novelist - script writer - director
Alex Garland
From Script to Screen :
THE WATER FALL SCENE
THE BEACH
movie released 2OOO
directed by Danny Boyle
adapted from a novel by
Alex Garland
screenplay Alex Garland & John Hodge
characters / plot
Richard a young American Traveller has been given a map to a secret beach -
he is joined by Françoise & Étienne a young French tourist couple who join him on the quest …
genre adventure / travel / drama / romance
location Thailand / modern times
This piece of drama is a classic SET UP - CONFLICT - RESOLUTION scene
THE WATER FALL SCENES
THE PREVIOUS SCENE
EXT. FOREST. DAY
They are travelling downhill by a stream, they stop to drink from it.
ETIENNE
If we follow it down it should lead all the way to the lagoon
RICHARD
That's right all the way down
RICHARD (VO)
He was right. All we had to do was follow the water and we'd be in paradise.
Only it wasn't going to be that easy.
SCENE ONE
EXT. WATERFALL. DAY
(HIGH ANGLE ARIAL CAMERA SHOT TO REVEAL)
They move to the cliff edge and lay on their stomachs peering over the edge in disbelief .Water thunders from the clifftop to a pool below.
On either side of the waterfall, cliffs curve away to form a massive circle enclosing a lagoon and an area of land covered in
forest. Francoise stands up the boys continue to lay down and discuss the dire situation they now find themselves in.
RICHARD
Oh God !!!
ETIENNE
Merde !!!
They study the situation
ETIENNE
Well ?
RICHARD
Well what ?
ETIENNE
Well, Richard, how are we going to get down?
RICHARD
How do we get down ... How am supposed to know ?
ETIENNE
You wanted to be in command Richard
FRANCOISE
We can jump ...
RICHARD
I only took command because you lost your nerve FRENCH BOY !
ETIENNE
Yeh and look where you've taken us ....
FRANCOISE
We will jump
Francoise leaves the edge of the cliff
Richard & Etienne pay no attention to her
ETIENNE
Alright I will - lets climb down over there
FRANCOISE
We can jump
RICHARD
Francois look ... we are not going to jump ...so just can it !!!
and as for climbing down over there that is just an AH suggestion !!!
ETIENNE
Calling me an AH ?
RICHARD
Yeh and that's just the start of it
Richard and Etienne begin to fight
Francois runs between them and jumps off the cliff
ETIENNE
Francois !!!!!
They watch in disbelief and wait until she surfaces
FRANCOISE
Come on down it's ok ... its not dangerous ... come on
RICHARD
Alright so we' ll jump
Both Richard & Etienne get up the nerve and then jump
SCENE TWO
EXT. WATERFALL. DAY.
Richard and Etienne jump.
They sink and then surface.
All three are ecstatic and elated, charged with the excitement of the fall and the joy of a journey's end. They exchange hugs and kisses. They become aware of a single person clapping slowly. They turn to see Keaty, a young Afro-Caribbean Londoner, standing a few paces away.
A man is clapping from the side of the lagoon
KEATY
Congratulation. It took me the best part of an hour to work up the courage to do that. Mind you, I was alone, so you have to make allowances.
They all look surprised to see him, they say nothing.
THE NEXT PART OF THE JOURNEY CAN NOW BEGIN ONWARDS WITH KEATY WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIND THE
‘THE BEACH’
NOTES :
This scene is a classic example of a 3 act dramatic structure
SET UP - CONFLICT - RESOLUTION
1. In the set up we lead the characters into a situation that is necessary to overcome or to be solved
2. In the conflict we put the protagonist against the antagonist person or force to solve the situation
3. In the resolution either the protagonist is victorious or is defeated, but the conflict ‘action’ drives the narrative on
4. In this scene all 3 characters are part of the set up, we have the conflict between Richard & Etienne but an interesting ‘water fall antagonist force’ resolution by Francois
5. The role of the director is to bring this drama to life visually
6. The role of the actors is to bring to life their characters with believable authenticity and conviction
The earliest text we have on drama is Aristotle's POETICS 335BC
some info on Greek Theatre
The major Greek Playwrights are Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides.
from their surviving texts evolved modern dramatic plays and screen writing for cinema.
