Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov was both a novelist and philosopher during the 20^th century. He had a strong influence on the way in which films are written and produced today. Todorovs theory illustrates the layout in which all movies are made. We have tried to incorporate his theories into our production also , to ensure that our thriller keeps the viewer entertained and on the edge of their seats. The following describes how Todorovs theory is used within film narrative.

Equilibrium:

The equilibrium is normally shown in the first few scenes of a film and creates a sense of normality for both the viewer and the main character. In our thriller film , the establishing shot shows normality straight away. An alarm clock features in most peoples morning routines and is symbolic of time and urgency , a concept that most working men/women can relate to. After this, our character follows a simple morning routine (shower , medicine breakfast) which complies with the state of normality.

A Disruption Of That Order:

After the state of normality in Todorovs theory , he describes a disruption of that normality in which an event occurs that both changes and propels the narrative forward. In our story , this event occurs when our main character receives a letter through the post. Inside this prop there is a picture of a hostage with a code on the back. This immediately disrupts any normality previously established and helps evolve the plot into a story that can grip the audience for an entire films length.

An attempt to restore equilibrium:

Once a disruption has been established, our main character needs to attempt to restore order to the narrative. Our plot follows our character as he delves further into a world unknown to him whilst he unearths the mystery of the hostage letter. His attempt to restore order is stemmed by the secondary characters useless and often misleading information which creates an enigma to both the viewer and the characters within the film.

A New Equilibrium:

Todorov stated that although movies tend to end with a restored equilibrium , it is often different to the equilibrium seen at the start of a production. This is because the evolution of the stories plot means that the same equilibrium seen at the start of a film is unable to be sustained once again.

In conclusion , Todorovs theory paved the way for all modern film production and it does not matter whether the narrative is linear or non linear, the establishment of these 4 key features is important within any movie.