How to write screenplays using Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp approach. PRACTICAL GUIDE

The character is often forced to agree to that kind of deal, having found himself in the stalemate. Propp attributes this function to the separate category, similar to the “preliminary misfortune” function.

In spite of its anciency, this function works just fine in today’s movies. For example, in the comedy Police Academy, 1984, the main character is offered to go to the police academy as the alternative to going to jail. He agrees willingly, thinking that he will be kicked out soon for his tricks. He doesn’t know it is impossible.

villainy

– The Antagonist causes one of the family members harm or damage (definition – the villainy).

It is the major function, that is, the turning point and the key event in the screenplay first act. It precisely creates the plot movement of both fairy tale and a movie.

Many other functions can be neglected, but not this one. This one is obligatory for every fairy tale.

An absentation, a violation of an interdiction, a delivery and a trickery prepare this function, make it possible or just facilitate it. That is why the first seven functions can be considered as the preparatory part of a fairy tale.

Enemies can harm in a variety of ways.

– Kidnapping a bride, children, a wife.

– Kidnapping some magic substance.

– Stealing or spoiling crops or supplies.

– Stealing a light, the Moon or a warmth.

– Any other type of stealing.

Propp remarks, that all forms of stealing are very much alike and could’ve been united, however he describes separately the most common cases for the convenience.

– Bodily injury.

The interesting thing here is that in fairy tales (from the mythology point of view) it is a form of a stealing. Fairytale enemies can easily kidnap hero’s heart and hide it in some secret place. The victim has to find what was stolen and to return it to its place.

– A sudden disappearance.

In this case, unlike in kidnapping, an enemy doesn’t take anything for himself. Let’s say, there’s no antagonist in the comedy The Hangover, 2009. Characters make a “lacking” by themselves, forgetting where they have left the groom.

– An enemy demands and takes the victim away.

As a rule, it is a consequence of a deceptive contract.

– An Antagonist himself banishes someone from the house.

In the tale “The Three Little Pigs”, the wolf just destroys heroes’ houses. One more common theme is when a stepmother gets rid of her husband’s children, like for example, in the tale “Hensel and Gretel”.

– The villain can order the third party to banish someone from the house.

For example, to throw into the sea or leave in some deserted place.

11.The enemy bewitches the victim.

Propp specifically notices, that the antagonist often harms in several ways at the same time. For example, as in the tale of the sleeping princess. The princess, having pricked her finger, gets bewitched and falls asleep, which is one of the disappearance forms. The bewitchment form is rarely found by itself. The magic is usually used for some concrete purposes, not for the process itself. The same goes for some other forms, which Propp calls accompanying.

– The Antagonist makes a substitution.