OBJECTIVES:

1. To view a pre-determined film and analyze it's language, style, and content.

2. Watch the film to appreciate and review the director's intent on telling the story.

3. To analyze the film's aesthetics, and determine the effectiveness of the director and actors in communicating the narrative of the story.

DIRECTIONS:

1. From the list provided on the class Website in the ‘Assignments" folder, select one of the titles to watch and analyze.
Follow the directions below:

2. From the beginning of the movie, write down your observations using the following guidelines to properly complete this assignment:
From the opening or closing credits, list the following titled positions and their names:

a. major actors

b. executive producer (s)

c. line producer (if listed)

d. director of photography (DP)

e. produced by: (Name)

f. screenwriter (s)

g. director

3. Make handwritten notes for the following to help assemble and answer these questions in the typed portion in Section 4. (These handwritten notes need not be submitted)

a. the opening or establishing shot, and how it sets up the beginning

b. what the director used with cameras to convey the narrative as the story begins, that is, are the shots close-ups, wide angles, high or low with respect to the actor's position, etc?

c. how did the director of photography light each scene to reflect the mood of the dialogue and scene location to facilitate the story?

d. listen carefully to the sound, and how it fits the scene at that moment, and is the dialogue clear and clean? Is it hard to understand?

e. Is the music appropriate, and sets the mood for the scene? Too loud to hear dialogue?

f. Did the movie "grab" you in the first ten minutes?

g. How does the story flow (the narrative)? Logical progression, or does it have "flashbacks" or use "fade-outs" to show passage of time?

h. What is the storyline, and how does it progress?

i. As you write your notes, use the above items to help you lay out your typed final analysis and conclusions.

j. Note any other observations of the film that you found interested and possibly different or unusual from the above notes.

Use your notes to finalize the material as a typed presentation with the following requirements:

4. Analyze the data (This section is to be typed and turned in Word or an .rtf file via Blackboard)

From the opening or closing credits, list the following titled positions and their names:

a. major actors

b. executive producer (s)

c. line producer (if listed)

d. director of photography (DP)

e. produced by: (Name)

f. screenwriter (s) director

g. Film content (This portion and following sections need to be typed in paragraph form)

• types and names of characters

• location of show (city or state)

• how many producers listed in opening credits?

• how did the beginning of the story line grab you?

• what was your opinion of the lighting?

• were you able to hear all the dialog properly?

• did you like the camera shots and how they conveyed emotion?

• did the story give you satisfaction as a viewer?

h. Draw conclusions about the film. (Your opinion)

• what audience is the film trying to attract? (example: women 18-34)

• what did you like or dislike about the film?

• include any other comments you would like to make about the film.

i. Turn in assignment in on the due date according to the class schedule.

• follow directions above for the handwritten portion and typed portion.

• use one of the following fonts in double-spaced 12 point type:

Arial, times new roman, or courier.

• length should be a minimum of three (3) pages or more.

. REASONS WHY A SUMMARY WILL GET A GOOD GRADE:

• Sections 4 typed with no errors in grammar, spelling, or sentence structure

• A good opening introductory sentence or paragraph to establish written work material

• Neat, professional appearance without noticeable errors or erasures

• Including all the elements listed in Sections 3 & 4

• Using the proper format sheet

• Use of proper font, font size, and double spaced

• Length of typed portion a minimum of three pages

REASONS WHY A SUMMARY WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED, OR WOULD HAVE POINTS DEDUCTED FROM THE TOTAL:

• Sections 4 not typewritten

• The summary is poorly written with spelling and grammatical errors.

• No opening sentence or paragraph to establish written work material

• Half credit maximum given for work presented within one week of due date