Classical Hollywood Narrative

Further conventions of the Classical Hollywood narrative

The three-act structure: this approach to film-making was taken from the 19^th Century stage melodramas so prominent when feature-length films first began to be produced.

Exposition – is the first part of the narrative that sets up the story events and the leading characters’ traits and situations. This creates a range of causes for

What the audience see on screen. It raises our expectations for what is to come.

Development – a continuous narrowing of cause and effect through the actions and reactions of the protagonist to the events surrounding them. As the plot proceeds, so the potential number of cause and effects that could occur decrease

In number in readiness for the resolution. The film will direct the audience towards a limited number of possible outcomes. Narrative development creates audience expectation in respect to the outcome of the film.

Resolution – is about endings and climaxes. Typically the film ends by narrowing

The range of possible outcomes to two specific ones: success or failure by the

Protagonist achieving the desired outcome. The ending therefore closes the chain of cause and effect