In the screenwriting zeitgeist there is a school of thought that using narration or a narrator to advance your story is a sign of weak writing. This goes for flashbacks as well. Undoubtedly there are readers who believe this and upon seeing it, three strikes you're out, no matter how good the writing is. Several classic films use narration, the most notable "Sunset Blvd.". More recent examples are "American Beauty" and "Fight Club." Following is a link I found defending the use of narration with the caveat many writers do not execute it well.
https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/studies-in-voice-over-narration-ameri...
I do wonder though what percentage of readers and development folk throw scripts into the bin simply upon seeing narration. I recently wrote a film noir that uses it.
Narration should allow you to express something that another narrative device cannot. A film noir should not have narration because that’s what hardboiled detective fiction is “supposed to have,” but because the protagonist is so affected by what they have just lived through they need to talk things out to make sense of it all, or they must commit their version of events to the record for when the case blows up in their face, etc. Narration needs to have a narrative purpose and be more than window-dressing.
Film noir should NOT have narration Stephen Floyd? "Sunset Blvd." is considered classic film noir https://www.gradesaver.com/sunset-boulevard/study-guide/is-sunset-boulevard-really-a-film-noir
A long time ago when I worked at MGM as Editorial Manager, I was in charge of promoting all those classic films you see on TCM to consumers as videos. We were surprised how much the public thirsted for them. The TCM audience continues to grow among young people who are unearthing these classics for the first time. I view narration less stringently and see it more as a cinematic motif, a flavor if you will. Some prefer sprinkles on their ice cream, others do not. I agree narration should be used sparingly but effectively. I have written over 18 scripts (sold one) and marketed over 500 films at various studios so I sort of know the nuts and bolts, Kay, and I disagree with you respectfully that if the reader does not know you personally, narration should never be used. Without getting into details, there is a very logical reason as to why I employed it in my last script -- the only time I have ever used it.
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Using flashbacks as long as you know how/when & where to use them is fine I think that the majority of script scribes do not know when/where or how to use 'em. Personally, I'm not a fan of narration but I've noted that it's been effectively utilized in a few instances. What would you call Juno's (Ellen Page) VO dialog in the film Juno; would it be narration?
In Sunset Boulevard the narration was purposeful, as with Double Indemnity, by the same director. In Casablanca, M, Little Caesar, White Heat, Le Samourai, The French Connection, Chinatown and other extant examples of the genre, there was no narration. I argue only that the decision to or not to narrate should be deliberate and a function of narrative necessity. If you view it as a matter of flavor, I would challenge you to re-examine what is at the core of the genre and why it attracts audiences. Why do we call it film noir to begin with?
Self-correction: Casablanca had narration at the very beginning.
Stephen, I meant to broaden the examination for using narration. Necessity is always at the core. "American Beauty" for example did not necessarily need narration but it did add flavor to that Best Picture winner. In a way it mimicked Sunset Blvd. as he is dead as narrator in the beginning. Sad I can't watch that film anymore for obvious reasons. I appreciate your appreciation for the classics. I wrote the video package synopsis for Casablanca.
Is breaking the 4th wall considered narration and how would it be written?
I don't mind narration, but I HATED the narration in Doom Patrol. Totally unnecessary and annoying. So even the pros get it wrong.
First cut of Blade Runner had narration. This was just for style. We know because the director’s cut nixed the narration and it was a leaner, sharper story. Style for style’s sake doesn’t serve the story and ends up as dead weight that a smart producer or director will get rid of. Better to present a polished piece than endure being told that all this flavor you put into the piece was over-seasoning. I say this not to disparage the movie you’re working on, as I have not read it, but to disparage the notion that it is acceptable to include non-vital elements in a screenplay. Doing so makes a writer look sloppy, then they have to hire Kay on the sly to fix it for you.
Cherie’s right. After watching American Hustle, I felt like the narration was SUPER unnecessary. By contrast, the narration in Limitless (also Bradley Cooper) was fitting because most of the conflict was in the protagonist’s mind.
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Didn't know there was a narrator controversy. Maybe only screenwriting forums argue versus the actual filmmaking process w/ people and a camera.
Do and use whatever tools of the trade. Writing a spec script isn't a movie, it's a writing sample until it ain't.
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Like anything else in screenwriting, if voice over narration is employed skillfully, there should be no controversy. Forrest Gump and Taxi Driver are good examples of skillful use.
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Sigh... There is no "controversy." There is only subjective opinion regarding the effective use of various devices versus poor use. Blame how a device is used, not the device itself.
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NARRATOR: "The discussion of 'The Narrator Controversy' has now turned to whether or not there is a controversy."
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Amen Dan, amen.
Woody Allen breaks the 4th wall to great affect in Annie Hall, talking directly to the theater audience. Also Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This is overt narration. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hsimp=yhs-SF0...
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"Blame how a device is used, not the device itself." Well said Beth. Sums it up nicely.
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Similarly, It's a poor workman who blames his tools.
what a bunch of ... I could never write a scene like this. But I guess Margaret could. Her insight into human nature. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hsimp=yhs-SF0...
a man will try to write women. I give up. it is simply impossible.
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The only readers that throw talent in the bin are untalented ones. If they are writers they can tell great work when they read it.
If there are a number count blah blah blah. That could all be done by a minimum wage temp.
“Find and replace - Flashback with Flashback. If it has more than zero, throw it in the bin”. No readers needed.
Flashback, narration, bad format is done badly by bad writers. They are not an indiction of bad writing.
If you are a bad writer removing these doesn’t not make you a good writer.