STORYTELLING UNIT: SHORT FILM REVIEW 2

Another short film that I looked into for inspiration for my script was one I found on YouTube called 'Inevitable'. This film can be viewed below:

Now all that I really took from this film was actually the opening, which is less than 10 seconds long. But what got my attention about this was that it was non-linear. The films opening credits give the idea of a lovely happy love story. When we're suddenly given a shot of a woman crying with, what we assume, a dead body on the ground with a bullet wound in his chest. When watching this I was actually shocked but it keeps the viewers watching all the way through.

Non-linear is a brilliant script structure to keep the audience watching. This particular film has used it very cleverly, rather than having an entire scene, it's simply showed that quick shot and then gone to the beginning of the film and carried on from there. Keeping the audience asking "What's going on?" "When will that happen?" and creating a mixture of interest and tension which keeps the audience watching and importantly, paying attention for the key 'moments' which you get in a script. As the film goes on we learn more and more of the characters and their relationships until finally we get to the end where we finally see this scene.

Although I liked the non-linear structure I didn't want to start with the ending, frankly after watching this film again I realise that I know the ending of the film and it's not as much of a surprise or shock to me and takes away a critical moment of the film. So I wanted to find a good moment to use this structure where it doesn't ruin the story or take away the ending, as well my ending wouldn't work for this structure since it's the Father and Daughter make up and build their relationship back together at the end. This isn't something that would interest or grab the audiences attention. I then went on to watch the classic Quentin Tarantino film 'Pulp Fiction' which is famous for it's non-linear structure. The film starts with a couple, Ringo and Yolanda, deciding to rob a

diner. The film then cuts to the beginning and carries on and then around the middle of the film it carries on from the scene with the diner being robbed and continues to the end. This film shows a key moment which has the most excitement and the climax of the film but carries on then to show more of the story. This is where I would like to use the non-linear structure in this way more. The ideal part of my script to use this structure would be when Lily and James are having the biggest argument. Then having a line or an action where I can cut from and go to the beginning of the story and carry on from. 

This structure is the main point that I took from 'Inevitable' and also from 'Pulp Fiction'. I feel this structure would work really well for my script and I like the idea of showing the highest point of conflict first and then cutting away to the beginning. I think this would keep my audience interested and already bring questions to their mind like "what's going on?" "why are they arguing?" and then to find out they'd have to keep watching. Then as we discover what caused this argument and we carry on then to see the argument be resolved and later the family be brought back together.