The script writer of "Social Network" is Uncle Aaron Sorkin. Regardless of the fact that the uncle is reticent in the online class of Master Class, he looks like a few nice people, but he is best at writing scripts through fast-paced, high-volume dialogues, unobtrusively reflecting the character and relationship of the characters. For example, in "Social Network", what I like the most is the title. Just relying on Mark and his girlfriend Erica sitting and fighting for five minutes, the character, background, motivation, and future direction of the story are all clearly suggested. .
What's even more amazing is that as a visual art, movies should have avoided starting with relatively static pictures or a lot of "dialogue". Therefore, Aaron Sorkin used a five-minute dialogue as the opening of the film.
But this kind of exquisite master craftsmanship is still worthy of me and other mortals to learn. Therefore, this article will make an appreciation of the script of the first act of the first five minutes of "Social Network".
The original script of the script comes from the English version published on the Internet, and the Chinese is my own translation. You will find that between the dialogues, there are also scenes and shots switching descriptions that are made to facilitate the director's operation. So reading a script is like "reading" a movie, which is really fun!
The script analysis adopts the methods and steps introduced by Robert Mackee in the book "Story", the famous screenwriting teaching work.
Step 1: Discover the motivation of the protagonist and his opponent
Robert Mackee suggested in the "Story" that when analyzing the script, we should first locate the main character's deep motivation in this scene, but it is the unspecified subtext content buried deep in the text.
To dig out the deep motivation of the character, you need to figure out what the scene is doing and what it is saying. But this is actually not easy, because the better the script, the more deeply buried another world under the textual level.
For example, if you dig deeper into the first act of "Social Network", you will find that under the bickering text between the male protagonist Mark and his girlfriend Erica, it is actually a highly restored confrontation on the social platform in the virtual world in the real world. It's like a narcissistic man posting his achievements on the social network, delusional to get the attention of the girl he loves, but the girl doesn't even give likes, and leaves a message to expose the bloody fact that he is a scumbag.
Of course, everyone has their own understanding of what the first act is saying. In this article, I intend to temporarily use the above understanding to dig out the deep motivation of the role. According to this, the deep motivation of the male protagonist Mark is to make his girlfriend Erica pay more attention to and like herself (to seek attention) by discussing how to get ahead at Harvard, and this also happens to be in line with the deep motivation that most people want to achieve on social networks--- Get everyone's attention. The opposite of Mark is Erica. She disagrees with Mark's actions and counterattacks the arrogant arrogance embodied in Mark's words, refusing to give him more attention (to deny attention). This fundamental conflict in motives caused the two dialogues to be tense, full of dramatic contradictions, and the audience's interest was immediately attracted.
Step 2: Find the initial state value of the core value (positive or negative)
I think the core value of this scene is to achieve “social status” (to achieve social status), which is also the value that most people try to achieve on social networks. Mark wants to be noticed by everyone at Harvard, gaining a higher status and popularity among a group of geniuses, and wants to appear very advanced in front of Erica, and get her attention and admiration. At the beginning of this scene, Mark's initial state value in social status is positive. He is far less academically than his own Erica and talks about how he will get ahead in the world-famous Harvard.
Step 3: Split a scene into beats
A beat is a round of interactions between characters on the emotional and behavioral levels. For example, when character A sends out an action and character B responds, it is a subsection, which may contain many sentences or many actions. As long as they belong to a group of actions that reflect the same purpose and emotion, they are counted as one subsection.
Below I will do a sub-level analysis of the first act at the beginning. The annotations I added are in parentheses.
First section
FROM THE BLACK WE HEAR-- In the black screen, we hear-(Note: Since the first few seconds of the film is a black screen, so VO is written in brackets, which means Voice over, that is, only sound and no image.)
MARK (VO) Did you know there are more people with genius IQ's living in China than there are people of any kind living in the United States? Do you know that there are more people with genius IQ's living in China than there are people of any kind living in the United States? ?
