A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Wardrobe Model and Screenplay Structure
In your own words describe the Wardrobe model? What is the connection between premise, theme and plot?
In order for mere pieces of wood to be understood as a wardrobe, one must consider various elements that connect the separate pieces together. Likewise, in a screenplay, the big idea that is the "wardrobe" is ultimately the overarching theme, which ties all the elements and serves as the common bond among all. Just as a wardrobe has the hanger bar and clothes on it, a screenplay consists of a story and plot that connect back to the theme. The variety of clothes that are hung throughout the bar are the different instances that serve as turning points as well as the characters that play significant roles in the plot.
In other words, premise, which is a particular challenge facing the protagonist, is an element in the plot, which connects back to the theme.
The wardrobe model represents the basic structure of a screenplay. The actual wardrobe itself represents the theme, while the plot beat is represented by the various clothes hanging on the hangers (story beats). The premise is the actual problem or challenge that faces the main character. Every event and plot beat must somehow relate back to the overarching theme. In addition, the problem that the character faces will not only help move the plot along, but also somehow further enforce the theme.
The wardrobe model represents the basic structure of a screenplay. The wardrobe represents the actual overall theme of your story. Inside of the wardrobe there is a rail that goes all the way across from one side to another. That rail represents your main character's journey throughout the film. Your wardrobe hangs multiple garments, those garments represent the structure of your plot. However, everything that happens in the plot must relate back to the theme or else it would not make sense.
The Wardrobe Model is easier to understand when you actually picture a wardrobe in your head. Typically, a wardrobe is filled with all sorts of parts like a rail, hangers, and clothes. The theme of the story is like a wardrobe. Like a wardrobe is should be strong, holding everything together and remaining consistent. Within the wardrobe is a rail which connects one side to the other. This rail could be thought as the main character’s progression or journey throughout the film. The rails are firmly placed within the wardrobe. Just as the rails are locked into the wardrobe, the characters of the story is locked to the theme. Therefore, it’s clear that the characters within the story are dependent on the theme. The clothes hangers on the rail within the wardrobe are the events that happen to the character and the character’s decisions as he or she plays with the theme. Lastly, the clothes on the hangers represent the plot (important events and encounters). To summarize, the events are meaningless without attaching them to a character and the theme. A consistent theme is needed to help move the character forward.
Premise is a short statement that states the central problem or the challenge your main character is facing in the movie. While the plot is a more detailed premise which contains the character’s conflicts and a hint toward the ending. Lastly, the theme is the topic or central message the author is trying to send to the viewer. All together, the premise and plot is made up of the main character's conflicts and actions which is influenced by the theme.
The Wardrobe example given by hoxter is a story model, which shows the importance of each aspect of a story in relation to each other. The outside of the wardrobe is the theme- this quite literally holds everything together. The clothes rod inside the wardrobe is the central character's journey within the story- these would be nothing without being firmly anchored in the sides of the wardrobe, the theme. Hanging on the clothing rod are hangers, which are story beats, representing internal conflict and choices a character is making, and the plot is the clothing hanging on the hangers. Note how story and plot beats must be motivated by the character on their journey, so this is why they hang and depend in this journey literally in the wardrobe model.
I really like the wardrobe model as it serves justice in explaining the complex and multi-variable nature of a screenplay. The wardrobe model assigns each important element of a screenplay to its corresponding object in the wardrobe in accordance with its purpose. For example, the middle rail is compared to the lead character's journey in the story. It is a strong timeline that holds the hangers with the clothes, which represent the story beats along with the plot. Most importantly, the walls of the wardrobe, according to the model, is the theme. Just like the walls, the theme holds the entire screenplay together allowing the wardrobe to exist in the first place.
