Lecture Script: The Importance of the Dramatic Question in Film

[Opening Slide] Title: The Importance of the Dramatic Question in Film Subtitle: Understanding the Essence of Tension and Conflict Date: [Insert Date] Lecturer: [Your Name]

[Slide 1] Introduction: - Welcome students to the lecture on the importance of the dramatic question in film. - Briefly explain the significance of the dramatic question in creating tension and conflict in storytelling. - Highlight the objective of the lecture: to understand the essence of the dramatic question and its role in engaging the audience.

[Slide 2] Definition of the Dramatic Question: - Define the dramatic question as the central conflict or problem that drives the narrative. - Explain that it is the question that keeps the audience engaged and invested in the story. - Emphasize that the dramatic question should be compelling and thought-provoking.

[Slide 3] Characteristics of an Effective Dramatic Question: - Discuss the characteristics of a strong dramatic question: 1. It should be clear and concise. 2. It should be emotionally engaging. 3. It should be relevant to the story and characters. 4. It should create tension and conflict. 5. It should be answerable by the end of the film.

[Slide 4] Examples of Dramatic Questions: - Provide examples of well-known films and their dramatic questions: 1. “Will Dorothy ever find her way back home in The Wizard of Oz?” 2. “Can the Avengers defeat Thanos and save the universe in Avengers: Endgame?” 3. “Will Luke Skywalker embrace the dark side or remain a Jedi in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back?”

[Slide 5] Exercises: - Explain that the following exercises will help students practice creating effective dramatic questions. - Mention that these exercises are designed for individual work in an online class setting.

Exercise 1: Analyzing Existing Films - Instruct students to choose a film of their choice and identify the dramatic question. - Ask them to analyze how the film’s dramatic question drives the narrative and engages the audience. - Encourage students to write a short paragraph explaining their findings.

Exercise 2: Creating a Dramatic Question - Provide students with a brief scenario or premise. - Instruct them to create a compelling dramatic question based on the given scenario. - Encourage students to think creatively and consider the potential conflicts and tensions that could arise.

Exercise 3: Refining the Dramatic Question - Ask students to take their previously created dramatic question and refine it further. - Instruct them to make it more emotionally engaging, relevant, and thought-provoking. - Encourage students to share their refined dramatic questions in a discussion forum for feedback.

[Slide 6] Conclusion: - Recap the main points discussed in the lecture. - Emphasize the importance of the dramatic question in creating tension and conflict in film. - Encourage students to practice creating and refining dramatic questions to enhance their storytelling skills.

[Closing Slide] Thank you for attending the lecture! Any questions or clarifications? [Provide contact information for further assistance]