Love conquers all. Slow and steady wins the race. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Women are every bit as capable as men (and probably more so).
Anytime an author is out to ‘prove’ a thesis, it is not great drama. It’s just propaganda.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Drama is the struggle between two great claims upon the soul.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS World of Opposites Life as we know it can ONLY be experienced as pairs of opposites.
Male/female, life/death, good/evil, hot/cold, love/hate, hope/fear, greed/generosity, etc., etc…
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The struggle between ambition and love:
‘Faust’ ‘Wall Street’ ‘Breaking Bad’ The Devil Wears Prada House of Cards
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The struggle between becoming your authentic self vs. social expectations.
‘Anne with an E,’ ’13 Reasons Why’ Ugly Betty. All ugly duckling stories Spider-Man, X-Men, all superhero misfit stories
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The struggle between vengeance and forgiveness:
Desperate Housewives, Big Little Lies, most soap operas & melodrama.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The struggle between men and women:
The Good Wife, Mad Men, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, etc. Any ‘romance’ novel with underestimated heroine.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The struggle between age and youth:
Chinatown, Bloodline, Game of Thrones what others can you name?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Subplots & Supporting Characters Most major characters drive their own story lines, known as ‘subplots.’
And a well conceived subplots will echo the basic theme of the series.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Unity
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Unity Thematic Unity is the principle that all plots, subplots, and characters work together to explore the same theme.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Subplots & Supporting Characters Most major characters drive their own story lines, knows as ‘subplots.’
And most subplots play upon the same basic theme of the series.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Concept: rival families scheme and battle to seize control of the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Theme ? What pair of ‘Opposites’ lies beneath this series? What great ‘struggle’ describes its conflicts?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS The price of power.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Subplots: How is this struggle expressed?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Subplots: Starks vs. Lannisters (revenge for murder of Ned Stark) Daenerys Targaryen (last surviving heir to murdered king) Tyrean Lannister (the dwarf) vs. his family Jamie & Cersei (forbidden love + consequences of incest) Jon Snow (redemption of the bastard son) Arya Stark (coming of age / revenge)
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme & Subplots
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme & Subplots Theme ? What pair of ‘Opposites’ lies beneath this series? What great ‘struggle’ describes its conflicts?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme & Subplots
The price of power.
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme & Subplots
Subplots: How is this struggle expressed?
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Theme & Subplots
Subplots: Frank vs. Garret Walker (ambition) Frank vs. Claire Underwood (whose ambition wins out?) Zoe Barnes (ambition) Zoe Barnes vs. Frank (whose ambition wins out?) Peter Russo (the weak vs. the strong) Christina Gallagher (compassionate & honest)
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Tone
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Tone Tone is related to ‘World’ and ‘Genre.’ It is the expression of the world as a feeling. e.g., Funny, hopeful, dangerous, dark, ironic, satirical…
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Other Elements:
Pacing Narration Plants & Payoffs Misdirection Symbolism Reversals Irony Archetypes Mythology Surprise Foreshadowing Suspense
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Review: Supporting Elements
✦ Dialogue — an extension of character
✦ Theme — universal struggles of man
✦ Subplots — our characters embarked upon these struggles
✦ Unity — all plots and characters explore the same theme
✦ Tone — the mood, atmosphere, symbolism and style choices that convey a feeling towards the material
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS Assignment 6 “TV Pilot Coverage”
1. Read BOTH pilot scripts: ‘3 LBS.’ and ‘Book of Daniel’
2. Choose ONE for your coverage assignment.
3. Write full coverage of ONE of these tv scripts, including: top sheet, series concept, character breakdowns, synopsis, comments, and recommendation.
4. Proofread your work! Professional standards will be expected.
Assignment Due at beginning of next class, May 31 (or emailed by 7:00 pm).
STORY ANALYSIS - UCLA EXTENSION - RIC GIBBS