ERICA (VO) That can't possibly be true. That can't possibly be true.
MARK (VO) It is. It is true.
ERICA (VO) What would account for that? How would you explain it?
MARK (VO) Well, first, an awful lot of people live in China. But here's my question: Well, first of all, there are super invincible people in China. But my problem is actually this:
FADE IN: Fade in:
INT. CAMPUS BAR-NIGHT Interior view. Campus bar-night
MARK ZUCKERBERG is a sweet looking 19 year old whose lack of any physically intimidating attributes masks a very complicated and dangerous anger. He has trouble making eye contact and sometimes it's hard to tell if he's talking to you or to himself.
MARK ZUCKERBERG has a sweet appearance and is 19 years old. Since there are no daunting features in his body, his very complicated and dangerous anger value is concealed. He can't make eye contact with people, and sometimes it is difficult to know whether he is talking to you or himself.
ERICA, also 19, is Mark's date. She has a girl-next-door face that makes her easy to fall for. At this point in the conversation she already knows that she'd rather not be there and her politeness is about to be tested.
ERICA, also 19 years old, is Mark’s date. There is a face of the girl next door, which makes it easy to fall for her. At this point in the conversation, she already knew that she didn't want to stay there, and her politeness was about to be tested.
The scene is stark and simple. The scene is stark and simple. (End of the introduction of the interior scene)
MARK How do you distinguish yourself in a population of people who all got 1600 on their SAT's? How do you distinguish yourself in a population of people who all got 1600 on their SAT's? ) Out of the 1600 points? (This is the question Mark wants to talk about.)
The above are all actions made by Mark: Ignore Erica’s questions in the conversation and speak on his own.
ERICA I didn't know they take SAT's in China. ERICA I didn't know they take SAT's in China.
Erica's response behavior: Misunderstanding Mark's self-question and self-answer
Second section
MARK They don't. I wasn't talking about China anymore, I was talking about me. They don't take the SAT. I was not talking about China just now, I was talking about myself.
Mark’s behavior: Continue to ignore Erica’s communication intentions and put himself at the center of the conversation
ERICA You got 1600? ERICA You got 1600?
MARK Yes. I could sing in an a Capella group, but I can't sing. Yes. (This is an answer to Erica's question) I may be able to join a cappella group, but I can't sing. (Mark also talked to himself about how to stand out at Harvard)
ERICA Does that mean you actually got nothing wrong?
MARK I can row crew or invent a 25 dollar PC. I can join a row crew or invent a computer that can be bought for 25 dollars.
ERICA Or you can get into a final club. Or you can get into a final club.
Erica's response behavior: Give up asking Mark questions and make suggestions at will
Section Three
MARK Or I can get into a final club. Or I can get into a final club.
Mark issued behavior: adopt Erica's suggestion
ERICA You know, from a woman's perspective, sometimes not singing in an a Capella group is a good thing? (There is more homosexual love among men in the chorus group)
MARK This is serious. This is very important (referring to entering the ultimate club).
ERICA On the other hand I do like guys who row crew.
Erica's response behavior: expressing preference for boating clubs
The fourth section:
MARK (beat) Well I can't do that. Uh, then I can't (boat rowing).
Mark issued a behavior: expressing resistance to boating
ERICA I was kid--I was just kidding (a joke). . .
MARK Yes, it means I got nothing wrong on the test.
ERICA Have you ever tried? Have you tried (boat rowing)?
MARK I'm trying right now. I'm trying right now.
ERICA To row crew? Are you trying to row a boat? (Try is a polysemous word, depending on the context, you can try your best or try)
Erica responded: The second time because Mark was talking to himself and he misunderstood the way he said two things at the same time.
Section 5
MARK To get into a final club. To row crew? No. Are you, like--whatever--delusional? I am trying to figure out how to join a final club. Try boating? No, what's your situation? Is there something wrong with your brain?
