Writing Short Films by Linda J. Cowgill

Author:Linda J. Cowgill [Cowgill, Linda J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-87514-3
Publisher: Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony
Published: 2010-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

Out of work, Sam needs to find a good job. He starts with a problem that is clearly spelled out. With the arrival of an old friend, the story is set in motion. Sam’s narration continues, providing humorous commentary on what he encounters.

On-screen narrators can also appear. Rod Serling opened The Twilight Zone on screen (“Consider if you will…”), disclosing fundamental information needed to understand the problem and begin the story. Serling’s style of exposition was originally an inventive twist to the introductions given by off-screen announcers on many of the old anthology television series.

On screen narration is taken to its zenith in the film The Dutch Master. Multiple narrators tell the story on screen and off, talking directly to the audience. The film begins on a man’s open mouth in a dental chair. The narration starts as the camera pans over x-rays, dental equipment in the sterile office, until it finally introduces us to Teresa, an attractive dental hygienist.

“We’ve known Teresa for like what, six years?” a woman says over the images.

“Longer,” answers another unseen woman.

“And I’m telling you, it just wasn’t like her.”

“Not at all.”

The dialogue/narration sets up an undisclosed problem, but we know it’s there. As the two women relate their story, the action shows the three friends and fellow dental hygienists doing what they usually do, getting lunch and hurrying across the street to the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to eat. Then the action shifts to the two narrators, sitting on the steps of the museum and eating hot dogs. Teresa is missing. Dorothy and Kim address the audience through the camera as it hovers before them like an old friend.

“We eat here practically every day,” says Dorothy, right to the camera. “Unless, of course it was raining, then we’d go back and eat in Dr. Roserman’s office but he would always complain about Teresa’s chili and onions, saying the smell was bad for business. Then one day, it must have been four weeks ago, for no apparent reason, Teresa says she wants to go inside.”

On screen we see Teresa enter the museum alone. She wanders about and we see her find a painting by a Dutch master that fascinates her. About three or four minutes into the movie we learn through the voiceover narration that Teresa’s about to get married and is acting strangely. As the story continues, more characters are introduced, each adding his or her particular view of events. The only character who never utters a word is Teresa. By contrasting Teresa’s actions with others’ accounts of events, the filmmakers illustrate how little each knows or understands her. Teresa’s actions are our only clue to what is going on with her.

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