Quentin Tarantino - Scripting, Narrative and Dialogue

What's On?

• A new unit studying the director Quentin Tarantino to learn more about scripting, narrative and the use of dialogue in film.
• We will focus mainly on his film Pulp Fiction (1994), but will draw on examples from his other work.
• A written textual analysis on a five-minute section from Pulp Fiction - to be submitted 18th August 2011.

Today's objectives

• develop research skills - searching for information, scanning text for information, collating info, summarising info
• know background information about Quentin Tarantino

"You got guns on us. You decide to shoot, we're dead. Up top, they got grenades. They drop them down here, you're dead. That's a Mexican Standoff, and that was not the deal. No trust, no deal."

— Lt. Aldo Raine, Inglourious Basterds

Key words:

• genre - a type of film which follows certain conventions (eg. horror, comedy, western)
• trope - a storytelling device or convention easily recognisable by the audience (eg. For example, that guy in every horror movie who tells his friends "I'll be right back" is most assuredly not going to be back - this is known as TEMPTING FATE )

Task:
Answer the following research questions on your film blog.
Use the post title: Quentin Tarantino, label it: Tarantino, textual analysis, film history

Questions (in YOUR OWN WORDS PLEASE! CUT AND PASTING will lead to mark of zero, and you will have to redo at home)

1)      Name two distinctive features of Tarantino’s films.

2)      How was Tarantino’s education in film different to the normal method of film-school?

3)      Despite the success of Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino’s first film in 1992, it was criticized by many. Why?

4)      What genre do Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction belong to?

5)      Identify three recurring CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS used by Tarantino. Include a screen shot example of each, with a brief caption about the possible effects created by each (eg. to give a sense of power to audience/character, to disorient the viewer, etc)

6)      Explain USING YOUR OWN WORDS what Tarantino’s Mirror shot is, and possible effects of using it. Include a screen shot.

7)      A recurring trope in Tarantino’s films is the Mexican standoff.

a) Briefly explain what it is.

b) Explain where the term comes from.

c) Examples of two non-Tarantino films that use it (with screen shots of possible).

d) Provide screen shots from two Tarantino films that use it.

8)      A “MacGuffin” is used in Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction.

a)      What is a MacGuffin? Explain in fifty words.

b)     What is the MacGuffin in Pulp Fiction?

c)      Provide examples fo MacGuffins from two non-Tarantino films, with screen shots if possible.

You can use following website links to help:

Tarantino biography

Tarantino and Crime

Tarantino's trademarks

TV and Film tropes 

Word detective 

Production Journals - Monday 4th July

Order of play:

• Spend a good 25 minutes adding to - or STARTING, for some of you - your production journals for your documentary films
• Discuss textual analysis of Eden Lake, with my feedback
• Target setting for the next stage of your documentaries

What and how?

• Your production journals are your INDIVIDUAL records of your documentary work. That means you do them alone (although you can discuss some points with your group first)
• You need to keep these on your blogs. Label them "production journal" so they are easy to find
• On them you need to EVALUATE your work so far - how well are you doing in your own role as writer, researcher, etc? What successes have you had? What problems have you encountered and how have you solved them? What changes have you made, and why? What do you need to do next? 
• The more detailed your journals, the better. Remember, they will be assessed, along with the materials you produce as a group

And finally
The amount of effort you guys have put in so far has been really impressive. Not only that, the maturity you have shown, your creativity, and your initiative so far on this project - a massive pat on the back for everyone. But it's not cigars and champagne time yet...so keep working!!!

Documentary Planning

What's on?

• Today you need to finish your story outline (100 words approx.), with key images, equipment, and ideas completed on storyboard templates.
• You need to submit all research documents found that you intend to make use of, as well as explanations as to how you will use these documents (ie. narrate information, inlcude scans of images, film footage, etc)
• You need to submit evidence of any contact you are making with your subjects (experts, witnesses, member of the public) - this could be in the form of emails, records of telephone conversations or visits
• You can collect all these documents in the project folders I will give you today.
• You can send electronic back up copies to me

Production journal

• Individually, you should be keeping a record of the production process - in particular, how you are fulfilling your objectives as writer, researcher, talent, etc; the decisions you are making, the problems you have encountered, how you are solving them, etc. You will be assessed on this INDIVIDUALLY. All journal entries should be posted on your blog. Labels - production journal, documentary film