Mark issued a behavior: by attacking Erica to maintain the self-esteem that she praised the boys who can row.
ERICA Maybe, but sometimes you say two things at once and I'm not sure which one I'm supposed to be aiming at. Which one to reply.
MARK But you've seen guys who row crew, right? But you've seen guys who row crew, right?
ERICA No. No.
MARK Okay, well they're bigger than me. They're world class athletes. And a second ago you said you like guys who row crew so I assumed you had met one. La. They are all world-class athletes. You just said that you like boating, so I thought you had seen one or two.
ERICA I guess I just meant I liked the idea of it. The way a girl likes cowboys. Just like some girls like cowboys.
Erica responded: Fight back to Mark by describing her love for rowing boys
MARK (beat) Okay. Okay. Okay.
Section 6
ERICA Should we get something to eat? Should we get something to eat?
MARK Would you like to talk about something else?
ERICA No, it's just since the beginning of the conversation about finals club I think I may have missed a birthday. (can't get over it) There are really more people in China with genius IQ's than the entire population of-- No. It's just that since we started talking about the ultimate club to now, I think I may have missed a birthday (the ironic topic is boring, like a year has passed, even the birthday is missed). (Still grasping the first question and not letting go) Are there really more people with a genius IQ in China than the entire population of the United States?
The above is Erica’s initiation of behavior: express dissatisfaction with Mark
MARK The Phoenix is the most diverse. The Fly Club, Roosevelt punched the Porc. The Phoenix Club is the most diverse. There is also a flying club, and Roosevelt has been to the Perthian club.
Mark's response behavior: Ignore Erica's emotions and demands, and insist on continuing to talk about topics that Erica is not interested in.
Section 7
ERICA Which one? Which one?
MARK The Porcellian, the Porc, it's the best of the best. MARK The Porcellian, the Porc, it's the best of the best.
ERICA Which Roosevelt? Which Roosevelt?
MARK Theodore. Theodore Roosevelt (former president of the United States).
Erica Is it true hat they send a bus around to pick up girls who want to party with the next Fed Chairman? I heard that this club uses a bus to pick up girls who want to party with the next Fed Chairman. Is it true?
The above is the behavior of Erica: questioning Mark's vision of the Perthian club
MARK You can see why it's so important to get in. From these things, you can see why it's so important to get in.
Mark’s response: Ignores and misinterprets Erica’s doubts about the Persian club
Section 8
ERICA Okay, well, which is the easiest to get into? Okay, which is the easiest to get into?
Erica's behavior: expressing impatience through random questions
MARK is visibly hit by that...Mark is obviously hit by that question
MARK Why would you ask me that? Why would you ask me that?
ERICA I'm just asking. ERICA I'm just asking.
MARK None of them, that's the point. My friend Eduardo made $300,000 betting oil futures one summer and Eduardo won't come close to getting in. The ability to make money doesn't impress anybody around here. problem lies in. My friend Eduardo made $300,000 by speculating on oil futures during the summer, but he is far from being able to join these clubs.
ERICA Must be nice. He made $300,000 in a summer? He made 300,000 in one summer vacation?
MARK He likes meteorology. He likes meteorology.
ERICA You said it was oil futures.
MARK You can read the weather you can predict the price of heating oil. I think you asked me that because you think the final club that's easiest to get into is the one where I'll have the best chance. Can predict the price of fuel oil. I think you ask me that because you think that only the easiest ultimate club is the most likely one for me.
ERICA I asked--what? ERICA I asked--what? . . What are you talking about?
MARK You asked me which one was the easiest to get into because you think that that's the one where I'll have the best chance. Progressive.
ERICA The one that's the easiest to get into would be the one where anybody has the best chance.
MARK You didn't ask me which one was the best one, you asked me which one was the easiest one.