In any screenplay there is a strong connection between the premise, theme, and plot. Theme usually stands for the central topic of the narrative while plot is an actual sequence of events in the story that touch upon the theme in a relatively narrowed down environment. Premise, on the other hand, is the fundamental concept that describes the film. Compared to the theme premise is specifically targeted to the story but is not as detailed as the plot. Premise does not include a sequence of events but rather concentrates on the main idea of the film narrowed down to a few sentences.
The wardrobe model is a metaphor for the basic structure of a screenplay. Like the elements of a wardrobe, the elements of a screenplay can be numerous and mixed, but upon closer examination, each element holds a value in relation to each other. The wardrobe exterior is the overarching theme of the screenplay which holds all the other elements together. The clothing rod represents the protagonist's journey through the story which is kept in place by the wardrobe exterior. The hangers with clothes on them are the story's beats, screenplay's events and/or protagonist's decisions which rely on the clothing rod. Everything in the wardrobe relates back to the overarching theme of the screenplay.
The wardrobe model provides a visualization for the connection of the multiple elements within a screenplay: the theme, story, characters, and character arc. Each element within a wardrobe, including the hangers and the walls represent different parts of a screenplay. The whole wardrobe itself is the theme, holding everything together. The character arc (hanger rail) is supported by the theme and each hanger represents a plot point and the characters within the story. The premise is the main challenge facing the protagonist and is rooted in the theme and the decisions the character makes. The main difference between this model and the W model, for example, is the lack of chronology. The W model dictates certain events to happen in a specific order from beginning to middle to end. The wardrobe model, however, only describes the relation of the elements in a story to one another and doesn’t provide an actual order or sequences.
So the Wardrobe itself is the whole theme of your story. The clothes rail is the character arc but what would a clothes rail be without some hangers? nothing. The hangers are the story beats and the clothes that hang on them are the plot beats. This visual connects all of the elements of the story inside the framework of your theme. The only way the plot beats are connects to the character arc is through the story beats. The premise is the challenge that the main character faces. This is just one aspect of the plot. Every element of the plot should relate back to the theme. Otherwise, why is it there? Get it out! Call security!
The wardrobe serves as a metaphor for the structure of a screenplay, representing the overall theme of the story. The rail that holds the hangers is the arc of the story and the main character. This is all contained within the theme. Just as the rail is anchored to the wardrobe on both sides, the character arc is anchored to the theme. Oftentimes, this will be how the character reacts or changes their mind about the theme. The hangers and clothes on them are the plot points of a story between the beginning and end of the arc (rail). These happened between the sides of the railing and move the character along their arc, and are all character drive, rather than the other way around. All of this, as mentioned, is contained within the wardrobe and overall theme of the screenplay.
The wardrobe has many different elements that serve different functions similar to a screenplay. Each part of the wardrobe represents something important in a screenplay. The wardrobe can be denoted as the overall theme of the screenplay (overcoming an obstacle, coming of age). The hanging rack inside can represent a character arc meaning that without it, we would not be able to metaphorically use the wardrobe effectively or literally create a screenplay. The hangers on the rack are the story beat. These hangers have clothes on them, which represent the plot beat. The plot can only be present with a story beat and the story beat is impossible without the character arc. All three of these pieces must play an important part in portraying the theme in which they lay.
The wardrobe is a screenplay's theme or message, which holds everything in it. Within the wardrobe is the clothes rail, which is the character arc, or the journey on which the protagonist goes. This is "bolted" to the theme/wardrobe. Along the clothes rail you have your hangers, or story beats. These are important scenes in the screenplay that move your story forward. And finally, upon those hangers are the clothes, which are the plot beats. These are the details within the story that make it unique from every other story out there (not unlike a wardrobe). Fetching analogy.
The wardrobe is the theme. it is what holds everything together, and everything is connected to the theme. The clothes rail is the character arc, and this is the journey that the MC makes throughout the story. The hangers are the story beats, which are more internal and show how the character is being changed. Lastly are the clothes, which are the plot beats. These are the points of action in the story. As said before, the wardrobe holds everything together. The clothing rail is bolted to the wardrobe, the hangers hang from the clothing rail, and the clothes hang from the hangers. They have to be all connected at all times otherwise the whole thing would fall apart.