ARISTOTLE'S POETICS - KEY POINTS ON DRAMATIC TRAGEDY PLAYWRITING
1. THE PLOT SHOULD CONTAIN SUPRISES FOR THE HERO
2. THE BEST SUPRISES ARE A 'PERIPETEIA' A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE OR AN 'ANAGNORISIS' A DISCOVERY
2. THE DRAMA SHOULD AROUSE PITY & FEAR IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THE 'PROTAGONIST'
3. THIS PROVIDES THE AUDIENCE WITH A 'CATHARSIS' OF THESE EMOTIONS
4. DRAMA IS 'MEMETIC' IN THAT IT CREATES A REPRESENTATION OF REAL EVENTS ON AN IMAGINARY STAGE
5. FROM THIS WE HAVE A 'SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF' OF THE IMITATION OF ACTORS
6. A DRAMA HAS A 3 ACT STRUCTURE - A BEGINNING A MIDDLE AND AN END - SET UP / CONFLICT / RESOLUTION
SCENE FROM THE GLADIATOR
'THE REVEAL'
1. Maximus has just fought in the Colisseum as an anonymous slave/gladiator.
2. The Emperor Commodus wishes to know who he is.
3. Maximus turns his back on the Emperor.
4. Commodus demands his identity.
5. Maximus reveals his name and threatens Commodus.
6. Commodus lets Maximus live.
7. We now have new antagonism between Commodus and Maximus that drives the drama forward.
GLADIATOR released 2OOO
director Ridley Scott original screen play David Frazoni
Identify the 3 act structure of this scene
Who are the Protogonist & Antagonist?
What part does the crowd play?
[On the arena floor, Praetorian enter and the gladiators stand ready to defend themselves.]
PRAETORIAN:
Drop your weapons.
[Maximus nods to the gladiators and they drop their weapons.]
PRAETORIAN:
Gladiator, the Emperor has asked for you.
MAXIMUS:
I'm at the Emperor's service.
[Commodus enters the arena. Maximus eyes an arrow in the dirt amongst the bloodied debris, kneels to pick it up. The gladiators follow Maximus' action and also kneel.] COMMODUS: Rise, rise.
[Lucius enters behind Commodus and Maximus looks disappointed. He does not want to attempt an attack on Commodus with the boy so close.]
COMMODUS:
Your fame is well deserved, Spaniard. I don't think there has been a gladiator to match you, as for this young man [Commodus holding Lucius in front him], he insists you are Hector reborn, or was it Hercules. Why doesn't the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name. You do have a name...?
MAXIMUS:
My name is gladiator.
[Maximus slowly turns around and begins to walk back to the other gladiators.]
COMMODUS:
How dare you show your back to me, SLAVE. You will remove your helmet and tell me your name...
[The Praetorian take a ready-stand, and the gladiators, without weapons, move forward ready to fight with Maximus. Maximus stops, takes a deep breath, removes his helmet, and turns to face Commodus.]
MAXIMUS:
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the armies of the North, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next.
Commodus is clearly in shock and without words. Quintus stands ready. Commodus stumbles in his actions, slightly turning to Quintus as though seeking help. Quintus orders "Arms" and the Praetorian pull their swords. Meanwhile, at Caesar's box, Lucilla has jumped to her feet in shock and relief to see that Maximus is still alive.]
CROWD:
Live, Live, Live, Live...!
COMMODUS:
Shhh! [in an effort to calm the people.
Commodus extends his hand, struggling to give the thumbs up ....
but he would much prefer to give the thumbs down. Extending his thumb up, to the pleasure and cheers of the crowd, Commodus turns and leaves, sending a look to Maximus as though to say this is not over, and the Praetorian leave, as well.] As Maximus looks at Quintus, he holds his fist to his heart and slightly bows his head, acknowledging an old friend. Quintus stares back and slowly backs away from Maximus.
[Maximus raises his helmet in victory and the crowds and other gladiators cheer uproariously. Maximus and the other gladiators exit the arena to be returned to the underground cells. They are lowered on a platform as the other gladiators salute the winning barbarians, and in particular, Maximus, with cheers and shouts "Maximus, Maximus, Maximus."Maximus stands in the midst of all the gladiators who triumphantly fought and beat the Legionnaires. A slightly smaller man, yet appearing larger than all.]
Dramatic resolution from a hidden source
The movie CONTACT.
THE MATRIX
RESOLUTION BY DECISION OF PROTAGONIST
APOLLO 13
RESOLUTION BY DECISION OF
LEADER
APOLLO 13
PROBLEM SOLVING AS
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
