1st class: Adv Motion Picture Script Analysis (Donald Bohlinger), USC SCA

Movie: In Bruges, written and directed by Martin McDonagh

Terms:

• Element of the Future or "Advertising." When Ray meets Chloe; after small talk he promises to tell her what he is over dinner; she walks away and then drops her card with her phone number. The audience anticipates their next meeting, with tension/romantic interaction.
• Defining scene: Reveals the main problem.
• Cinematic moment: Reveals who the character is, creates empathy for the character, and bonds us to them.
• Planting: a character, location, prop, an image that appears in the story; it can be subtle. It will be given meaning--become important--later in the story, or "paid off." In Bruges has many planted items (the person selling tickets to the tower won't take Ken's change as he is a few cents short and then the coins are later dropped from the tower, alerting Ray that there is danger, in the final act; also, the camera focuses at the top of the highest tower in the town, then drops quickly--moving too fast to let the audience see details of the tower, stopping on Ken and Ray at the bottom of the tower; they're sightseeing. The camera's movement is the same speed as a body falling from the tower, which happens in the final act. There are many items "planted" in the film "In Bruges."
• Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something the characters don't. Examples: After Harry calls Ken, the audience knows that he has been ordered to kill Ray. When Ray returns, he doesn't know this at first; the dramatic irony increases the tension. Another example: Ray and Chloe are kissing as Ken and Harry walk past. The audience knows that Harry has come to town to kill Ray; and that Ken is not cooperating. Will Ken be able to save himself and Ray?
• Complication: A problem for the main character. Example: at Chloe's place, an old boyfriend shows up, becomes jealous and aims a gun at Ray.
• Discrepancy: A technique often used to create humor. When Ken tells Harry that an American chain pizza place in the U.K. is also in Bruges and says, "That's globalization." "Comedy loves discrepancy."
• Scene of preparation: Ray getting ready for his date, looking in the mirror while Ken watches (a father figure); later Ken dresses in a suit and tie while looking in the same mirror, carefully preparing for his death.
• Each character has a POV/point of view: Their greatest need/desire, what is it and why?

Hints and additional information:

• To make the experience enjoyable for the audience, provide exposition a little at a time, with a dropper (not with a bucket). From the book, "Tools of Screenwriting"
• Martin McDonagh is a playwright; his dialogue is playful, with repetitive phrases.
• Location and props reveal inner thoughts of the character.
• A painting by Bosch, The Last Judgement," reveals the movie's theme, guilt. As the characters visit the art museum the theme of art, death, and guilt are revealed.
• Thought ad care are put into each character. Ray's suicidal thoughts are hinted at, which set up a character arc.
• Preparation: Scorsese studies every western film before directing a western. What works? What makes it work?
• Finding something visual that tells the audience about the character: "That's what we do." When the magic happens, the writer can take the rest of the day off!
• Editors are writers

Movies consist of eight chapters (originates from the old-time reels); also known as sequences.

Each sequence should tell the audience something about the character, advance the plot.

Terms to be discussed in the next class session: Recapitulation, first culmination, point of highest tension, new tension.