Title: 1. What Is the Theme? Why Do We Need It? – Exploring Movie Construction and Production
Headings: 1. What Is the Theme? Why Do We Need It?
1. What Is the Theme? Why Do We Need It?
The 1920s
The 1930s
The 1940s
The 1950s
The 1960s
The 1970s
The 1980s
The 1990s
The 21st Century
Chapter Conclusion
Further Viewing
Assignment

Content: By the end of the construction of the theme, the script will contain a story or action plus a plot. Both of these elements, combined, produce the character development, which yields or reflects the theme. Essentially, all aspects of the movie revert back to the theme. A short definition for the theme is: S tory ( A ction) + P lot = C haracter D evelopment Y ielding the T heme. The above elements of the story, plot, and character development give meaning to the theme. These elements, as well as being discussed with regard to the theme, will be discussed from different viewpoints in succeeding chapters. The theme—or idea or premise—of a movie can be expressed in one sentence. It may seem unusual that the purpose of a multi-million-dollar movie project begins with one sentence, and it may seem unusual that, at the end of the project with the completed movie, it all boils down to one sentence, but it really does. Examples of themes can be analyzed by the period or decade in which a movie was made.