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Film screenplay

A mysterious man in a trenchcoat, JACK LATTEN, is sitting in a compartment on a train which is travelling through snowy Moscow.  He is looking through the window he is sitting next to. He appears edgy- look of nervousness on his face, rapidly looking from side to side and around the compartment. He soon hears the loud sound of booming voices and screams making aware of another man, MICHAEL TARNELL who is carrying a pistol and shoving people angrily out of his way as he runs through the train. Jack quickly and discretely exits his compartment and begins to run along the train. In a black and white flashback scene, we are shown Latten and Tarnell working together as friends and learn of their jobs as police officers (as they are wearing American cop uniforms). They are walking through a dingy motel and approach a small door. They pull out their pistols and stand looking ominously at the door. Tarnell knocks 3 times, his emotion is hard to read. ”Hello there”. There is no answer apart from hushed voices and the sound of a table being knocked over. ”LAPD, open the door” says Latten in a loud and slightly high voice. There is still no answer. Back to the present, Latten is running past multiple compartments barging several people out of his way. He shoves a middle-aged man into a nearby compartment on his way. Tarnell is following and attempts to shoot Latten, missing him by mere inches. Latten begins climbing up a ladder located at the end of the train. Tarnell attempts to shoot latte

Coursework aims and context

For my coursework, I am going to write a film script ( in 12 point 10 pitch courier typeface ) It will represent the opening sequence of an American action movie. The story will revolve around two former American police officers

My target audience will be fans of action movies and thrillers. More specifically I will be targeting people of age 15 and above as the film contains some strong language and violence.

The screenplay will focus on a chase along a train in a snowy area (possibly Moscow). The chase will start inside the train and move through from one end to the other and eventually move out to the top of the train. The two cops will confront each other and fight on top of the train before one escapes from the other

The film will be a hybrid and possible genres will include: thriller, noir, action and spy.

SCENE 1

 

FADE IN

Man in a trench coat is sitting in train compartment

 

Nolan auteur theory script

Does the focus on the key themes of memory and identity in the films of Christopher Nolan classify him as an auteur?

Speaker: The auteur theory is an ideology developed in 1940s by French film critics which states that the director is the predominant driving force behind the film and that certain director’s films can be recognised from their personal style. The American film critic Andrew Sarris stated in his 1962 book Notes on the auteur theory that auteurism is formed of 3 concentric circles: ”the outer circle as technique; the middle circle, personal style; and the inner circle interior meaning” (Item 14). The films of acclaimed British director Christopher Nolan have all three of these things. I believe that the focus on the themes of memory and identity in the films of Christopher Nolan classifies him as an auteur. This YouTube Video echoes my belief that Nolan’s focus on these key themes classify him as an auteur.

Projector: play ‘Is Christopher Nolan an Auteur’ YouTube Video: 6:12- 8:47 (Item 8)

Speaker: Either one or both of these themes can be easily seen in all of Nolan’s films from ‘Following’ to ‘the Prestige’ to ‘the Dark Knight’ to ‘Dunkirk’ In this presentation, I will examine three of Nolan’s films which I believe contain memory and/or identity as key themes. These three films are Memento (2000), Batman Begins (2005) and Inception (2010). When asked in an interview what the role of the director is, Nolan simply answered ‘putting pictures together (Item 4). However, I would argue that there is much more to Nolan’s films than that. Aside from the key themes present in all of his films, there are many recurring things you can expect when watching one of Nolan’s films: conflicted/ flawed male protagonists, the use of barrel roll shots (Item 17) and dead wives. The first of Nolan’s films I am going to look at is the superhero movie Batman Begins.

Projector: play scene from Batman Begins (Item 2)

Speaker: Batman Begins is the first film of Nolan’s 3 Batman films known as the ‘Dark Knight Trilogy’. As its name implies, the film tells the story of how the trilogy’s protagonist Bruce Wayne (played by Christian Bale) first became the super-hero Batman. The theme of identity is particularly prevalent in Batman Begins. This film examines the identities of it’s protagonist Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman. In a key scene from the film, Bruce tells his friend and confidante Alfred that he plans to wear a disguise and fight crime when he returns to Gotham City saying ‘as a symbol I can be incorruptible’. The purpose of this scene is to explain why Bruce dons the second identity of Batman and gives a realistic reason for Bruce to become a superhero and helps to ground the film in reality- something unusual for a film in the comic-book genre. I would argue that Batman Begins subverts multiple conventions of the comic-book genre to become essentially a character study of it’s protagonist Wayne, delving into his physce (which was fracture when he witness his parents brutal murder as a child earlier in the film) and attempting to explain the strange life choices he makes throughout the film. In an interview from shortly before the film was released, Christian Bale said, when asked by interviewer Charlie Rose how the character of Bruce Wayne is dark, ‘he’s driven by very negative emotions, you know his cause comes from a promise he makes to his parents after their murder’ (Item 5). It is clear to see the focus on Bruce Wayne’s identity and what drives him in the film and that Nolan and Bale were very much focused on the identity and motivations of the character of Wayne. Next I am going to look at Inception.

