Final Paper FILM 100: one full length film (other than Juno) screened during this course that you would like to write about..
Below are guidelines to walk you through the writing of your final paper. Before you begin your writing, read through this carefully. You can follow each step sequentially, if it helps you. Plan to spend at least three separate times/days in your busy schedule for this work (3 hours each session).
1. Choose one full length film (other than Juno) screened during this course that you would like to write about.
2. Review the film again closely, without interruptions. 3. Introduce the film in your paper by discussing the significance of the film in film history. What makes it different from other films? Use only a few sentences to do this. When introducing the film, you must include: 4. The full name of film 5. The full name of the film’s director 6. Year it was made 7. Country of origin 8. To familiarize your reader with the film, write a one or two sentence synopsis of the film (what it is about). Use your own words! 9. Consider when and where the film was made: What was historically/culturally happening during that time? What makes this film important to write about? For example, how does it represent gender or race or class or ? Choose one focus, not all! 10. How does this film reflect the social/cultural/economic/political zeitgeist of the time? 11. If this is an older film, how does the film resonate now, so many years later? 12. What is the explicitly message? Implicit message? Think about how the film FORM affects the viewing experience. 13. Find one scene (or a single long shot or still frame) from the film that you found to be most interesting in FORM and CONTENT. A good (and extensive) example of a scene analysis can be found in the scene analysis found in JUNO (the fingernail scratching sequence for example). Review this early module for more guidance. FILM FORM 14. Concentrate on the Mise-en-scène of your selected scene or still frame/shot. The trick is to choose a very specific focus, and make it relevant to the entire film. Consider the Rule of Thirds, placement of actors/props/costumes in the frame. Does your paragraph contain one main idea supported by specific examples from the same chosen shot or scene from the film? How does the film FORM support the CONTENT (what the actor’s say, or not say, the story/the narrative/plot)? Does what you argue about move your thesis argument forward? Correctly use the film terminology used in this course. Find a sentence that will connect your reader to the next paragraph. 15. Write one paragraph concentrating on the Cinematography (lighting, color, angles used, camera height, etc.). See textbook covering Cinematography. 16. Write one paragraph concentrating on the use of Sound (diegetic/non-diegetic and why). Does the paragraph contain one main idea supported by specific examples from the same shot or scene in the film? Does it move your thesis argument forward? Correctly use the film terminology used in this course. See textbook covering Sound for guidance.