The wardrobe model is a helpful device that helps us imagine the ways that the parts of the story are connected. The wardrobe is the unifying piece, the theme, that everything else depends on. The rail is the character's story arc; it is stable and useful because it is firmly attached to the theme. The hangars represent defining points in the story, where the MC has to take action. The clothes are all the cool bits of plot that add unique color and style as you pick combinations to put on the hangars. Every piece is dependent on the larger structure before it. The clothes could be changed and maintain the theme, but changing the theme could make the clothes, hangars, and rail out of place.
The wardrobe model is an illustration to help a writer understand how the different parts of a screenplay come together and influence each other. The wardrobe itself represents the theme that holds everything together. The rail inside is the character arc, or the journey that the main character makes and of course the journey itself is wholly connected to the theme. Without the theme, the rail has nothing to hold on to and thus no purpose. The hangers and the clothes represent the plot beats. I think of it as changing their outfit, which affects the character and the way they see themselves or the world. Each plot beat, is a now outfit that they character has to try on or change in order to advance the story and keep it interesting. Every item within the wardrobe is dependent on the structure itself. Without it, it would just be a mess on the floor that is interesting and difficult to sort through. The theme provides a way to organize and a structure, the journey provides support and direction, and finally the plot beats provide diversity and excitement.
The wardrobe model is used to explain the different aspects that make up a storyline. The wardrobe represents the overall theme of the screenplay and everything inside the wardrobe connects back to that theme. The rail inside the wardrobe is the journey the protagonist takes through the film. Just as the rail is locked into the wardrobe, the character is locked into the theme. Without a sturdy wardrobe, the rail would fall off. The hangers on the rail are the important plot points of the story, it is what moves the story along. The clothes on the hangers are the different events and encounters that the character goes through, it adds interest and zest to the story.
The physical wood making the wardrobe represents the theme of your story. Inside of this wardrobe is a rail that can hang clothes. This rail is the journey that the character or protagonist takes during the story. On this rail are hangers with clothes on them, which represent the events and plot beats. Each item is dependent on each other to be a fully functioning wardrobe. The wardrobe holds up the rail, which holds the clothes that give the wardrobe a purpose. Similarly, in film, the premise wouldn't be sturdy without a strong theme to hold it up and the plot beats add excitement and interest into the premise which are all connected through the theme.
Like a wardrobe, a screenplay structure contains many different elements. The wardrobe allows one to piece together and connect the theme, the story, the plot, and the different characters in the story. The theme can be seen as the entire wardrobe itself. It contains all of the various elements. The clothes rail is the character arc. This aspect of the is how the characters are in the screenplay and how they transform over time The hanger is the story beat. Story beats are the main points of action that happen over the course of the screenplay. The clothes are the plot beat. These show how the breakdown of all the main turning points throughout the plot of the screenplay. All of these different components add to making the screenplay more interesting and add to the drama of the story.
The wardrobe model is a helpful metaphor for a writer to determine the arc of their screenplay. The wardrobe helps the writer to piece together many of the different elements contained in a screenplay. The wardrobe as a whole represents the theme of the screenplay where as everything else inside make up the scrips different elements. The clothing rail can be seen as the character arc while the hanger is the story beat and the clothes make up the plot beat. Everything centers around the wardrobe as a unifying piece that holds the story together, the theme.
The wardrobe model represents all the elements of a screenplay metaphorically as a wardrobe. The wardrobe itself is the theme of the screenplay which helps writers remember that everything that goes inside of the wardrobe should relate back to the theme. This being said, the clothes rail, aka the character arc, shows how the characters play a role within this theme. The clothes rail holds the hangers which holds the clothes up showing that characters help hold the plot, premise, and story together. All these elements go into the wardrobe which shows that they all tie in with the theme.
