Theory

When planning our opening sequence, we have taken into consideration possible media theories to ensure that our production is as creative and unpredictable as possible to ensure that the audience is entertained and enigma is created to interest the audience. The narrative within films is what guides the audience through and contributes of how they should react, feel and understand the plot; helping them become more engaged and interpret certain codes in order to develop further understands.

As we are attempting to create a different opening sequence than other action films within the market to make the film more entertaining and unpredictable we have decided to use a non-linear narrative showing that the scenes are not shown in chronological order as we have included a flash back within the opening scene making the film more interesting allowing the audience to question and develop an understanding of what may happen.

Alternatively, typical action films follow a linear narrative which is told in chronological order the first scene occurs before the second scene and so forth making the narrative easy to follow and gives an easy watch.

Despite challenging typical narratives within action films, we are reflecting Todorov’s equilibrium theory showing that all narratives work with a circular structure; equilibrium to disequilibrium back to equilibrium representing order disorder and order showing that there were 5 stages of narrative being;

A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be)

A disruption of the order by a particular event

A recognition of disorder

An attempt to repair the disorder
A then a return of order

The narrative is driven by attempts to restore the order, this could help drive our plot and intrigue our audience further.

Types of Film:

Classical Hollywood cinema- narrative serves to explain and not to confuse, the film must have closure at the end and tie up all loose ends and possible questions, there is typically a hero that guides you through and it works on order/disorder/order. These are high budget films and typically action therefore if were to follow this our film would need to look professional.

The oedipal trajectory is based on Frueds theory of sexuality the male leader character moves through the order disorder events he has to resolve problems and move towards social stability, the female is usually a passive object this is represented within the  James Bond franchise where "Bond Girls" are concerned, previously mentioned within another post. 

Counter Hollywood cinema- codes and conventions are disturbed and alternative, not much cause and effect and some things just happen. There is social realism and an absence of heroes as these films are alternative and don’t tend to be massive Hollywood films so it is unlikely that we would go down this route.

Narrative driven theories:

Roland Bartes- says that signs are decoded by the audience, enigma codes are codes that intrigue the audience for example this could be showing an end scene at the start of a film this making the audience more interested in the film as it creates enigma causing the audience to question what is going on and therefore becoming more enticed. Action codes build up the audience’s excitement due to it being something out of the ordinary for example a car chase will create excitement and drama as it is so unusual within daily life.

Binary oppositions- Levi Strauss believed that all narratives are based on a system of opposites. For example this is shown within most films where the hero beats the villain this would be good Vs. evil for example Batman Vs The Joker drives the plot as The Joker causes disruption that then Batman must resolve. Through watching many films that include binary opposites, it is clear that this is what drives narratives further and helps emphasise certain qualities and characteristics of the opposing character as the contrast in personalities is so clear it helps reflect the innocence and morality of the hero and typically portrays the villan as extremely corrupt.

Lastly Vladimir prop interpreted a hundred fairy tales in terms of functions of character and came up with the following characters that are almost always prominent: 

Hero- seeking something

Villain- blocks the hero’s request

Donor- provides an object with a magic property

Dispatcher- sends the hero on their way by providing a message

False hero- disrupts hero with false claims

Helper- aids the hero

Princess- acts for rewarded of hero or object of villains scheming.

Father- acts to reward hero for efforts.