1. Hollywood Narratives in
Pictures and Screenshots
Donna Lye
14046
DIP Lvl 2 – ANN3A

2. Contents
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Mise-en-scene
4. How Hollywood Narratives has evolved
5. Has ‘New Hollywood’ retained Classical
Narratives of Hollywood?
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography

3. Abstract
• Introduction to Classical Narratives
– Touch on definition and elements of
Hollywood Narratives .
• How Classical Narratives have evolved
– Examples of the changes from older films vs
new films using the same franchise.
– Discussion on how I feel about the changing
narrative elements in Hollywood.

4. Introduction
• Classical Hollywood Narrative is a
dominant form of storytelling in Cinema
that was introduced sometime between
the 1920s to 1930s
– Follows a set of unspoken rules
– Is typically expected from the audience
– Is still commonly used in today’s films.

5. The 3-Act Structure
• Resembles the world we know
– Problem is introduced early in the movie
– Characters work on the problem
– By the end, the problem is solved

6. Mise-en-scene
• Characters almost never look directly into
the camera
– Occasionally shown to give dramatic effect
• Backgrounds designed to be true to life
– Occasionally elaborate but still designed to
resemble the world we know

7. How Classic Hollywood Narrative
has evolved
• Considered the 1st film to make use of dialogue
and the Classic Hollywood Narrative
• Marked the decline of silent films
• Gave MGM financial success to make more films

8. How Classic Hollywood Narrative
has evolved
The Television

9. How Classic Hollywood Narrative
has evolved

10. How Classic Hollywood Narrative
has evolved
• Charismatic, more laid back
and experienced
• Mostly pure entertainment
• Over the top stunts and
explosions
• Reboot of the film franchise
• Features a darker, grittier
and more realistic Bond
• Retains over the top stunts
and explosions

11. How Classic Hollywood Narrative
has evolved
• Follows 6 different
stories that intertwine
with each other
• Crosses through
different time periods
• Retains elements of
Classical Narrative

12. Has New Hollywood retained the
Classical Narrative Structure?
The One Ring, The Fellowship of The Ring & the Destruction of the One Ring; The Lord of The Rings Trilogy
Harry finds out he’s a wizard, Dumbledore’s army, Harry versus Voldemort; Harry Potter Anthology

13. Conclusion
• A basic and and effective story structure
that can be built on to tell a more
compelling story
• Will continue to be the main structure of
storytelling for a long time

14. Bibliography
• Berliner, T (2010), Hollywood Incoherent, United States of America:
University of Texas Press
• Nelmes, J, Nichols, B (1996), Introduction to Film Studies, United
States of America and Canada: Routledge
• Maltby, R (1995), Hollywood Cinema, United States of America:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd