Examining the "Twists and Turns" Narrative Device of the Films The Sixth Sense and A Beautiful Mind

The 1999 Psychological Thriller, THE SIXTH SENSE, written by M. Night Shyamalan, tells the story of a troubled boy who communicates with the dead and the dishearted child psychologist who tries to help him. Starring Haley Joel Osment (as the young Cole Sear) and Bruce Willis (as Dr. Malcolm Crowe), this film not only established Shyamalan as a filmmaker, but also introduced us to what would become known as his affinity for “twist endings”.

Shyamalan would go on to write other screenplays for films such as Unbreakable, The Village, Lady in the Water, & The Happening; all of which employed his signature twist. However, none of these films employ the “narrative device” of twist endings as effectively and brilliantly as THE SIXTH SENSE.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND, the 2001 dramatic film written by Akiva Goldsman is the story of a brilliant yet troubled mathematician who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Based upon the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr. & starring Russell Crowe, this film, went on to win four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.

Deconstructing the Narrative

Both The Sixth Sense and A Beautiful Mind employ a similar “narrative device” that is built upon the premise of three important elements:

1. Developing and constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise
2. Developing and constructing the plot of the film to “misdirect” the audience
3. Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

The Sixth Sense

Developing & Constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise and misdirect the audience

The Sixth Sense was, undoubtedly, brilliant writing on the part of M. Night Shylaman. The script employs one twist and turn after another without the audience being aware of what's taking place. It doesn't feel like a roller coaster ride until the end of the film, when it's revealed that Dr. Malcolm Crowe is, in fact, DEAD! What's fascinating about the way this narrative device is employed in THE SIXTH SENSE, is that we are given the impression that Dr. Malcolm Crowe is interacting with other characters. He's seemingly having dinner with his wife, confronting the man who she's been spending time with; at one point in the story it appears as if he's having a conversation with Cole's mother. Once the surprise is revealed, we are given a visual recap of those moments and only at the moment of revelation do we realize that it is actually possible that he DID NOT have those interactions with those characters. However, not one time, during the film and during these interactions (illusions), did we (at least most of us) doubt that he was in fact, in those scenarios, in the ways in which they were initially presented on screen. Brilliant!

Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

Dr. Malcolm Crowe was as unaware of the state of his existence as we were. He had no idea that he was dead. This particular element, employed in this narrative device, invokes an additional emotional response from an audience. Not only are we discovering, reacting to and dealing with the state of the protagonist's existence, we are also sympathizing with the character as they discover, react to and deal with it as well.

Unlike A Beautiful Mind, M. Night Shylaman's revelation in THE SIXTH SENSE marked the ending of the film.

A Beautiful Mind picked us up, dropped us 100 feet, made us wonder if we'd been dropped 100 feet, then picked us up again...

A BEAUTIFUL MIND

Developing & Constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise and misdirect the audience

A BEAUTIFUL MIND is another example of a story that twists and turns while presenting an established narrative.

The established narrative: John Nash is a peculiar, brilliant and somewhat isolated mathematician attending Princeton University. He occasionally interacts with students but is focused on and committed to his work. He falls in love and get's married.

The twists and turns: John Nash suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and delusions. His roommate Charles Herman; His roommates young niece Marcee, and William Parcher, the United States Department of Defense representative who recruits Nash to work on behalf of the dept, are ALL figments of his imagination. None of these people actually exist.

The audience is unaware of the illusions and unaware of the state of existence for these characters.

Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

What's more complex and somewhat different about the way in which the "twist and turn" element is executed in A Beautiful Mind is that, we are only “confronted with the possibility” that the state of the protagonists existence is other than what we'd been shown. Dr. Nash was undoubtedly a peculiar & somewhat disturbed character. We'd lent the characteristic to his unmatched brilliance, it usually goes along with the territory. Once it's “somewhat revealed” that he's suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and delusions, we're left to wonder if this is actually what is taking place. Is he really mentally disturbed? He can't be!

The possibility of him being set up, misunderstood or targeted (because of his “imagined” work with the CIA, we didn't know it wasn't real) seem more likely than him possibly suffering from schizophrenia.

The film continues with the story being developed around the “reality” that he is indeed, mentally disturbed, delusional and that the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia did indeed happen.