Mark's response: once again ignoring and misinterpreting Erica's intentions
Section 9
ERICA I was honestly just asking. Okay? I was just asking to ask. Mark, I'm not speaking in code. Mark, I'm not talking about passwords that require additional interpretation.
MARK Erica--(Called Erica, I want to interrupt her.)
ERICA You're obsessed with finals clubs. You have finals clubs OCD and you need to see someone about it who'll prescribe you some sort of medication. You don't care if the side effects may include blindness. You have been finalized ( Erica said one more s, the meaning of the word has changed) The club is crazy. You must have obsessive-compulsive disorder in the finals club. You should see a doctor and let them prescribe medicine for you. If the side effects of the medicine make you blind, it will not affect you.
Erica issued a behavior: further attack Mark's malicious interpretation of herself
MARK Final clubs. Not finals clubs and there's a difference between being obsessed and being motivated. It is the ultimate club, not the final club. And being mad is not the same as being motivated to do things.
ERICA Yes there is. Isn't it?
MARK Well you do--that was cryptic--so you do speak in code. Hey, you do speak in code.
Mark responded: By catching the loopholes in Erica's words, he continued to fight back
Section 10
ERICA I didn't mean to be cryptic.
MARK I'm saying I need to do something substantial in order to get the attention of the clubs. I mean, I have to do something substantial in order to be noticed by those clubs.
ERICA Why? Why?
MARK Because they're exclusive. And fun and they lead to a better life. Because they are very picky. And it's very interesting, and it can bring me a better future.
Mark issued behavior: continue to ignore Erica's opinion and reiterate his motivation to enter the ultimate club
ERICA Teddy Roosevelt didn't get elected president because he was a member of the Phoenix Club. Roosevelt was not elected president because he was a member of the Phoenix Club.
MARK He was a member of the Porcellian and yes he did. He belonged to the Perthlone Club, and he was indeed elected for this reason.
ERICA Well why don't you just concentrate on being the best you you can be?
MARK Did you really just say that?
ERICA (beat) I was kidding. Although just because something's trite it doesn't make it any less-- I was kidding. However, just because a thing is clichéd, it won't degrade him. . .
Erica responds: Fighting back to Mark again, pointing out that it doesn’t make sense to find a way to be noticed by the ultimate club
Eleventh section
MARK I want to try to be straight forward with you and tell you that I think you might want to be a little more supportive. If I get in I'll be taking you...to the events, and the gatherings... and you'll be meeting a lot of people you wouldn't normally get to meet. I want to try to tell you bluntly, I think you should want to support me a little bit more. If I can get in, I will take you with me. . . Go to those activities, parties, and you can meet many people you don't have the chance to meet at all.
Mark issued a behavior: intensify his attack on Erica by condescending and belittling the opponent
ERICA (smiles) You would do that for me? (smiles) You would do that for me?
MARK We're dating. We are dating.
ERICA Okay, well I want to try and be straight forward with you and let you know that we're not anymore.
MARK What do you mean? What do you mean?
ERICA We're not dating anymore, I'm sorry. We're not dating anymore, I'm sorry.
MARK Is this a joke? Is this a joke?
ERICA No, it's not. No, it's not a joke.
MARK You're breaking up with me?
ERICA You're going to introduce me to people I wouldn't normally have the chance to meet? What the fff- What is that supposed to mean? What the hell (the swear word at the beginning of f is not finished)? What do you mean?
The above is Erica’s response: by proposing to break up and give Mark the ultimate fight back
Section 12
MARK Wait, settle down. Wait, calm down.
ERICA What is it supposed to mean? What do you mean by that?
MARK Erica, the reason we're able to sit here and drink right now is cause you used to sleep with the door guy. Erica, we're able to sit here and drink right now is cause you used to sleep with the door guy. The bed (the pub has a gatekeeper to check the ID and confirm that it is 21 to enter and drink, but neither of them is 21).
