Week 14

1. What does Flo Liebowitz mean by “dialogue as behavior”?
It’s the behavior of the speaker that’s talking in a film, which acts as a basis for one’s inference or take/understanding of the characters speaking the dialog. This dialog colors the fictional characters with textures of temperament and behaviors that repeat which are identifiable to them. Each character speaks in a specific manner that is part of their behavior and this conveys who they are in regards to each other. It’s the how/why they speak in the tones they use that is integrated to the overall mood/meaning of the film.

2. What are some of the connections between Stranger than Paradise with the New American Cinema, including Shadows?

Cassavetes and the New American Cinema conceived of narrative not in terms of contrivances of plot, but as a character-centered process that closely resembles real life. Relationships keeps changing and there is a lot of ambivalence between characters. The protagonists don’t have an arc and aren’t goal oriented.

3. In what specific ways does Jarmusch’s script deviate from standard scriptwriting structure and format?

The script doesn’t fit the one page one-minute rule.
The script is only 55 pages, which is unusual for a full-length movie. The film functions/relies on a more visual/stylistic level than a plot driven narrative. It is “execution dependent.” The film uses mise-en-scene and the characters performances as emphasis to move the narrative along to an unpredictable conclusion. The script has 3 segments that are almost equal in length; the middle is not the biggest but smallest.

4. What is an "execution dependent" screenplay?
According to Christine Vacon, “There is no way to for the average Joe to tell what’s going to happen between script and screen-the financiers have to take a leap of faith.” It may mean when making the film you have to finish some of it to be able to show to investors who will then take the chance on you finishing the movie. You have to show what it’s about and what you have done stylistically and visually in order to complete financing. It’s very dependent on the director and his/her vision, of making the film in a very specific way to convey the meaning of the film.

5. What are the similarities and differences between Stranger than Paradise and punk films?

The characters in STP and punk films are the antithesis of characters that are goal motivated and action driven. There is no arc of improvement for the main protagonist, no happy ending. They suggest real life that has no meaning or purpose except that the characters are very engaging/interesting. They hold our interest thru out the film.
There’s no real violence/sex or anti-establishment aspect to STP as there would be in a punk film. They don’t have criminal vices and are not senseless punk rebels. We like these characters and can believe in them.