However, as soon we begin to believe this, we are confronted with the possibility, once again, that this is not the state of his existence. The (imagined) CIA agent "reappears" and Dr. Nash continues his work with the Department of Defense, or so we think!

The "twist and turn" element is employed so effectively, that the audience has to “come to terms” along with the protagonist, about the state of his existence. 

A BEAUTIFUL MIND and THE SIXTH SENSE are both films, that effectively employ the “twist and turn” narrative device while brilliantly incorporating the three necessary elements to pull this off.

The “twist & turn” or “twist ending” narrative device has been used in the development of many screenplays for films such as, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, starring Kevin Spacey; Se7en, starring Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman; and Fight Club, starring Brad Pitt & Edward Norton. 


Although not an easy or always effective narrative device to employ in screenwriting, when it's done well, it's done well and when it's bad, it's bad.

Keep writing!

Till next time.

Stay REEL
SM

THE REEL OSCARS, 1st Annual MICHEAUX AWARDS RECAP!

THE REEL OSCARS

Recap

The First Annual MICHEAUX Awards, the REEL OSCARS, was a LIVE TWITTER & FACEBOOK event that took place on Sunday, February 27, 2011.  Reaching over 60,000 people on TWITTER and FACEBOOK, we announced 19 award categories, and 19 winners, celebrating the Best, the Brightest, and the OFTEN OVERLOOKED in the World of Film.  Our sincere gratitude to all of those who participated in this event on Twitter and Facebook and to all of those who gave feedback on this initiative, thank you! 

THE REEL OSCARS was created by Award Winning Independent Filmmaker Stacey Muhammad. Our Advisory board consists of professionals in the field of film and media, social marketing, fashion and finance.  Please be on the lookout for messages from us throughout the year updating you on THE REEL OSCARS plans for 2012!  

"This year we tweet, next year we meet". 

The REEL OSCARS, the Best, the Brightest & 

OFTEN OVERLOOKED, in the World of Film.

THE REEL OSCARS ADVISORY BOARD

Founder: Stacey Muhammad

Film Advisors: Eric Canada, Miles Maker, Byron Hurt

Social Marketing / Brand Management: Cedric Muhammad

Fashion & Finance : Feler Dureus

http://www.thereeloscars.com

Stacey Muhammad introduces, the REEL OSCARS

The First Annual MICHEAUX Awards, THE REEL OSCARS 

Award Show RECAP

The SIDNEY POITIER REEL OSCAR AWARD for BEST ACTOR in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Denzel Washington (Book of Eli) Antony Mackie (Night Catches Us) Idris Elba (Legacy)

And the WINNER is: ANTHONY MACKIE for NIGHT CATCHES US

BEST ACTOR in a SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Chiweltel Ejiofor (Salt) Wendell Pierce (Night Catches Us) Roger Geunveur Smith (MOOZ-lum) Wesley Snipes (Brooklyn's Finest) 

And the WINNER is: CHIWELTEL EJIOFOR for SALT

The HATTIE McDANIEL REEL OSCAR AWARD For BEST ACTRESS in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Kerry Washington (Night Catches Us)   Nia Long (MOOZ-lum)  Halle Berry (Frankie & Alice)

And The WINNER is: HALLE BERRY for FRANKIE & ALICE

BEST ACTRESS in a SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Thandie Newton (For Colored Girls)  Loretta Divine (For Colored Girls)
Pylicia Rashad (Frankie & Alice)

And The WINNER is: THANDIE NEWTON for FOR COLORED GIRLS

The ERNEST R. DICKERSON Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees: Vilmos Zsigmond (LOUIS)  Lixin Fan (Last Train Home)

And The WINNER is: VILMOS ZSIGMOND for Louis

The MELVIN VAN PEEBLES Award for BEST DIRECTOR

NOMINEES: Tanya Hamilton (Night Catches Us)  Haile Gerima (Teza) Antonie Fuqua (Brooklyn's Finest)

And The WINNER is: HAILE GERIMA for TEZA

The ST. CLAIRE BOURNE Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY

Nominees: Waiting for Superman, A Small Act, Freedom Riders, The Lottery

 

And The WINNER is: THE LOTTERY

The HERBIE HANCOCK Award for BEST FILM SCORE

Nominees: The Roots (Night Catches Us), Atticus Ross (The Book of Eli)

And The WINNER is: THE ROOTS for NIGHT CATCHES US

The RICHARD PRYOR Award for BEST COMEDIC Career

Nominees: Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy, Dick Gregory

And The WINNER is: DICK GREGORY

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Nominees: Teza, Life Above All, Benda Billi!