Mark issued a behavior: He further attacked Erica by discrediting the other party's conduct, so as to give himself a moral advantage. The implication is that Erica makes mistakes first and is not qualified to break up first.
ERICA The door guy, his name is Bobby. I did not slept with the door guy, the door guy is a friend of mine. He's a perfectly good class of people and what part of Long Island are you from--Wimbledon? 那守门? Man, his name is Bobby. I never slept with him, he is my friend. He is a man of good background and education. What are you, where are you from Long Island? Wimbledon?
Erica responds: counterattack Mark, so that he cannot have a moral advantage
Section 13
MARK Wait-- wait
ERICA I'm going back to my dorm.
Erica issued a behavior: completely rejected Mark by leaving immediately
MARK Wait, wait, is this real? Wait, wait, is this real? Are you serious (to break up)?
ERICA Yes.
MARK Okay, then wait. I apologize, okay? Okay, wait. I apologize, is it alright?
ERICA I have to go study. I have to go study.
MARK Erica--
ERICA Yeah why
MARK I'm sorry, I mean it. Sorry, I mean it.
ERICA I appreciate that but-- Thank you for your apology, but
MARK Come on. Don't do that.
ERICA --I have to study. I have to study.
MARK You don't have to study. You don't have to study. Let's just talk. You don't have to study. You don't need to learn. Let's talk.
ERICA I can't.
MARK Why? Why?
Mark responded: try to keep Erica
Section Fourteen
ERICA Because it's exhausting. Dating you is like dating a stairmaster. Dating you is like dating a stairmaster.
Erica issued a behavior: Reject Mark, attack Mark
MARK All I meant is that you're not likely to-- currently--I wasn't making a comment on your parents--I was just saying you go to BU, I was stating a fact, that's all, and if it seemed rude then of course I apologize. I mean, you’re unlikely to be. At the moment, I’m not commenting on your parental ability. I’m just saying that you went to Boston University. I’m just stating a fact. That's it. If this looks rude, of course I have to apologize.
Mark's response: Retaining Erica by explaining and apologizing
Section 15
ERICA I have to go study. I have to go study.
MARK You don't have to study. You don't have to study.
ERICA Why do you keep saying I don't have to study?! Why do you keep saying I don't have to study? !
Erica issued behavior: continue to reject Mark
MARK Because you go to BU! Because you go to Boston University! (Boston University ranks far behind Mark's Harvard)
Mark's response: By belittling Erica's educational background and obliterating the reason for "learning", to retain Erica
Section 16
ERICA stares at him... (stares at him)
MARK (CONT'D) (continue to speak)
(pause)
Do you want to get some food? Do you want to get some food?
ERICA I'm sorry you're not sufficiently impressed with my education.
Erica issued a behavior: continue to accuse Mark through satire and distance himself from Mark
MARK And I'm sorry I don't have a rowboat so we're even.
Mark's response: Use Erica's stalk of boys who like rowing to satirize and fight back Erica
Section Seventeen
ERICA I think we should just be friends.
MARK I don't want friends. I don't want friends.
ERICA I was being polite, I have no intention of being friends with you. I have no plans to be friends with you.
Erica issued a behavior: further rejecting Mark, clearing the relationship between couples
MARK I'm under some pressure right now with my OS class and if we could just order food. I think we should I think we should order something to eat.
Mark responds: find an excuse to keep Erica
Section 18
ERICA takes MARK's hand and looks at him tenderly... Pulling Mark's hand and looking at him tenderly
ERICA (close) (End) You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole. You may become a particularly successful computer person. But you will also spend your life thinking that girls don't like you because you are a nerd. However, I want to tell you what I think from the bottom of my heart, that is not the case. Girls don't like you because you are a bastard.
Erica issued behavior: issued the ultimate and most thorough accusation and attack on Mark's behavioral character
And with that stinger, ERICA walks off we slowly push in on MARK. A fuse has just been lit.
