Can a Character narrate just once?

[Brandonmonahan]

Okay, so I'm not sure how to ask this exactly? so here goes: I'm an Irish screenwriter writing a college comedy, One of my main characters doesn't narrate throughout any point of the movie. However, at the end of the movie I want to explain an abridged version of what happens after the main events of the movie and I feel that the best way to do this is narration. Would it be strange/wrong to have the character narrate just one scene in the entire movie? Thanks in advance.

 

[directorik]

No. It is not strange/wrong to have the character narrate just one scene in
the entire movie. Write it. Have people read it. If it works for your story
then it works. If most people don't like it - it's easy to change.

 

[Brandonmonahan]

Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on how I could show a series of events, in a short space of time and have viewers understand what's happening?

 

[wheatgrinder]

I feel like Iv seen this before..
Perhaps if you OPEN the story with a scene that has narration, and then close with a scene with narration, it will seem more purposeful.

V.O. "here is what everyone thinks happened"

<insert movie here>

V.O. "here is what really happened"

<insert alternative view of events \ montage here>

The end.

 

[WalterB]

Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on how I could show a series of events, in a short space of time and have viewers understand what's happening?

That's visual storytelling
You need to make every shot count. Every scene needs to be a little story that makes sense in the big picture.
It is done all the time in movies, but you don't always notice it because people are talking while you see it.

And mind you: every scene can be short. Even just one shot. But don't have to be.

How you can show them, all depends on the events you want to show.

Getting kicked out the house:
Man standing stuttering or just astonished in the frontyard while wife throws clothes and suitcase out of the window.
In 1 or 2 shots you can show it.
Or build an eloborate scene with her falling out onthe phone.
Not letting him in.
She collects clothes from the closet, opens the window throws it out yelling.
Neighbours walk by and stop to watch from a distance.
A kid makes a video with his smartphone.
And the husband just stands there untill midnight.
Or collects his stuff and goes.
Whatever you want to happen

 

[FantasySciFi]

Just be careful not to describe what the audience is seeing. The narration should provide information that is not available. Below is a very cheesy example. There is narration over the closing scenes.

Let's say that two guys, Mark and Tom, have been competing for the affections of Emily. Mark succeeds at winning her.

INT.  BAR - NIGHT
Tom in his clubbing attire sits at a bar with a shot in his hand.  
He looks over at two gorgeous girls eyeing him and nods in 
their direction to the bartender. 

                           TOM
        Ya know, ...

                                                FLASHBACK:

INT.  GROCERY STORE CHECK OUT - DAY
Tom stands behind the register, scanning items for a customer
when

his eyes meet with Emily's eyes, checking out at another
counter.  Emily looks back and down.

                           TOM (V.O.)
       Part of me still loves that b***h.

Emily looks at her clerk as she flusters and rushes to pay.

She glances back at Tom who stares.  She grabs her bags 
and dashes out.

EXT.  GROCERY STORY - DAY
Emily hurries to her car.

                           TOM (V.O)
       The other part of me, well, ...

Emily stuffs her bags in the back, closing the trunk.

INT.  EMILY'S CAR - DAY
Emily races along the road, frantic.

                            TOM (V.O.)
        I didn't make her fairytale wedding.

She hits a stoplight and glances down at her watch.       

INT. MARK AND EMILY'S APARTMENT - DAY
Mark lounges in boxers and bathrobe, unshaven as he
watches the television.  Beer cans litter the floor.

He flips the channels with the remote and glances at the
clock.

                            TOM (V.O.)
        If there's one thing I learned from ...

Emily enters with bags in her arms trying not to trip over 
a pile of dirty clothes.  She rushes to put away groceries.

He points at the clock.  

INT.  GROCERY STORE, BACK ROOM - NIGHT
Tom clocks out at the time clock and heads to the exit.

                            TOM (V.O.)
        ... my best friend Mark, it's that

EXT.  GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Tom puts on a motorcycle helmet, starts and revs the engine.

                            TOM (V.O.)
          girls love bad boys.

He pulls off down the road into the sunset.

END FLASHBACK:

INT.  BAR - NIGHT
He takes the glasses from the bartender.

                             TOM
           No more Mr. Nice Guy.

He carries the drinks down to settle beside the girls who 
fawn all over him.

Okay. While being over the top cheesy, it shows narration over the top of multiple clips. While not necessary, I like to have some visual lead in of the narrator talking if an actual character. It just gives some continuity or linkage.