 

And The WINNER is: TEZA directed by HAILE GERIMA

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees: Qasim Basir for MOOZ-lum, Tanya Hamilton for NIGHT CATCHES US, Carmen Madden for EVERYDAY BLACK MAN

And The WINNER is: QASIM BASIR for MOOZ-lum

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Jaden Smith for Karate Kid, Anthony Quinonez for THE PERFECT GAME

And The WINNER is: JADEN SMITH for KARATE KID

BEST SONG in a Film

Nominees: Talib Qweli for "GET BY" in Black August, The ROOTS for "How I Got Over" in NIGHT CATCHES US, Nina Simone for "FOUR WOMEN" in For Colored Girls, DEAD PREZ for "It's Bigger than Hip Hop" in Black August

And The WINNER is: DEAD PREZ for "It's Bigger than Hip Hop" in Black August

 The REEL OSCAR for BEST PICTURE

Nominees: The Book of Eli, Frankie & Alice, Night Catches Us, MOOZ-lum

And The WINNER is: NIGHT CATCHES US written & directed by: TANYA HAMILTON

Starring Anthony Mackie & Kerry Washington

THE REEL OSCARS HONORARY AWARDS

THE REEL OSCAR for Best Set Design: Honorary Mention to PUMZI, a Sci-Fi Short Film about Futuristic Africa 35 years after World War II.

Written & Directed by Wanuri Kahiu

THE REEL OSCARS "HUMANITARIAN" AWARD

DON CHEADLE

THE REEL OSCARS "CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF FILM" AWARD

ERNEST R. DICKERSON

 THE REEL OSCARS "CHAMPION" AWARD

KIMBERLY RIVERS ROBERTS FOR HER COURAGEOUS SPIRIT IN "TROUBLE THE WATER"

THE REEL OSCARS "TRAILBLAZER" AWARD

MR. SPIKE LEE

THE REEL OSCAR

OSCAR MICHEAUX was a visionary. He ignited a fire and started a movement of artist committed to telling their story, their way. The REEL OSCARS is named for Him!

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak

Directed by: Stacey Muhammad

OFFICIAL SELECTION at the 10th Annual Media that Matters Film Festival

Winner of the 2010 "Speaking Out" Award at the Media that Matters Film Festival

Directed by Stacey Muhammad

Asst. Directed by Shomari Mason

Edited by: Stacey Muhammad & R.H. Bless

Principal Photography: May 17, 2008

Brooklyn, NY

Running Time 10:36

On November 25, 2006, undercover NYPD officers fired at least 50 rounds of bullets into a car carrying three UNARMED men of African American and Latino decent; killing one, SEAN BELL and seriously wounding two others. Bell age 23 was scheduled to be married on that fateful day.

Three of the five detectives involved in the shooting went to trial on charges ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment. All were found not guilty.

The incident has sparked fierce criticism of the NYPD as the city faces yet another murder of an unarmed African American man at the hands of those expected to protect and serve.

“I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak” is a short form documentary from Wildseed Films that highlights the voices of young black boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years old growing up in New York City.  They speak openly and honestly about their reaction to the Sean Bell tragedy as well as their fears and hopes as they approach manhood in a city where the lives of young black men are often cut short, too often, and too soon.

http://www.staceymuhammad.com

An Open Letter To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

An Open Letter To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

From Stacey Muhammad

I would like to express my deepest sympathy for all of the grief you've been receiving, simply because there are no African Americans nominated for an Oscar award this year.  No, not one.

In these hard economic times I especially understand how difficult it can be to give out bonuses to workers. Hollywood is not alone in this regard - those who work a 9 to 5 in corporate America, even Wall Street, can relate.