21 comments:
In order for mere pieces of wood to be understood as a wardrobe, one must consider various elements that connect the separate pieces together. Likewise, in a screenplay, the big idea that is the "wardrobe" is ultimately the overarching theme, which ties all the elements and serves as the common bond among all. Just as a wardrobe has the hanger bar and clothes on it, a screenplay consists of a story and plot that connect back to the theme. The variety of clothes that are hung throughout the bar are the different instances that serve as turning points as well as the characters that play significant roles in the plot.
In other words, premise, which is a particular challenge facing the protagonist, is an element in the plot, which connects back to the theme.
The wardrobe model represents the basic structure of a screenplay. The actual wardrobe itself represents the theme, while the plot beat is represented by the various clothes hanging on the hangers (story beats). The premise is the actual problem or challenge that faces the main character. Every event and plot beat must somehow relate back to the overarching theme. In addition, the problem that the character faces will not only help move the plot along, but also somehow further enforce the theme.
The wardrobe model represents the basic structure of a screenplay. The wardrobe represents the actual overall theme of your story. Inside of the wardrobe there is a rail that goes all the way across from one side to another. That rail represents your main character's journey throughout the film. Your wardrobe hangs multiple garments, those garments represent the structure of your plot. However, everything that happens in the plot must relate back to the theme or else it would not make sense.
The Wardrobe Model is easier to understand when you actually picture a wardrobe in your head. Typically, a wardrobe is filled with all sorts of parts like a rail, hangers, and clothes. The theme of the story is like a wardrobe. Like a wardrobe is should be strong, holding everything together and remaining consistent. Within the wardrobe is a rail which connects one side to the other. This rail could be thought as the main character’s progression or journey throughout the film. The rails are firmly placed within the wardrobe. Just as the rails are locked into the wardrobe, the characters of the story is locked to the theme. Therefore, it’s clear that the characters within the story are dependent on the theme. The clothes hangers on the rail within the wardrobe are the events that happen to the character and the character’s decisions as he or she plays with the theme. Lastly, the clothes on the hangers represent the plot (important events and encounters). To summarize, the events are meaningless without attaching them to a character and the theme. A consistent theme is needed to help move the character forward.
Premise is a short statement that states the central problem or the challenge your main character is facing in the movie. While the plot is a more detailed premise which contains the character’s conflicts and a hint toward the ending. Lastly, the theme is the topic or central message the author is trying to send to the viewer. All together, the premise and plot is made up of the main character's conflicts and actions which is influenced by the theme.
The Wardrobe example given by hoxter is a story model, which shows the importance of each aspect of a story in relation to each other. The outside of the wardrobe is the theme- this quite literally holds everything together. The clothes rod inside the wardrobe is the central character's journey within the story- these would be nothing without being firmly anchored in the sides of the wardrobe, the theme. Hanging on the clothing rod are hangers, which are story beats, representing internal conflict and choices a character is making, and the plot is the clothing hanging on the hangers. Note how story and plot beats must be motivated by the character on their journey, so this is why they hang and depend in this journey literally in the wardrobe model.
I really like the wardrobe model as it serves justice in explaining the complex and multi-variable nature of a screenplay. The wardrobe model assigns each important element of a screenplay to its corresponding object in the wardrobe in accordance with its purpose. For example, the middle rail is compared to the lead character's journey in the story. It is a strong timeline that holds the hangers with the clothes, which represent the story beats along with the plot. Most importantly, the walls of the wardrobe, according to the model, is the theme. Just like the walls, the theme holds the entire screenplay together allowing the wardrobe to exist in the first place.
In any screenplay there is a strong connection between the premise, theme, and plot. Theme usually stands for the central topic of the narrative while plot is an actual sequence of events in the story that touch upon the theme in a relatively narrowed down environment. Premise, on the other hand, is the fundamental concept that describes the film. Compared to the theme premise is specifically targeted to the story but is not as detailed as the plot. Premise does not include a sequence of events but rather concentrates on the main idea of the film narrowed down to a few sentences.
