Film Form – Introductory Lecture
Film FormThis introductory lecture focused on the definition and meaning of the commonly used term ‘film form’. Film form can refer to both the academic/theoretical approach or a formal/practical approach to filmmaking – surmised as narrative/structure vs. formal elements (mise-en-scene).
Craft vs. Content? Formal vs. Stylistic?
Film form does not fit within one application or definition, instead operating as an umbrella term for a multitude of aspects of filmmaking.
Questions arise such as: What makes one film more ‘formal’ than another? Is it the use of formalist techniques? Realism, despite its aim to mimic life, requires formal elements and stylistic consideration. Film form exists at the micro and macro level. Form can be manipulation and open or closed interpretations. All of these are valid viewpoints at which to look at film form.
Film form – as focused on within this module – is the intersection and interrelationship between all elements of filmmaking (formal or stylistic). A film is born from the conjunction of ideas from the crew, and as the writer, it is my job to create the foundations for ideas to be built upon.
Peter Straughan – BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series
Some memorable ideas and quotes:
“Form is like poetry”.
“Make the new seem familiar and the familiar seem new”.
A script is what is left over from the film you had in your head.
Screenwriter is a craftsperson.
Screenwriters create new ways of relating to the world.
