Polt; “Tragedy,” the 6th of seven basic plots for screenwriting.
Back to screenwriting. I was veering off track in to the endless field of storytelling by the virtue of creation that, “everything” and that would also mean, “everyone” has a narrative. We’ll explore this later.
The foundations of screenwriting. An A-Plot is a cinema and television term referring to the plotline that drives the story. This does not necessarily mean it is the most important, but rather the one that forces most of the action.
Plot Example from Movie
In the movie “Titanic“, we can see how Rose and Jack are introduced at the very beginning of the film. Jack belongs to low class while Rose belongs to the upper stature of society and the development of intimacy between Jack and Rose gave rise to conflict. Rose fiances plotted against Jack and made him arrested on the charge of stealing by providing false evidence. The plot is further complicated by the wreck of the ship and the story reached its resolution, by Jack dying in an effort to save Rose making him a true hero.
A good plot is responsible for successful movie or play. Tragedy is the Titanic’s plot.
If you’ve seen the movie, (Titanic) we fall in love with, Rose and Jack as a individuals and as aspiring, hopefully someday, a couple. How could that ever happen unless all the intentions and plans in play from Rose. Her mother and the expectations she has for Rose to marry the rich guy. Why? Mother, (subplot) is pinning all her hopes on Rose to marry this rich guy because their family fortune is gone. Yet this information is not yet public. Rose’s mother has lived high society all of her life and Rose, (young and beautiful) is her ticket in keeping her in the high society lifestyle.
Jack is the protagonist. He’s a young handsome good heart’d guy from the lower class of society. You know the story. By chance, Jack and Rose connect and for a short time experience fun-filled romance, true love that touches you at the core. All the elements of love are there. And we want to see this brilliant young couple blossom into everything good that it could be. Tragically (tragedy) you know about the sinking of the titanic. Tragedy abounds here for sure. Not only do we see what was a beautiful love relationship begin and end to quickly, sadly, tragically. But thousands lost their lives that day, mothers, children, fathers, seniors, and animals too.
Silver-lining. This is Rose’s story. How so? it opens with her narrating in VO and the movie ends with her narrating in VO. Rose is telling us her story. It’s being told from POV point of view. Now an aged senior she’s being interviewed in the twilight of her years about her experience as a survivor of the sunken Titanic. What is revealed? Several things for sure. First, an amazing love relationship that, like, “fate,” just showed up, and it was real, and fun, strong and beautiful! This story is not about a shipwreck. It’s a love story. And yes though it ended way to soon the love Jack and Rose shared lives on in Roses’s heart all the days of her life.
Tragedy as a plot offers premium contrast in terms of the yin-yang effect. For Us to feel something for Us to relate/connect, building in the sharp edges of contrast, texture help us to give life like or bigger depictions of the human experience. Yes to be entertained, for sure we all love entertainment. But moreover often much deeper and further reaching effects that can actually help shape and influence the world we live in for the better.