Dramatic irony and situational irony are two tools that filmmakers can use to tell better stories and involve the withholding of information and the revealing of information to the audience. Film directors can use dramatic irony by giving the audience information that the characters don't have. Situational irony is created by playing against the expectations of the audience.
- Part of being a good storyteller…is being able to recognize and quantify…familiar storytelling tools.…In this journal, we're going to look at…two common tricks in particular,…dramatic irony and situational irony.…Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something…that the characters don't.…I once made another short film called Incognita…that has quick scene of dramatic irony.…As our heroin looks around,…she reveals someone in the background…that intends her harm.…We see him, but she doesn't,…this is dramatic irony.…Hitchcock was a master of dramatic irony…and used it to create tension in a lot of his movies.…
In Rope, for example,…some guys have killed one of their friends,…hid his body in this table,…and then had a party.…The guest at the party don't know…what's hidden beneath the serving tray,…but we do.…What adds to the tension is that Farley Granger's character,…Phillip, is terrified of getting caught.…In The Assurance we had a little bit of dramatic irony,…but I don't think it ended up being very clear…in the final version of the film.…
Author
Chad Perkins
Released
8/18/2016Watch and learn how to shoot a script, using visual motifs, atmospherics, framing, and different types of shots to tell the film's story. Find out how to give direction to your crew and be a good leader, while staying on budget and on schedule. Plus, get tips to improve shots during retakes or in post, and to become a better director, storyteller, and communicator.
Note: Like the rest of the Creating a Short Film series, this course was shot during the production of The Assurance. It offers a unique window into the actual struggles and challenges filmmakers have to overcome to get films made. Find the rest of the courses in the series on Chad's author page.
- What a director does
- Interpreting the script
- Scouting locations
- Choosing the tone and theme of the film
- Using motifs
- Shaping the story through visuals
- Being a good leader on set
- Respecting budgets and schedules
- Planning shots
- Moving the camera: on a tripod or dolly or in handheld shots
- Using rolling takes
- Framing shots
- Adding atmospherics
- Directing in post-production
- Becoming a better director
Skill Level Appropriate for all
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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What does a director do?1m 53s
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The Assurance7m 43s
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1. Preparing for Production
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Choosing your crew1m 37s
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Interpreting the script2m 4s
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Creating a visual style2m 36s
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Scouting locations1m 37s
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2. Themes and Tone
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Controlling the tone4m 39s
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Using themes1m 58s
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Using motifs2m 13s
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About the blur motif2m 18s
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3. Shaping the Story
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Killing darlings3m 59s
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Cutting to add clarity1m 54s
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Adding tension2m 19s
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Showing, not telling4m 35s
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4. Running the Set
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Being a good leader3m 25s
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Sticking to your vision3m 3s
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Throwing away your vision2m 57s
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Knowing when to reset2m 57s
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Wearing multiple hats1m 25s
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5. Planning Shots in a Scene
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Understanding the scene2m 45s
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Planning the shots4m 19s
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6. Getting the Shot
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Getting coverage4m 2s
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Cheating and stealing shots3m 20s
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Utilizing rolling takes4m 10s
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Breaking the "fourth wall"1m 45s
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Fixing it in post1m 43s
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7. Improving the Shot
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Improving takes4m 11s
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Using extras3m 38s
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Framing the shot5m 28s
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Adding atmospherics3m 8s
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8. Directing in Post-Production
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Directing the edit1m 36s
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Directing VFX shots1m 49s
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Directing audio choices2m 46s
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Conclusion
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Becoming a better director1m 31s
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Directing resources2m 52s
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Final thoughts1m 1s
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Video: Using dramatic and situational irony