(After dropping this heart-wrenching sentence, Erica leaves the field. We slowly push the camera onto Mark. A fuse has been ignited.)
Mark responds: On the surface he refuses to respond, but decides in his heart to prove herself by "surpassing others" and prove to Erica that she is wrong
Step 4: Find out the core value status of the protagonist at the end of the scene and compare it with the beginning.
At the beginning of this scene, Mark was the proud man in front of Erica. He was proud to talk about how to get ahead at Harvard, which is full of top talents, do great things, be noticed by other geniuses, and get a better position and life. Possess the positive value of the core value of social status. As a result, at the end, Mark was in a negative position in society. Because he was proposed to break up and abandoned by his girlfriend, was accused of poor character, and was predicted that no girl would like him, because he was a big bastard, and fell into the dust all of a sudden.
Step 5: Observe all the bars in the scene and find the turning point.
The subsections of this scene include:
Mark is conceited to ask and answer, ignoring Erica’s questions/Erica’s first misunderstanding when Mark said two things at the same time
Mark ignores Erica’s problem for the second time and puts himself at the center of the conversation/Erica gives up the problem and makes suggestions at will
Mark adopts Erica's suggestion/Erica expresses preference for rowing club
Mark expressed resistance to boating/Erica misunderstood because Mark said two things at the same time for the second time
Mark taunts Erica and avenges her for embarrassing herself by praising the boys who rowed./Erica retaliated by describing how she loves the boys who rowed.
Erica expresses dissatisfaction with Mark/Mark ignores Erica's emotions and demands for the third time
Erica questioned Mark's longing for the Perth Lane club/Mark ignored and misinterpreted Erica's questioning of the Perth Lane club for the fourth time
Erica expresses dissatisfaction and impatience for the second time / Mark ignores and misinterprets Erica's intentions for the fifth time
Erica attacks Mark/Mark fights back
Mark ignores Erica's opinion for the sixth time/Erica retaliates Mark
Mark uses a condescending way to attack Erica/Erica increases his strength to fight back Mark by proposing to break up
Mark further attacked Erica by accusing Erica of casually having sex with others/Erica counterattacked Mark
Erica rejects Mark/Mark's attempt to keep Erica
Erica rejected Mark/Mark for the second time through making excuses and apologizing to retain Erica for the second time
Erica rejected Mark for the third time/Mark retained Erica for the third time
Erica continues to accuse Mark through satire and distances him from Mark/Mark maliciously misrepresents Erica's stalk of boys who like rowing to ridicule and fight back Erica
Erica rejects Mark/Mark for the fourth time and makes excuses to keep Erica
Erica issued the final and most thorough accusation and attack on Mark's behavior and character/Mark on the surface refused to respond, and decided in his heart to prove herself by "being out" and prove to Erica that she was wrong
In the above eighteen subsections, each section has a very clear theme of the contradiction between the two characters, interlocking and advancing layer by layer, each section deepens and heightens the previous contradiction. For example, Mark's repeated ignorance and distortion of Erica's appeals and intentions have become more serious one after another, and the most serious is the turning point of this scene, which appears in the eleventh section. At the turning point, Mark used a condescending tone to ask Erica to support her in entering the final club, completely disregarding Erica's feelings, and pointed out that if she enters by herself, she can bring Erica with her so that she has the opportunity to meet people who are usually impossible to see. . This is what Mark said from a self-centered perspective and standpoint that was extremely hurtful, but he felt that it was an indisputable fact, and he did not know that it had deeply hurt Erica's dignity. So Mark thought that Erica would be grateful and thank him for this rare opportunity. However, Erica's strong hatred and counterattack were greeted, and he even broke up on the spot. This turning point caused the emotional and cognitive gap of the protagonist Mark. He was full of thoughts that he was doing the important and right thing-to make himself better, and by the way, let his girlfriend ascend to heaven, but he ended up with a girlfriend. The result of face-to-face accusations and rejection.
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