Nevertheless, please understand that the Black community looks forward to receiving our Oscar bonus every year from you all in Hollywood. Nothing seems to compare or be able to take its place. We seem to need it more than other type of compensation or recognition we might give to ourselves. Just imagine if Black Americans decided to boycott your annual ceremony and hold one of their own in honor of their own, at the same time! Such an act of sedition, treason and artistic terrorism styled as self-reliance makes me shudder. Perish the thought!

The Academy has been giving out its hefty bonuses to our people, in the form of Oscars (27 to be exact...Whoopi we didn't forget about you !) to the Black community for years.  Yes, of the more than 2,700 Oscars that have been awarded over the 83 years of Oscar glitz and glam, 27 of those have gone to African Americans. How honored we are that you think so much of our contribution, skill and talent.  Mind you, not one of those 27 awards have gone to a black director. (Thank you for your nominations of John Singelton in 1991 for Boyz in the Hood and Lee Daniels in 2009 for Precious).

Yet, somehow you've managed to, year after year, omit one of the greatest directors and filmmakers of all time from your best director category. You may have heard of him, his name is Spike Lee, he's sorta kinda a big deal, at least to us black folk. If you have the time, google him.

HAILE GERIMA

I would also recommend you google Haile Gerima but that might be pushing it. He is only the most brilliant, bold, uncompromising, courageous cinematic genuis / story teller...okay, I'm pushing it!


My sincere thanks, to you, for awarding Hattie McDaniel with the coveted statuette for Gone with the Wind in 1940 and I can't understand why folks are so upset that it took another 24 years before another actor of color was recognized (Sidney Poitier for Lillies of the Field) and another 50 years before another black actress won. Whoopi, I told you we didn't forget about you!

These awards are well earned and deserved for the blood, sweat and tears we've put in over the many years (although I must admit a few of the selections were similar to finding a bag of money in the middle of the street… just a case of being in the right place at the right time).

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington are undoubtedly wonderful actors.  Denzel's portrayal of Malcolm X was nothing short of groundbreaking, but we all understand that playing a historic black figure isn't what Hollywood wants to see, forgive us.

What Hollywood wants to see is Halle Berry on all fours (or was it on her back? I've tried to block it from my memory.   Exhibit A: 

oh, okay well It was all fours AND on her back, AND side...moaning,“I want you to make me feel goooooood” while Billy Bob Thornton's character did just that.  "EW, AS IF!"    This actually may have been the first statuette awarded to “soft porn”.   Oh, you shouldn't have!

We all know that Denzel gives us “Oscar worthy”performances just about every time his films touch the screen and he proved once again, why he is regarded as one of the best actors in the history of film with his performance in "Glory" when he played a former slave lead by a young white heroic military officer, who takes Denzel and other former slaves into battle. I have to agree with the Academy's choice for giving Denzel best supporting actor in this role because to this day I can still see the pain on his face along with that one single tear drop while being whipped for leaving base camp in order to find a pair of decent shoes.

Let us not forget that you also gave Denzel the Oscar for best actor in Training Day - for playing a crooked Los Angeles cop who sought to corrupt a well decorated young white officer (please accept my apology for the ingratitude of those who have the audacity to believe that Denzels performances in films like The Great Debaters & Antwone Fisher were actually worthy of that little gold statuette).

And how could we forget to thank you for that Best Supporting Actress WIN that went to “Monique”for her role as a mentally, physically and sexually abusive single mother in Precious.

We, the black film community and the untold numbers of black folk watching the Oscars from home, promise to be there and to tune in year after year, after year...waiting, wishing and hoping that you'll decide to recognize us for all that we've done in the field of film, especially since we now understand how to increase the odds of that happening by creating exactly what what you want to see from us.

As a matter of fact, I think I'm gonna start writing a script, today about a crack addicted mother (she's black...but when I said crack addicted, I'm assuming you already knew that)...struggling to raise her kids in the hood while on the run from her abusive husband (he's black too). Her life takes a turn for the better when her emotionally and behavorially challenged twins (they have different daddy's) get accepted to a prestigous school (everybody deserves a chance) and their teacher steps in to save the family from poverty and abuse (the teacher Is white, but somehow I'm sensing you already knew that). Working title, “Good Times”

I might really have a change with this one!

