Resolution in Screenwriting: Unraveling the Ending Scenario
A strong resolution in a story's structure is a crucial narrative element that effectively concludes the central conflict, provides closure to the audience, and reinforces the film's core themes and character arcs. It serves as the final part where the consequences of the protagonist’s choices and actions become clear, ensuring the story feels complete and emotionally satisfying.
In terms of structure, the resolution typically occurs after the climax and shows how the characters and world have changed, tying up loose ends and reflecting the journey taken. It confirms the results of the protagonist's struggle and signifies either transformation or acceptance, which gives the story meaning and emotional impact.
A well-written resolution answers a story's central dramatic question, revealing how the protagonist has, or hasn't, changed. For instance, in the 2013 film Her, the protagonist lets go of his AI lover and reconnects with humanity, providing emotional and thematic closure.
The seeds of the resolution are planted long before the final act in Acts One and Two. In films like Whiplash (2014), the final drum solo is a thrilling, bittersweet ending that resonates with viewers because of the setup from the very first page. Similarly, in Arrival (2016), the entire story structure loops back on itself, redefining events and characters, creating a memorable and impactful conclusion.
In great screenwriting, the ending is set up from the very first page. This is evident in the emotionally fulfilling and poetic resolution of The Shawshank Redemption (1994).
Resolutions come in various forms, from happy endings that provide closure and emotional satisfaction, to tragic endings where the protagonist fails, dies, or loses something vital. Bittersweet endings, like in Breaking Bad (2008-2013), include both gain and loss, and open-ended resolutions leave major questions unanswered. Walter White, the protagonist, dies on his own terms, surrounded by the consequences of his choices, providing a fitting conclusion to his character arc.
Ultimately, a strong resolution delivers emotional payoff for the theme, character arcs, and conflicts. It should align with the tone, genre, and theme of the story, and visual and auditory storytelling during resolution scenes can amplify emotional resonance, making the conclusion memorable and impactful.
A screenwriter's lifestyle might involve crafting resolutions that reflect the transformed or accepting journey of characters within a narrative, blending seamlessly with the film's overall themes and character arcs. Such resolutions can be found in home-and-garden magazines, where DIY home improvement projects provide solutions to living spaces much like a story's climax is followed by a resolution.
