Author(s): Ankit Hiraji Banpurkar

Abstract: Scriptwriting plays a critical role in the art of filmmaking, serving as the foundation upon which narratives are built. Often, the director’s involvement in scriptwriting is shaped by their creative vision, which imposes a subjective gaze that can either enrich or constrain the storytelling process. This paper explores the ethical and creative tensions inherent in scriptwriting under the directorial gaze. Drawing on Laura Mulvey’s analysis of the gaze, Michel Foucault’s power-knowledge dynamics, and Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of dialogue, the study critiques the transactional and mechanical nature of this process. Using a case study of filming a documentary at the Anandwan leprosarium, the paper examines the ethical implications of prioritizing control and efficiency over collaboration and authenticity. It concludes by proposing a dialogic, collaborative approach to scriptwriting that honors the complexity and richness of human narratives.

DOI:10.61165/sk.publisher.script.writing.2024.7

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Scriptwriting as a Process of Directorial Gaze: An Ethical Reflection on Storytelling

Pages:31-33