Date post: | 15-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | abdiel-phillip |
View: | 213 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Viewing Films Actively
Written Responses to Motion Pictures
Paige Mayhew Oklahoma Writing Project
“The schools do not have the power to change public acceptance of the visual media. Training students tounderstand and use them would be far more productivethan to endlessly deplore the quality of television and film.”
-Marion Blue
“As students view a film, we want them to pay special attention to those areas of the film we consider important and to draw conclusions from their experience with the film. Only then does a passive viewer become active; for by thinking about the film’s content, the student is interacting with the film.”
-Resch and Schnicker
According to Corrigan
“Writing about films
can serve one or several functions. It
can help you: •Understand your own response to a movie better•Convince others why you like or dislike a film•Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker, or a group of movies that your readers may not know•Make comparisons and contrasts between one movie and others, as a way of understanding them better•Make connections between a movie and other areas of culture in order to illuminate both the culture and the movies it produces.”
Analyzing Films
Three ways of looking at a
movie
Literary Aspects of Film
Those aspects that films share with literature: plot characters setting themes point of view recurring images symbols
Questions to ask when viewing on a Literary Level:
Who are the characters? What is the setting? What is the plot? From whose point of view is the story
told? What is the film’s theme? Are there any symbols or recurring
images?
Dramatic Aspects of Film
Those elements film shares with live drama:actors portraying
characters through dialogue, costumes, and makeup
sets and/or locationsdirectors who leave
personal stamp on final product
Questions to ask when viewing on a dramatic level:
How effective is the acting? Why? How does the set affect understanding
and enjoyment of the story? How are the costumes and makeup
effective in establishing a character?
Cinematic Aspects of Film
Elements unique to film
Requires some knowledge of technical terms
Examples of Technical Terms
Close Up (CU)
A shot of one face or object that fills the screen completely.
Gives importance to object
Allows us to see the emotion of a particular character
USUAL SUSPECTS
High Angle (h/a)
Angles are defined by where the camera is placed
Camera looks down on what is being photographed
Takes away power of the subject of shot
HIGH NOON
Long Shot (LS)
A relative term A shot taken from a
sufficient distance to show a landscape, a building, or a large crowd
BULLIT
Helpful Hints:
It is helpful to show clips of familiar films, so students can focus on cinematic elements
Show clip a second time, after some discussion
View clip without sound
Putting It All Together
Ways of looking at a film on all 3 levels:– Use different color notecards– Use a viewing guide
Writing Exercises
Film Review– Plot Summary– Literary Analysis– Dramatic Analysis– Cinematic Analysis– Complete Review
• Summary, analysis, and evaluation of film
Sample AssignmentsPersonal Essays
Write a letter to the director or writer of the film. This letter can be negative or positive, but it is important that you support your thesis with specific details from the film. If you do write a negative letter, do so without being disagreeable. Watch your tone.
Analytical Essays
Students can discuss possible topics for a particular film and write their own thesis statement or the teacher can provide a essay topic– Typical Essay Topic: Explain the
significance of Rosebud in Citizen Kane. Is the word important to the film or is it a red herring?
Imaginative Writing
Students can be asked to create a background or future for a particular character based on his/her behavior in the film.
Students can expand on the cultural aspects of what they observe in the film.
Film Treatments, Scripts, and Storyboards
Students can write film treatments and scripts or design storyboards for possible sequels or prequel of a certain film.
Students can create new scenes they feel could add information about the characters or story.
Other Ways to Organize a Film Study
Genre Studies Film History National Cinema (Culture, Politics, Etc.) Auteurs (Directors) Foreign Films Thematically
“…film is one medium which cuts across diversities of ability, student background and communication modes. When film is effectively integrated into the curriculum, it touches upon a wide variety of skill areas.”
Resch and Schicker
“Film, the most powerful medium in theworld, is awesome in its ability to
change thinking and behavior. It has nopeer in its power to impart concepts,
ideas, and information quickly, interestingly, and, if it is well crafted
indelibly.”-Marion Blue