The wardrobe model is a metaphor for the basic structure of a screenplay. Like the elements of a wardrobe, the elements of a screenplay can be numerous and mixed, but upon closer examination, each element holds a value in relation to each other. The wardrobe exterior is the overarching theme of the screenplay which holds all the other elements together. The clothing rod represents the protagonist's journey through the story which is kept in place by the wardrobe exterior. The hangers with clothes on them are the story's beats, screenplay's events and/or protagonist's decisions which rely on the clothing rod. Everything in the wardrobe relates back to the overarching theme of the screenplay.
The wardrobe model provides a visualization for the connection of the multiple elements within a screenplay: the theme, story, characters, and character arc. Each element within a wardrobe, including the hangers and the walls represent different parts of a screenplay. The whole wardrobe itself is the theme, holding everything together. The character arc (hanger rail) is supported by the theme and each hanger represents a plot point and the characters within the story. The premise is the main challenge facing the protagonist and is rooted in the theme and the decisions the character makes. The main difference between this model and the W model, for example, is the lack of chronology. The W model dictates certain events to happen in a specific order from beginning to middle to end. The wardrobe model, however, only describes the relation of the elements in a story to one another and doesn’t provide an actual order or sequences.
So the Wardrobe itself is the whole theme of your story. The clothes rail is the character arc but what would a clothes rail be without some hangers? nothing. The hangers are the story beats and the clothes that hang on them are the plot beats. This visual connects all of the elements of the story inside the framework of your theme. The only way the plot beats are connects to the character arc is through the story beats.
The premise is the challenge that the main character faces. This is just one aspect of the plot. Every element of the plot should relate back to the theme. Otherwise, why is it there? Get it out! Call security!
The wardrobe serves as a metaphor for the structure of a screenplay, representing the overall theme of the story. The rail that holds the hangers is the arc of the story and the main character. This is all contained within the theme. Just as the rail is anchored to the wardrobe on both sides, the character arc is anchored to the theme. Oftentimes, this will be how the character reacts or changes their mind about the theme. The hangers and clothes on them are the plot points of a story between the beginning and end of the arc (rail). These happened between the sides of the railing and move the character along their arc, and are all character drive, rather than the other way around. All of this, as mentioned, is contained within the wardrobe and overall theme of the screenplay.
The wardrobe has many different elements that serve different functions similar to a screenplay. Each part of the wardrobe represents something important in a screenplay. The wardrobe can be denoted as the overall theme of the screenplay (overcoming an obstacle, coming of age). The hanging rack inside can represent a character arc meaning that without it, we would not be able to metaphorically use the wardrobe effectively or literally create a screenplay. The hangers on the rack are the story beat. These hangers have clothes on them, which represent the plot beat. The plot can only be present with a story beat and the story beat is impossible without the character arc. All three of these pieces must play an important part in portraying the theme in which they lay.
The wardrobe is a screenplay's theme or message, which holds everything in it. Within the wardrobe is the clothes rail, which is the character arc, or the journey on which the protagonist goes. This is "bolted" to the theme/wardrobe. Along the clothes rail you have your hangers, or story beats. These are important scenes in the screenplay that move your story forward. And finally, upon those hangers are the clothes, which are the plot beats. These are the details within the story that make it unique from every other story out there (not unlike a wardrobe). Fetching analogy.
The wardrobe is the theme. it is what holds everything together, and everything is connected to the theme. The clothes rail is the character arc, and this is the journey that the MC makes throughout the story. The hangers are the story beats, which are more internal and show how the character is being changed. Lastly are the clothes, which are the plot beats. These are the points of action in the story. As said before, the wardrobe holds everything together. The clothing rail is bolted to the wardrobe, the hangers hang from the clothing rail, and the clothes hang from the hangers. They have to be all connected at all times otherwise the whole thing would fall apart.
