6 Flat Story according to Aristotle's theory

·        From Aristotle on, comedy was the most appropriate genre for representing the lives, not of the ruling classes, of those with extensive power, but of the ‘middle’ and ‘ lower’ orders of society, those whose power was limited and local, and whose manners, behavior, and values were considered by their ‘ betters’ to be either trivial, or vulgar, or both.

·        The consistent generation of laughter through the multiple use of gags, funny lines, and funny situations, and, in these instances at least, the representation of lower-class characters and everyday life respectively.

·        So I try to write this script according to the story from our daily life. We are not the ruling classes. So from many trivial things of our life, that can show our characters. For example, as for the second scene, Susan cook chicken but she does not share with her flat mates although she promised them. From this story, we can see their characters from their reaction. Firstly, Susan, she is a so selfish person. Basically, she never care about any other people, she just care about herself, so she does not have friends at all. Secondly, Rita, she is a so smart girl, she can analyze what kind of person Susan is, so even Susan does not do bad behavior yet, Rita will know her next step. Finally, Nancy, she is a little silly girl, she easily trust other people. And her hobby is keen on any delicious food. And also she is a little bit childish, Susan did not share her food with her, so she decide revenge Susan. Thus, their characters make the story funny and interesting.   

5 the compositional ideas of Flat Story from the definition of comedy

 5 the compositional ideas from the definition of comedy

• The Concise Oxford Dictionary: comedy, n, stage-play of light, amusing and often satirical character, chiefly representing everyday life, with happy ending.

·  Basically, Flat Story is according to the definition of comedy to write that. I try to write this script from our daily life. no big things happen. amusing through changing the sound of Susan, and stopping the time, give Nancy and Rita a chance to show their thinking for Susan. Obviously, satirical character always is appeared in Susan. Her selfish, promise her flat mates to share her food but she not; covet little advantages but eventually drink dirty milk; and flaunt how rich she is but actually her words are all not truth. Finally, there is a happy ending, Nancy and Rita are happy because they revenge successfully. Susan is happy because she can drink Rita’s milk and she does not know the milk has spit.

4 comic suspense and surprise of the catastrophe part of Flat Story

  4 comic suspense and surprise of the catastrophe part of Flat Story

l  There should be two components to the catastrophe in a comedy’s narrative structure.

l  One, as we have seen already, was a peripeteia, or reversal of fortune. So in my script, in the third scene, actually Nancy’s action is failure, Rita found her action and nearly fall the milk. At this time, Susan is coming, and she want drink the milk. That is a peripeteia, or reversal of fortune.

l  The other was anagnorisis, a transition from ignorance to knowledge. And this is a type of comic suspense. There are two different types: 1, suspense of anticipation; the spectator knows what is to happen, but not when or how; he follows the progress of the action and awaits with ever---increasing hope of fear the coming of the expected event; 2, suspense of uncertainty in a state of ignorance and curiosity about the later action. As for my script, I choose the second form, the spectator does not know the content of next plot, they do not know Nancy’s behavior can be found by Rita, and Susan is coming when Rita nearly fall the milk. Finally, there is a comic surprise for Nancy, Rita and audiences, that is Susan really drink the milk that is spited. 

3 particular motivation of Flat Story

      

      3 the particular motivation of Flat Story 

  Bordwell considered one particular kind of   motivation, that in certain circumstances causal motivation can be abandoned for, or intermingled with, Coincidence, Luck, Fortune, Fate or the intervention of the Supernatural.

  

 So in my script, I site some plots about  coincidences.

Like the first scene, she comes to kichen when Namcy and Rita have a dinner.

Like the third scene, it seems that Susan can smell the taste of milk, so she comes to the kitchen again when Rita takes her milk.





2 motivation of Flat Story

                              2  Motivation of Flat Story

·  Kristin Thompson concern motivation of comedy: the extent to which each ‘scene’ should have a ‘purpose’, a justification, and the forms that purpose can, or should, ideally take.   So in my script, I try to make each scene has its purpose and can be ideally took.

·  As for the first scene, the purpose of Susan is eating Rita and Nancy’s food. But as for the purpose of Rita and Nancy is that do not let Susan eat their food. In the end, Susan is succeed, because she take their chicken to tempt greedy Nancy.

·  As for the second scene, Nancy want eat Susan’s chicken because she has promised her. But Susan does not want share with others. In the end, Susan enjoy her chicken by herself and Nancy is so angry, she decides revenge.