Projector: play scene from Inception (Item 1)

Speaker: The themes of memory and identity play an important part in Inception. The film centres around a criminal named Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who must implant an idea in the head of a wealthy son of a businessman while he is asleep in order to be given access back to America to see his children. In this scene from Inception, the themes of memory and identity are particularly important. This scene is a flashback from the perspective of the protagonist Cobb to his wife Mal’s suicide. Cobb’s identity has clearly been influenced by the memories of his late wife Mal and the memory of her death. Mal believes that the world she and Cobb are living in is simply a dream and that if she commits suicide, she will wake up in the real world. This scene builds up suspense as Cobb walks into the apartment expecting to find Mal but finds the apartment empty This scene also gives an insight into Cobb’s motivations and why he needs to complete the mission he is completing in the film. The flashback shot of Cobb’s two children in the garden is repeated throughout the film to enforce the importance that Cobb’s memories have to him and the impact they have on his motivations and identity. Finally I will look at a scene from Memento.

Projector: play scene from Memento (Item 3)

Speaker: The overall narrative of Memento centres around the protagonist Leonard Shelby’s inability to form new memories making memory a key theme in the film. the narrative of the film moves backwards meaning that the events which have happened prior to each scene are as much a mystery to the audience as they are to the protagonist. This theme is very clear in this scene in which the mysterious character Natalie mocks Shelby’s condition and shows her villainous true colours. She tells him she can say what ever she likes to him and he will just forget. After she insults Shelby’s dead wife (dead wives being commonplace in Nolan’s films), he slaps her face leaving a bruise. She then waits in her car outside and  Shelby fails to find a pen to make a quick note and forgets the conversation. She then returns and lies to Leonard- telling him that her abusive ex-boyfriend Dodd hit her, which is revealed to be what caused Shelby to go after Dodd earlier in the film. Shelby’s weakness of a lack of memory is exposed and used against him in this scene further implementing the theme of memory that is so prevalent in the film. Shelby’s lack of memory arguably also qualifies him to the role of flawed male protagonist- a common character role in Nolan’s films. Natalie being able to freely mock him and insult his deceased wife and then manipulate him into doing something for her highlights the importance of memory in the film and how the inability to create new memories hinders Shelby.

However, some disagree with the auteur theory and claim it makes no sense. The American film critic William Goldman states in his book ‘Notes on the Screen Trade’ that ‘I remember the moment I was first told about the existence of the auteur theory. I listened and listened as the explanation went on, and all I could think was this: ”what’s the punchline?” (Item 18). Along with some other critics and other notable people linked to the film industry, Goldman has been very critical arguing that the auteur theory ignores all  the other people involved in the making of a film (such as actors, cinematographers, producers and film studios). He also wrote in the his previously mentioned book that ‘To say that anyone is the ”author” of a film is demeaning to the rest of us. Besides it’s being false, that’s another of my chief quibbles with the auteur theory: it’s demeaning’. I partially agree with Goldman. To say that a film’s director is the predominant and only important influence on said film seems to me to be an oversimplification and- to an extent- simply not true. The auteur theory seems  especially ridiculous to me when considering the modern climate of big budget superhero blockbuster films in which film studios rarely give directors complete freedom in their films (a good case study for this being Sony’s influence on director Sam Raimi’s Spider-man 3 and their forcing of the inclusion of the character Venom which further cluttered the film) (Item 19).

In Conclusion, I believe that Christopher Nolan is one of the few true auteurs working in the American film industry today. His films are distinctive, unique and instantly recognizable. Furthermore, Nolan has often been celebrated for his ability to combine complex and character-driven plots with big-budget special- effects ‘getting moviegoers to revise their expectations about what a popular successful big-budget movie can be’ (Item 6). I personally admire his ability to take complex narratives and themes from small arthouse films like his own film Memento and fit them into large glossy Hollywood films like his own films Inception and the Dark Knight. As author Todd McGowan states in his novel ‘The Fictional Christopher Nolan’, ‘It took the incredible success of The Dark Knight (2008) for a studio to give Nolan the opportunity to make a big-budget on dreams’.

 

La Haine essay

The French film ‘La Haine’ was made in 1995 in the wake of Severe riots in France. The film, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz was a critique of police brutality and the way young rioters were represented and treated at that time. A clear scene from the film where stylistic choices contribute to the representation of the urban experience is the scene in which the news crew attempt to film Vinz, Hubert and Said. In the scene, the 3 youths are sitting around talking and pretty much doing nothing. The news reporter woman makes the 3 angry by asking if they were involved in the riots the previous night. After the 3 youths have become angry, the news cameraman begins filming them. The 3 youths  begin throwing rocks at the newscrew and the vehicle is driven away. When they are angrily throwing rocks at the cameraman, the 3 protagonists are seen  through the point of view of the camera. This can be told through the way the characters appear in shot in frame as if they are being watched through a bad- quality camera.

In this scene, the 3 youths ask the newscrew if the place looks like ‘thoiry’- a famous French zoo. This sentiment matched the mise-en-scene of the park they are in as the fences on the park look like the gates around animals in a zoo.

