Vale's Technique of Screen and Television Writing

Part II

The Dramatic Construction

Since we know by now “with what” the picture tells a story, we can proceed to investigate “in what manner” it must be told. This “manner” is the dramatic construction.

It would be wrong to assume that only the drama requires a dramatic construction. The word “drama” is taken from the Greek word dran, which means merely “action.” Consequently, any form of art which tells a story requires some kind of dramatic construction, be it a comedy or an adventure story, a drama or a psychological tragedy, an opera or a ballet, a painting or a pantomime, a symphony or a poem, a short story or a stage play.

Stories are in the minds of many people, and they may be good stories, based on personal experiences. But most of these ...