FILM FORM ANALYSIS : ' One Week' 'The Scarecrow' 1920 ' The High Sign' 1921 'Cops' 1922

            One week

                                                             The Scarecrow

The High Sign

Cops

Analyse how all four short films 

demonstrate how Keaton uses film form , including how he follows or subverts conventions of silent comedy. You should focus on the following

Cinematography 

Use and purpose of framing and camera shots such as closeups, mid shots and long shots

Use of and purpose of lighting

Any shots which break the fourth wall  or cartoon gags

Editing

How often Keaton uses cuts or other transitions and why

Any other devices that give  the films narrative structure e.g title cards

Mise -en-scene

How the settings , props ( including animals)  and costume are used in the narrative and any stunts or routines

Performance

Use of body language , facial expression and how size of  actors are used within the frame , such as for contrast.

Keaton's use of his various star personae ( romantic suitor ,everyman or outsider clown)

Contexts and representations

Any links to how Keaton comments on social norms such as marriage  and gender stereotypes, how men and women are represented , links to any cultural or art  movements , representation of police and family.

  

PAPER 2C SILENT FILM MOVEMENTS Silent Comedy

Summarise the main conventions and use  of film form   and key figures of the silent comedy film movement , plus key information such as a timeline of silent film which mentions at least two other movements such as German expressionism . This post on the Silent Cinema blog page may help.

  We will be looking at the key texts  (4 of Buster Keaton's  short films) and his use of star persona next. 

PAPER 2A Pan's LABYRINTH/CITY OF GOD Aesthetics question

 

DISCUSS HOW AESTHETICS ARE USED TO COMMUNICATE THEMES IN YOUR TWO CHOSEN FILMS

MAKE DETAILED REFERENCES TO PARTICULAR SEQUENCES

PAPER 2A exam question

 Analyse how two of the elements of film form ( e.g cinematography, editing, mise-en-scene, sound or performance) are used to create meaning in City of  God and Pan's Labyrinth

Focus on a key scene from each film and make reference to other  scenes  to support your points

PAN'S LABYRINTH : analysis

Analyse how film form is used to create meaning for the audience ( plot, character development , themes of the film etc. ) in the opening and closing scenes of Pan's Labyrinth.  You should cover all of the following elements:

Cinematography ( use of camera movement , angles and framing ,  lighting )

Editing ( use and amount of transitions ,narrative structure , postproduction effects )

Mise-en-scene ( including setting , iconography etc.) 

Sound ( voiceover , music , sound effects , dialogue )

Performance ( body language , posture , expression , casting )

The scenes are available on the Pan's Labyrinth page

CITY OF GOD CLOSE ANALYSIS 2 : THE END

 Analyse how the themes and messages of the film are explored and resolved through film form in the final scenes of City of God 

Ending scenes ( no subtitles,sorry ! )

Final shootout

City of God

WRITTEN TASK :

Analyse how all the elements of  film form are use to create meaning ( narrative, plot,character development, understanding of themes and ideologies) and provoke audience response in the opening scenes from City of God and at least one other scene of your choice.

600 words minimum

Scenes are available in the City of God page above. 

Summer assignment tasks

Here are the tasks you need to have completed over the summer term and summer holidays. Please use the Production page and any links  for more detail  and ask David if there are any problems. These should be complete tasks but can be tweaked , edited and developed as your production develops.



1  Evaluative analysis ( part one )  of the key short films you have seen  so far , focusing on how they construct narrative using film form and genre conventions . This must cover at least three of the short films on the list  and a minimum of 80 minutes .

You should also highlight any influences they have had on your original film planning so far .

(  600 words approximately )

2  Original film  planning : Your idea for the original 5 minute film production
                                               ( script/storyboard/film)

Genre of your  5 minute film

Story/plot in 1 or 2 sentences

Any ideas about film form

 ( use of colour,music,lighting camera ,setting etc. )

Other short films/ films/books etc that influenced your plot/film form .

 Which narrative from the list below is your film following ?

( a twist, an enigma, conflict between 2 characters or 1 character's development ) 

        

3 Draft script for your original film following scriptwriting conventions and correct format. Your final version will be 1600-1800 words.

The script should be written in the present tense and should NOT use camera shot terminology  (Close up , Long shot etc. ) but can be as descriptive as you like about mise-en-scene and what the audience sees and hears. Make sure if you are describing a character's state of mind that you explain how the audience would know this through film form.



RESOURCES 

EDUQAS marked example ( screenplay plus storyboard and evaluative analysis) BAND 5/4

Use this to check correct format and screenplay conventions.


50 screenplays in various genres   To give you ideas and influences 

Shaun of the dead : social background

Written task : complete by Friday April 3rd

To what extent are the characters in Shaun of the Dead a product of their environment? 

Consider class, family, location, cultural influences and social expectations about success, relationships and growing up.

SHAUN OF THE DEAD : Narrative structure and genres

WRITTEN TASK : 600 words minimum

Complete by Friday March 27th

Email David with any  questions 

Explain with examples  how film form and  genre conventions are used in Shaun of the Dead  to establish the narrative stages of equilibrium and disruption in both the romcom and zombie horror genres. Look at binary oppositions, relationships between characters and Shaun's problems.

How do both genres interrelate and affect each other ?

How are film form and genre conventions used to create the  narrative endings/resolutions for both genres in the film  ? What kind of endings are they and do they confirm or subvert what has happened up to that point ?

TRAINSPOTTING : Analysis 2

Explain how the key ideological themes of the film are explored through the narratives of Tommy and Renton. You should refer in detail to how film form is used in at least two key scenes, focusing in particular on how the characters' narratives are resolved. 

                                                                   KEY SCENES

Back on heroin/good times/ screaming all day 

Overdose

Cold turkey , Tommy

London

Tommy's funeral

Sick boy's deal

Ending

TRAINSPOTTING : Themes and binary opposites

Summarise and explain the ideological  themes and binary oppositions in  Trainspotting with some examples from the film.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC : Opening and closing analysis

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC ANALYSIS 1 

Analyse the opening scenes  ( hunting ritual /domestic life) and closing scenes 
( Bo's departure/new domestic life  ) in terms of film form , alignment and allegiance and how it introduces and resolves its narrative and its  ideological themes such as family, education and   alternative/traditional lifestyles.

Opening hunting  scene 

Domestic life in the wild 


Bo's farewell


New domestic life