Vladimir Propp

We could try to use Propps character theory when we are creating our media text. It might be easier to incorporate his theory into the whole story behind the film rather than necessarily trying to fit all the characters into the teaser trailer.

Propps theory says there were 7 broad character types in the 100 tales he analysed, these were:

1) The Villain - The person who struggles against the hero

2) The Donor - The person who prepares the hero

3) The Helper - The person who helps the hero in the quest

4) The Princess or Prize - The person the hero marries often marries the princess as an award for beating the villain.

5) Her Father - The person who gives the task to the hero

6) The Dispatcher - The person who sends the hero off

7) The Hero or Victim - The person who reacts to the donor and goes on the quest

8) The False hero - The person who tries to take credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess

As we start to produce our teaser trailer we are going to need to think about how we are going to portray the characters. For example the bomber would usually be shown as the villain but we could put him in the position of being the hero by making the audience side his/her beliefs.

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