Intro to Film Terms & Vocabulary

Chapter 1-2

Criteria of a Classic Film

• Technological Achievement/ Innovation• Marked Influence on the craft of filmmaking• Universal Themes• Social/Political/Cultural Significance, Defines

an era• Embodies a genre

Star-system

System for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration.

Narrative Fiction Film

Film concerned with telling a story, in which characters help convince the audience that the unfolding events of the story are real.

Avant-garde film: “experimental /underground cinema”

The goal is artistic invention. Films have limited distribution and usually seen at art museums, universities, etc.

Example- Pleasures of Montauk – Jonas Mekashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtQpFWrVT1Y

Motif

Any narrative, visual, or sound element that is repeated and thereby has significance and reflects some insight to the story, characters, or themes of the film

Motif Podcast

Process to Determine Motif:

1. Identify

2. Track

3. Interpret/Propose Meaning

• Colors• Phrases• Visual Elements/Items•Music

Types of Motif:

ParallelA similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual, narrative, and/ or sound elements

Shot

The building block of a scene. An uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film. Ends with a cut, fade, dissolve, etc.

CutAn abrupt transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B. A cut joins two non-consecutive frames of film.

Turning Points A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation.

Intertextual ReferenceA narrative, visual, or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art. Sometimes called homage.

Product PlacementAn agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films, generally as props used by characters.

Film Analysis

• Descriptive Claim–A neutral account of the basic plot

and style of the complete film, a part of the film, or a group of films.

Film Analysis

• Evaluative Claim–A statement that asserts a

judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad based on specific criteria.

Interpretive ClaimA statement that presents an argument about a film’s meaning and significance. •Presents themes and ideas•Needs to be well supported by

details from the film

Film Analysis

Activity (graded)

Get into a group of five or fewer:Choose any movie that you’ve all seen.In complete sentences write:1. Descriptive Claim2. Evaluative Claim3. Interpretive ClaimMake sure everyone’s name is printed neatly on your paper.