Narration

Narration is when someone is used to convey a story to the audience, this can be done either by an off screen character or by a visible character expressing their unspoken thoughts and feelings.

Comedy- The film Just Go With It is an example of a comedy film that uses narration. In the opening scene to help the audience establish what is going on and to help them connect with the first character which they are shown narration is used. You understand from this scene that the guy is trying to drink his problems away when something happened. After he starts talking to the girl who just entered the bar there comes a point where she asks him about his personal life, which is where we see him and we hear the narration over the top which tells us what he is thinking. Then at the end of the scene you hear the narration one last time telling us as the audience that the wedding ring which causes him such humiliation managed to get him a date. The narration acts as his thought process to the audience and helps us to understand how this character is feeling and helps us to connect with him and feel like he is engaging with us.


Horror- The film American Psycho is an example of a horror film which uses narration. The use of narration in this film helps the audience learn more about the character on screen and creates a connection with him. At first you start to learn about his normal routine to get ready in the morning, which shows him to be very obsessive of his image but also shows how self-conscious he really is. Then towards the end of the scene you start to see him become deeper and he starts to talk about how he is not there, even though people can see him. This shows how this characters obviously has some issues and possible experienced a traumatic past and it sets in questions with the audience which grips them to keep watching the film.
    

Action- The film V for Vendetta is an example of an action film which uses narration. You can hear from this opening that there is a woman talking about the legend of Guy Fawkes which foreshadows to the audience the possible events that might occur in the film that links with Guy Fawkes. The use of only hearing the narration and seeing the setting of when Guy Fawkes was alive helps to show the importance in mentioning this name to the audience. You also hear her talking of a man who reminded her of Guy Fawkes which helps to explain why she is talking about him and also creates a sense to the audience of what is to come in this film.

Drama- The film The DUFF is an example of a drama film opening which uses narration. At the beginning you can see that there is textual narration which is there to show the audience what type of personality each of the main characters have, for example Jess is an aspiring fashion designer. The use of this form of narration helps the audience understand more about each of the characters and feel more connected to them like they understand each of them better. There is also voice narration which is when the main character, Bianca Piper is talking about how one by one each of the characters shown on screen isn't her until it gets to her and you realise that out of each of her friends she is the least attractive and glamorous, according to most of the characters at school.

Romance- The film If I Stay is an example of a romance film which uses narration. The use of narration here helps to explain to the audience what this young girl is thinking about. You can see that she is very conflicted by a lot of issues which is illustrated by the increase in tempo of the music that is playing in the background which also helps to suggest that something is about to happen. You then see hear her pause before saying "and just like that..." which foreshadows something is about to happen as she doesn't finish her sentence. This is a very good example of narration as it helps the audience connect with the main character through showing her thoughts and it also builds suspense for something bad to happen through the effect of her not finishing her sentence and the increase in tempo of the music.

I think the requirements for good film narration is a clear, powerful voice. This makes it easier for the audience understand what the character is saying and also engage and connect with them better. Narration should also use language which fits with the genre of the film, for example the narration used in a drama film needs to be engaging and funny but also put across the drama that will unfold in the film.

I think narration is definitely something I would consider using in my film opening. It helps to portray aspects from a film with would otherwise be hard to demonstrate. It would be a good way to show the thoughts and feelings of my characters without them having to break the fourth wall or by using dialogue.