Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapters 1 and 2 in your course text and Chapter 2 in How Movies Work.

Reflect

Your textbook, Film: From Watching to Seeing, makes a distinction between story and plot, stating that story is what happens in a movie, and plot is how it happens. The distinction may seem minor; however, throughout this course, you will be scrutinizing the various aesthetic choices and cinematic techniques that work together to create meaning, develop characters’ motivations, and advance the plot in any movie. With that in mind, you can see that how a film presents action can be very important.

A logline is a one-sentence description of a film’s story.
A plot summary is a compressed description of what happens in the film and why.

Write

Please choose a film from this list of approved choices. Note: If you would like to write about a film that is not on this list, you must email your professor for approval in advance or you may not receive credit on this discussion.

In at least 250 words, describe the relationship of story to plot in your chosen film. Be sure to

Identify the title, writer, director, major actors, and the year of the film’s release.

Summarize the story of your chosen film (what happens) in one sentence.

Summarize the plot of your chosen film (what motivates the sequence of events) in about five sentences.

Discuss whether the action in your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly. In your discussion, address the following:

What are some of the effects of this choice on the audience?
How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?