Script Analysis: Deconstructing Screenplay Fundamentals

196 Pages·2022·2.753 MB·English

by  James Bang

SCRIPT ANALYSIS
A comprehensive step-by-step guide to deconstructing screenplay fundamentals,
this book will allow readers to understand the elements, functions, and anatomy
of a screenplay. Not only will this book enable readers to accomplish a thorough
analysis of a screenplay and understand the dramatic elements and their functions,
but screenwriters will be able to apply these steps to their own writing as well.
The book explores theme and premise, provides an in-depth study of character
development, and breaks down the dramatic elements needed to construct a solid
screenplay. It provides examples of the three-act structure, the hero’s journey, and
the sequence method. Furthermore, it explores how the main plot and subplots
are used in a storyline and discusses the importance of setting. Finally, it reveals
screenwriting techniques and tools used by professional screenwriters, such as
dramatic irony, reversal, and setup/payoff. To connect with a broad range of readers,
the case studies used in this book are mainly from contemporary films, including
Get Out (2017), Lady Bird (2017), The Dark Knight (2008), Toy Story (1995),
Parasite (2019), and Whiplash (2014). Readers will understand how professional
screenwriters use fundamental elements to construct, shape, develop, and tell a
visual story. After reading this book, readers will comprehend the components
critical to developing a screenplay.
This book is ideal for students of screenwriting and filmmaking who want
to better understand how to comprehensively analyze a screenplay, as well as
screenwriters who want to utilize this method to develop their own scripts.
James Bang teaches screenwriting and film production at The New School in
New York City. He earned an M.F.A. in Film – Screenwriting/Directing from
Columbia University, and he has worked on several film productions. His films
have received several awards, including a nomination for the 35th Student Academy
Awards®.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS
Deconstructing Screenplay
Fundamentals
James Bang
Cover image: © Warner Bros / Photofest
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 James Bang
The right of James Bang to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bang, James, 1972– author.
Title: Script analysis : deconstructing screenplay fundamentals / James
Bang.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021057896 (print) | LCCN 2021057897 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367687380 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367687397 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003138853 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Motion picture plays—Technique. | Motion picture
plays—History and criticism.
Classification: LCC PN1996 .B3817 2022 (print) | LCC PN1996 (ebook) |
DDC 808.2/3—dc23/eng/20220406
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021057896
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021057897
ISBN: 978-0-367-68738-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-68739-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-13885-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003138853
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
PART I
Introduction 1
Screenplay 1
Analysis 3
Script Analysis 5
Script Breakdown 7
PART II
Deconstructing Screenplay Fundamentals 9
1 Theme and Premise 11
2 Character 17
3 Story 37
4 Structure 58
vi Contents
5 Setting 78
6 Techniques and Tools 84
PART III
Script Analysis 93
The Apartment (Romance/Comedy/Drama), 1960 96
Toy Story (Animation/Family), 1995 108
The Dark Knight (Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller), 2008 119
Whiplash (Indie/Music/Drama), 2014 136
Get Out (Horror/Mystery/Thriller), 2017 145
Lady Bird (Comedy/Drama), 2017 159
Parasite (Comedy/Drama/Thriller), 2019 169
References 178
Index 180
For my brother

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I started my career in the corporate world, but the aftermath of the 9/11 attack
made me reevaluate my career path, and I chose to pursue storytelling instead.
I fell in love with every aspect of screenwriting and filmmaking, and I’ve been liv-
ing in a world of visual storytelling ever since. Along the way, I’ve met mentors,
collaborators, and friends. I’d like to mention a few of their names with gratitude
in my heart: Annette Insdorf, Malia Scotch-Marmo, Milena Jelinek, Tom Kalin,
Eric Mendelsohn, Maureen A. Ryan, Dan Klein, and Richard Peña at Columbia
University School of the Arts for their mentorship; Lana Lin and Marcus Turner
at The New School for their continued support in letting me pursue teaching, my
second passion; and Sheni Kruger, Claire Margerison, and Sarah Pickles at Focal
Press, Routledge, for their ongoing support and guidance. I also want to thank my
friend and editor, Tracy Majka, for helping all along the way, from the proposal to
the final draft. Lastly, I would like to thank my wife, Stella Min, and my brother,
Bang Jun-Seok, for exploring the world of storytelling with me.