·  As for the third scene, the purpose of Nancy is that let Susan drink her spit from her milk. Although Nancy has a mistake, she spit into Rita’s milk, in the end she is succeed, Susan really drink the milk that has Nancy’s spit.

·  As for the last scene, their purpose all ideally be took. They are all happy. 

l  David Bordwell’s discussion: the happy ending succeeds depends on whether it is adequately motivated.

l  Screenplay manuals are dissatisfied with forced or tacked-on happy endings. Must be extricated in ‘a logical and dramatic way that brings them happiness’.

l  The unmotivated happy ending is a failure, resulting from lack of craft or the interference of other hands.  So although there are many forms and elements of comedy, such as slapstick, jokes and parody, I did not apply all of them in my script, because my comedy script should have rational motivations, tacked-on happy endings maybe just temporary funny for ridiculers.

1 the narrative structure of Flat Story

• Basically, the narrative structure of Flat Story is according to Evanthius’s theory.
•  
• · a narrative comedy consists, or should consist, of the following components or functions in the following order: a protasis, or exposition, an epitasis, or complication, a catastasis, or complication, and epitasis, or resolution.
•  
• · First there is a protasis, during the part of the film we are introduced to the principal protagonists (usually through the device of having them introduced to one another). So in the first scene, my script shows three protagonists through a story, meanwhile, audiences can understand their personality, characters.
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• · Next comes the epitasis, in this part, Susan’s bad behavior lead to the relationship more worse between them. Meanwhile, this part give rise to the next scene--- a catastases.

   

• · Catastases, According to neoclassical theory, the catastrophe consists, or should consist, of a definitive peripeteia, or reversal of fortune. So in this part, actually Rita found Nancy do bad thing, and then Rita want fall the milk. But at this time, I should make sure the reversal of fortune. So I let the Susan come to kitchen and really drink the milk that Nancy has spited.

• · Epitasis, basically, they all content for the resolution. And the narrative form does implies happy endings. However, I also want to demonstrate an good idea----bad persons always are pity (although they think they are smart and luck).

     

• · In addition, food, meanwhile, emerges as an element with a number of important functions in my script. It is responsible for the complications comprising the epitasis. And it is the agent enabling the resolution of the catastasis.

Preface

•         In the PGC stage, I illustrate that some elements can produce funnier. They are comic events, gags, slapstick,  jokes and wisecracks, laughter, humour, and the comic, parody and stair, comic context, comic suspense and surprise….. In addition, I discussed the characters of Chinese low-budget comedy films, such as their different style, creation root in mass culture, Unique “ugly” aesthetic characteristic, Show the rich feature of local culture. Moreover, I demonstrated the structure of writing a script ( comedy script ). Therefore, in the PGD stage, I try to write a comedy script according to the above content. Then, I will explain and analyze it.

                                              

   Flat Story

THE FIRST SCENE:night, kichen

Rita and Nancy are eating in the kitchen. Suddenly, they

hear very heavy footsteps, so A and B look at one another.

RITA AND NANCY (EXCLAIM)

iron shoe!

RITA (HURRY UP))

quickly!!!

Susan comes to the kitchen, Susan is listening the music,and

take a tesco plastic bag, susan see Rita and Nancy are

eating.

SUSAN (GENTLE)

hi, guys, eating?

Rita and Nancy do not reply, just eating hurriedly.

Susan open the icebox.

SUSAN (TALKING TO THE ICEBOX)

oh my god! I really do not have any

food!

THERE ARE MUCH FOOD IN THE ICEBOX

Rita and Nancy look at each other, no talking.

Susan take her tesco bag comes to in front of face of Rita

and Nancy.

SUSAN (GENTLE)

dear, I bought a chicken, but today

is too late, that will be

troublesome if i cook now. So shall

I just eat with you today? And

tomorrow we together enjoy the

chicken , OK?

Susan shows her chicken, Nancy stares the chicken a while.

NANCY (SLUGGISH)

OK...

Susan get her bowl and chopsticks so fast, and gobble

eating. then Susan give Nancy her bowl.

SUSAN (LOUDLY)

give me more! today I am hungry!

Susan eat very happy, after a while, Susan clear her voice

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 2.

