Narrative Theory: Tvzetan Todorov

My trailer links very closely to Todorov's basic narrative theory involving a film having 3 main stages: equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. My trailer clearly displays the first two stages and has a defining gap in between them where the screen cuts to black and there is a ripping sound, then the characters are immediately different around each other and the shots display them as being more distant. Therefore, it is clear that this represents the disequilibrium part of the film. My film does follow the third narrative section suggested by Todorov too, however the trailer only hints at this and doesn't actually clearly let the audience know how the film will end. The trailer ends with a shot of the two main protagonists walking away and holding hands, therefore this raises the idea that the disequilibrium will be resolved and a new-equilibrium will occur. However, these shots could also be intended as a flashback and as trailers are conventionally non-linear, the target audience are unsure whether there is a clear new equilibrium at the end, or whether it follows a less conventional narrative structure, differing from Todorov's 3 stage theory. This is intended to keep them interested and prevent the trailer from giving away the film's storyline and making it predictable.

Todorov's theory does break down into more stages consisting of: equilibrium, disequilibrium, recognition of disruption, attempt to repair disruption and change to a new equilibrium. The recognition of disruption appears slightly in my trailer, however the stages after the first and second stage aren't shown in too much detail, so that they don't give away some of the plot to the audience, and ruin their anticipation. But these stages are all included in my film in some way, therefore supporting Todorov's narrative theory and indicating that films that follow this basic structure are often successful and common.