Movies That Move Us : Screenwriting and the Power of the Protagonist's Journey

From a screenwriting perspective, Batty explores the idea that the protagonist's journey is comprised of two individual yet interwoven threads: the physical journey and the emotional journey. His analysis includes detailed case studies of the films Muriel's Wedding, Little Voice, Cars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Sunshine Cleaning and Up. Films are not only visual, they are visceral; they allow an audience to feel the unfolding drama and psychologically connect with the characters. Even for the screenwriter, the experience of writing a film can be deeply moving, where a range of character emotions are assimilated and poured back into the narrative. Written specifically from a screenwriting perspective, this book explores the idea that the protagonist's narrative journey is also experienced by the audience, and comprises two individual yet interwoven threads: the physical journey and the emotional journey. With detailed case studies of the films Muriel's Wedding, Little Voice, Cars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Sunshine Cleaning and Up, the book provides a redefined version of the Hero's Journey screenwriting model that will help writers to amplify the emotional power of their screenplays "Dr Batty is the perfect guide to the world of screenwriting. He knows the narrative journey of a character is also a psychological one - how the outer journey is an inner voyage into the depths of human experience. His great gift is to render this visible. In doing so he provides a guidebook to the inner world of emotions. He shows how screenwriters can take audiences into the core of their being and over the course of 90 minutes return them, transformed and enriched, back to their everyday lives."--Luke Hockley, University of Bedfordshire, UK 'In this illuminating synthesis Dr. Batty improves on the Hero's Journey model by tracing the interaction of physical and emotional dimensions in each stage of the adventure, an exercise I wish I'd thought of doing. He brings needed clarity and order to the idea that a good story works on at least two interacting levels and demonstrates his thesis with entertaining examples from popular films. He's made a better map of the countryside of screen storytelling and it will be a useful guide for screenwriters and students of narrative theory alike.' - Christopher Vogler Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Part I: Screenwriting and the Power of the Protagonist’s Journey......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1 Exploring the Duality of a Screenplay Narrative......Page 29 2 Mythology and the Hero's Journey......Page 52 3 Exploring the Hero's Journey......Page 65 4 Redefining the Hero's Journey into a New Model for Screenwriting......Page 90 Conclusion......Page 101 Part II: Screenplay Case Studies......Page 106 Case Study 1 Muriel's Wedding......Page 108 Case Study 2 Little Voice......Page 125 Case Study 3 Cars......Page 140 Case Study 4 Forgetting Sarah Marshall......Page 155 Case Study 5 Sunshine Cleaning......Page 173 Case Study 6 Up......Page 189 Notes......Page 205 Bibliography......Page 208 Filmography......Page 210 Index......Page 211 Written Specifically From A Screenwriting Perspective, This Explores The Idea That The Protagonist's Narrative Journey Is Also Experienced By The Audience, And Comprises Two Individual Yet Interwoven Threads: The Physical Journey And The Emotional Journey. -back Cover. Screenwriting And The Power Of The Protagonist's Journey. Introduction -- Exploring The Duality Of A Screenplay Narrative -- Mythology And The Hero's Journey -- Exploring The Hero's Journey -- Re-defining The Hero's Journey Into A New Model For Screenwriting -- Conclusion -- Screenplay Case Studies. Case Study One: Muriel's Wedding -- Case Study Two: Little Voice -- Case Study Three: Cars -- Case Study Four: Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- Case Study Five: Sunshine Cleaning -- Case Study Six: Up. Craig Batty. Includes Bibliographical References, Filmography And Index.