SUSAN (FROM CALM TO INTENSE)

today, I was shopping, I wanted to

buy the Prada bag that is my

favorite. you know, I hesitated

before because I think that is a

little bit expensive~.But I told

this thing for my father, he sent

me enough money at once! He said:"

oh~my girl! your family rich,is not

it? It just need 3000 pounds, you

should buy it!" oh~I was so happy

when I hear my father said! He is

the best father in the world, is

not it? So today, I got to the

store, wanted to buy it. Oh~my

god!! There is no my favourite bag!

oh~ shit! Which guy rapped my bag?

I hate her! You see, today my money

too much! I really do not know how

to spend it?

Rita and Nancy stare Susan all the time.

THE SECOND SCENE

Rita and Nancy stand in the white background. Rita and Nancy

touch their head, consistently shake their body, it seems

that so painfull.

(Susan’s voice consistently

ring. Rita and Nancy stop

motion untill the voice

disappear)

RITA

she always talks about that

NANCY

I really cannot bear

RITA

her family very rich, really?

NANCY

but I never see that she can really

buy some luxury which is her

favourite!

RITA

even if her family is really rich.

she do not need tell us, is not it?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 3.

NANCY

still less she always ate our food!

RITA

yeah, rich, but ate our food! shit!

RITA AND NANCY (ANGRY)

damn it! damn it......

Rita and Nancy show hitting action.

THE THIRD SCENE

Susan are cooking her chicken, and meanwhile listenning her

music and humming.

(show a popular music from

china)

Rita and Nancy are going to the kitchen,appear happy. Susan

hears somebody come in, so she turn around and a quick

glance. And then Susan continue to cook her chicken.

Nancy find a good smell, so Nancy follow the smell and come

to Susan here.

NANCY (HAPPY AND ENJOY)

smell really good!

SUSAN (CHILLILY)

wow, you come back?!

RITA AND NANCY

yeah~

Susan hold her dish and turn to Nancy and Rita.

Nancy’s eyes stare at the dish, the saliva will flows.

SUSAN (SUPERCILIOUSLY)

ok, you can begin cook, I will go

to room and enjoy my dish.

Susan go out with heavy footsteps, and the music fade away.

Nancy still stand here, no move, looking at the chicken

moving away.

Rita star cooking.

NANCY (INJUSTICE)

He said today we can share

together!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 4.

RITA (CLAM)

Are you stupid? I never think she

can share with us. She ate our food

many times,but .....

Rita keep cooking.

NANCY (ANGRY)

Shit! I will spitting ptysis in

their bowl!

THE FOURTH SCENE

Nancy softly come to kitchen, looking around, then lightly

open the icebox. Nancy’s figer move in the

icebox,eventually, Nancy’s figer focus on Susan’s position,

Nancy find that there is a milk, take it, open the lid,

spitting ptysis, close lid, shake the milk.

RITA (CLAM)

What are you doing?

Rita stand at the door.

Nancy hear the voice, frighten almost to sit down on the

ground

NANCY (FRIGHT)

Oh~my god! you scared me!

Nancy is sitting on the ground, hands touch her chest, keep

gasping for breath.

Rita come to Nancy, look the milk, then poking Nancy’s head.

RITA

Hi, stupid, why you spitting ptysis in my milk?

NANCY (SURPRISED)

What? It is not yours! I took it

from Susan’s site!

RITA

I just no place to put my milk! So

I have to put there.

Rita take the milk, stand up, come to sink, will fall the

milk.

Susan come to the kitchen, take a cup.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 5.

SUSAN (HELPLESS, AFFECTEDLY SWEET)

Dear, do you have milk? I forget

buy it. Study make me so tired, so

I have to drink some coffee~.

RITA(SO HAPPY)

I have!

Rita walk to Susan here, so fast, politely help Susan

falling the milk.

RITA

Thank you! Thank you very much! you

know, I do not like drink milk, I

am worried I cannot finish it!

SUSAN (LOUDLY)

Oh? ok! You can give me all of it.

Susan grab Rita’s milk, and run to her room, footsteps still

very heavy....

Rita and Nancy look at one another, and then smiles a

private grin.

RITA AND NANCY (HAPPY)

yes!

Hight five.

THE FIVETH SCENE

Susan sit on the chair in her room, a drink of milk, mouth

make voice.

SUSAN (HAPPY,ENJOY,COMPLACENT)

oh~! Dammit good! hahahahah