Those 27 awards in 83 years, show the Academys support by giving African Americans an opportunity to be shown in their greatest light, by Hollywood standards. Why waste time complaining that not a single Black actor or actress, director or writer, was nominated this year. We'd be much better off remembering all the bonuses we've been blessed to receive and working harder than ever to create and accept those roles which live up to that Hollywood standards.

We certainly wouldn't want to be ungrateful for your many years of support.

Thanks so much for all that you continue to do.

SINCERELY

Stacey Muhammad

Stacey Muhammad is an award winning Independent Filmmaker, Documentarian and Activist, originally from New Orleans, La, who currently hails from Brooklyn, New York. She is a pioneer in the work of documenting and preserving the culture of Hip Hop and the experience of displaced Africans in America 
through film and digital media. 

Follow her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/staceymuhammad


http://www.staceymuhammad.com

RUSSELL FREDERICK, "PHOTOGRAPHER EXTRAORDINAIRE" EMBARKS UPON SOLO SHOW!

Russell Frederick is, undoubtedly, what we love about black men; confident, self-determining, artistic, conscious and committed to using his talent and skill to make this world a better place for people who look like us. He's a staple in the Brooklyn Arts Community, if you don't know him personally, you certainly know someone who knows, loves and respects him and his work. I came across Russell's amazing work on Facebook (of course), and after finding out that he's like a brother to my NOLA homegirl 4 LIFE, Shantrelle P. Lewis, I knew he had to be good people.


As we all know, people of African Descent have been dehumanized within the system of racism / white supremacy and we have the images, film, music, and all forms of "artistic" expression to prove it! We NEED more artists who have committed their lives to telling the truth of just how beautiful we are...to contextualize our experience...and to share stories of our humanity, struggle and victories without further pathologizing us. I believe that Russell Fredrick is one of those artists; He's our brother and our friend...Our Gordon Parks...and he's doing right by us!


So, let's pull together and SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT Russell as he embarks upon his first major solo show in five years. Russell Frederick is raising funds for "Black: A Solo Exhibition" through KICKSTARTER. This show will challenge people to view urban communities differently. Worlds cannot express just how important this is..and how much our support is needed to make this a reality!

Check out the video below to hear Russell discuss his work and upcoming show and 

please, donate whatever you can!

BIO:

Russell Frederick is a photographer from Brooklyn whose global world view and keen understanding of the human condition informs his compelling photography. He works with film in medium and large format and shoots predominantly black and white documentary portraiture photography. Through his lens he subverts and disengages the current status quo and stereotypes of people of color internationally. He has photographed men, women and children from Bed Stuy, Brooklyn to Kingston, Jamaica. He has photographed the Lower Ninth Ward and the Bloods in Brooklyn. Russell Frederick tells the story while elevating and exposing the inherent beauty, dignity and honor in his subjects. 

A self taught photographer with little formal training, Frederick has catapulted from an unfamiliar name to being sought after for his signature photographic style. In a decade he has become a celebrated public speaker, commissioned photographer and has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He is a winner of the esteemed Gordon Parks International Photography Competition as well as a co-recipient of a media fellowship sponsored by the Open Society Institute to document the after effects of Hurricane Katrina. From thousands of entries Frederick was chosen as one of NYC’s outstanding artists of 2010 for Curate NYC. Russell is a member of Kamoinge, a select group of African American photographers whose work collectively chronicles over five decades of black American life.

His inimitable eye for composition and his use of surroundings intrinsic to urban landscapes such as street art, murals and architecture are all present as aspects of his work. He has the instinct and ability to evoke authentic, visceral responses from people which make for incomparable unique images. Through his photography he tackles issues such as commitment, honor, respect, race, class, and the essence of humanity. Russell Frederick's photographs have a timeless quality that is attained through his gift to see beyond the exterior.

Russell's work has been showcased at the The Corridor Gallery, The Rotunda Gallery, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, The African American Museum in Philadelphia,The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Columbia University, Columbia College, NYU, The Empire State Building, Nordstroms, The University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and the Goethe Institute in Accra, Ghana amongst many others.

Beyond photographing, Russell dedicates his time to volunteering and mentoring young adults.

Check out Russell's Site to see more of his amazing photography.

Please SPREAD THE WORD and Donate Whatever you can!