The wardrobe model is a helpful device that helps us imagine the ways that the parts of the story are connected. The wardrobe is the unifying piece, the theme, that everything else depends on. The rail is the character's story arc; it is stable and useful because it is firmly attached to the theme. The hangars represent defining points in the story, where the MC has to take action. The clothes are all the cool bits of plot that add unique color and style as you pick combinations to put on the hangars. Every piece is dependent on the larger structure before it. The clothes could be changed and maintain the theme, but changing the theme could make the clothes, hangars, and rail out of place.
The wardrobe model is an illustration to help a writer understand how the different parts of a screenplay come together and influence each other. The wardrobe itself represents the theme that holds everything together. The rail inside is the character arc, or the journey that the main character makes and of course the journey itself is wholly connected to the theme. Without the theme, the rail has nothing to hold on to and thus no purpose. The hangers and the clothes represent the plot beats. I think of it as changing their outfit, which affects the character and the way they see themselves or the world. Each plot beat, is a now outfit that they character has to try on or change in order to advance the story and keep it interesting. Every item within the wardrobe is dependent on the structure itself. Without it, it would just be a mess on the floor that is interesting and difficult to sort through. The theme provides a way to organize and a structure, the journey provides support and direction, and finally the plot beats provide diversity and excitement.
The wardrobe model is used to explain the different aspects that make up a storyline. The wardrobe represents the overall theme of the screenplay and everything inside the wardrobe connects back to that theme. The rail inside the wardrobe is the journey the protagonist takes through the film. Just as the rail is locked into the wardrobe, the character is locked into the theme. Without a sturdy wardrobe, the rail would fall off. The hangers on the rail are the important plot points of the story, it is what moves the story along. The clothes on the hangers are the different events and encounters that the character goes through, it adds interest and zest to the story.
The physical wood making the wardrobe represents the theme of your story. Inside of this wardrobe is a rail that can hang clothes. This rail is the journey that the character or protagonist takes during the story. On this rail are hangers with clothes on them, which represent the events and plot beats. Each item is dependent on each other to be a fully functioning wardrobe. The wardrobe holds up the rail, which holds the clothes that give the wardrobe a purpose. Similarly, in film, the premise wouldn't be sturdy without a strong theme to hold it up and the plot beats add excitement and interest into the premise which are all connected through the theme.
Like a wardrobe, a screenplay structure contains many different elements. The wardrobe allows one to piece together and connect the theme, the story, the plot, and the different characters in the story. The theme can be seen as the entire wardrobe itself. It contains all of the various elements. The clothes rail is the character arc. This aspect of the is how the characters are in the screenplay and how they transform over time The hanger is the story beat. Story beats are the main points of action that happen over the course of the screenplay. The clothes are the plot beat. These show how the breakdown of all the main turning points throughout the plot of the screenplay. All of these different components add to making the screenplay more interesting and add to the drama of the story.
The wardrobe model is a helpful metaphor for a writer to determine the arc of their screenplay. The wardrobe helps the writer to piece together many of the different elements contained in a screenplay. The wardrobe as a whole represents the theme of the screenplay where as everything else inside make up the scrips different elements. The clothing rail can be seen as the character arc while the hanger is the story beat and the clothes make up the plot beat. Everything centers around the wardrobe as a unifying piece that holds the story together, the theme.
The wardrobe model represents all the elements of a screenplay metaphorically as a wardrobe. The wardrobe itself is the theme of the screenplay which helps writers remember that everything that goes inside of the wardrobe should relate back to the theme. This being said, the clothes rail, aka the character arc, shows how the characters play a role within this theme. The clothes rail holds the hangers which holds the clothes up showing that characters help hold the plot, premise, and story together. All these elements go into the wardrobe which shows that they all tie in with the theme.
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