Auteur Theory- Nolan

To what extent does the focus on memory and identity in Christopher Nolan’s films classify him as an autuer?

Item 1- Inception (2010, film)- I chose this film to focus on as it presents the key themes of  memory and identity particularly through the protagonist Dom Cobb whose memory of his dead wife Mal hinders him through much of the film.

Item 2- Batman Begins (2005, film)- This film’s focus on the identity of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman is why i have chosen this film for my investigation. Identity is a key theme in the film and explored through Bruce’s invention of the persona Batman.

Item 3- Memento (2000, film)-  Memory is a key theme in Memento. Due to the protagonist  Leonard Shelby’s condition he cannot make new memories and thus forgets everything that happens to him throughout most of the events of the film. The film travelling backwards story-wise denies the audience the same information as Shelby and further implements this theme.

Item 4- The cinema of Christopher Nolan: Imagining the impossible https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bgjSBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=christopher+nolan&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=christopher%20nolan&f=false                                                                                                                                     This book analyses Nolan’s directorial style and filming techniques of Christopher Nolan. It will provide useful quotes about the way he makes his films.

Item 5- Batman Begins: Christian Bale+ Christopher Nolan interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhRfw7cMlAQ                                                                      A 2005 Charlie Rose TV interview with Nolan and actor Christian Bale to promote the film Batman Begins

Item 6- Vox Article- ‘Christopher Nolan’s films Explained’  https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/7/25/15985480/christopher-nolan-explained-dunkirk-inception-dark-knight   -Looks at Nolan’s films and goes over my focus films.

Item 7- Christopher Nolan The Illusion of Identity (youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8ieyqc3_nY            – analyses the theme of identity in Nolan’s films

Item 8- Is Christopher Nolan an auteur? (youtube video)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ3CH3ptYUM    This provides a balanced argument of whether Cristopher Nolan is an auteur or not and discusses one of the themes I plan to discuss in my essay.

Item 9- Inception the shooting script (book)

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PLtlf3DdFrkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=christopher+nolan%23&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=christopher%20nolan%23&f=false- gives information on the process of the making of Inception

Item 10- Time, Memory & Identity: The Films of Christopher Nolan by Stuart Joy https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NriMQlkIRwUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=christopher+nolan%23&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=christopher%20nolan%23&f=false -Looks at the key themes I am talking about and provides a useful analysis of Nolan’s filmmaking

Item 11- The Fictional Christopher Nolan (book by Todd McGowan)-  Covers the Nolan films I am studying and gives a valuable opinion regarding Nolan’s filmmaking style.

Item 12- 18 minute analysis of Memento with Christopher Nolan (youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYScJZWhaHA – This video will be useful as Nolan talks through the choices he made in the making of the movie.

Item 13- The ”Flawed Heroes” of Christopher Nolan’s Films: the evil in the good (Movierdo article)                                                                                                  http://movierdo.com/the-flawed-heroes-of-christopher-nolans-films-the-evil-in-the-good/ –       examines of the protagonists of Nolan’s films (including the 3 films I am studying)

Item 14- Notes on the Auteur theory (Book by Andrew Sarris) https://dramaandfilm.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/files/2011/06/Sarris-Notes-on-the-Auteur-Theory.pdf – provides valuable information on the auteur theory

Item 15- Cinelinx article on Nolan’s directorial style                           http://www.cinelinx.com/movie-stuff/…/6667-directors-trademarx-christopher-nolan.html -analyses the films of Christopher Nolan including the ones I am studying

Item 16- What writers should learn from Batman Begins (youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-PfEE5kveE              – a critical analysis of Nolan’s style in Batman Begins and the way the film is made

Item 17- Christopher Nolan’s barrel roll shots (youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTHNOcNzQjA              – Examines one of the types of shots that Nolan uses in his films and how they create meaning

Item 18- Adventures in the Screen Trade (book by William Goldman) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bU85AQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=william+goldman+adventures+in+the+screen+trade&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi8v9juqKzXAhUNKewKHbnsBBAQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=william%20goldman%20adventures%20in%20the%20screen%20trade&f=false     -Gives an alternate view of the auteur theory and is useful in making a balanced argument

Item 19- Sam Raimi is also not crazy about Spider-Man 3 (Collider Article)         http://collider.com/spider-man-3-sam-raimi/   – Provides a case study of a film studio making a director do something in his film that he did not want to do and of the influence a film studio has on a big-budget film.

Rejected Item 1- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)- Another of Nolan’s Batman films. I originally considered this as a focus film but felt that identity was a clearer theme in batman Begins

Rejected item 2- The Dark Knight (2008)- Similar to rejected Item 1, I eventually picked Batman Begins over this film as it more clearly explores the theme of identity

Rejected Item 3- with Dunkirk, Christopher nolan has finally hit the heights of Kubrick  https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/jul/19/dunkirk-christopher-nolan-kubrick          – article provides no useful information on Nolan’s filmmaking style or on the subject of if he is an auteur