Viewing Films Viewing Films ActivelyActively

Paige Mayhew Oklahoma Writing Project

““Thinking is skilled work. It is not true that we Thinking is skilled work. It is not true that we are naturally endowed with the ability to think are naturally endowed with the ability to think clearly and logically - without learning how, or clearly and logically - without learning how, or

without practicing.“without practicing.“-Alfred Mander -Alfred Mander

““As students view a film, As students view a film, we want them to pay we want them to pay

special attention to those special attention to those areas of the film we areas of the film we

consider important and to consider important and to draw conclusions from draw conclusions from

their experience with the their experience with the film. Only then does a film. Only then does a passive viewer become passive viewer become active; for by thinking active; for by thinking

about the film’s content, about the film’s content, the student is interacting the student is interacting

with the film.”with the film.”-Resch and -Resch and

SchnickerSchnicker

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 FilmsAnalyzing Films

Three ways of Three ways of looking at a looking at a

moviemovie

Literary Aspects of FilmLiterary Aspects of Film

Those aspects Those aspects that films share that films share with literature:with literature: plotplot characterscharacters settingsetting themesthemes point of viewpoint of view recurring imagesrecurring images symbolssymbols

Questions to ask when Questions to ask when viewing on a Literary viewing on a Literary

Level:Level: Who are the characters?Who are the characters? What is the setting?What is the setting? What is the plot?What is the plot? From whose point of view is the From whose point of view is the

story told?story told? What is the film’s theme?What is the film’s theme? Are there any symbols or Are there any symbols or

recurring images?recurring images?

The DirectorThe DirectorThe director is the main artistic The director is the main artistic

force behind a film, force behind a film, television show, or play. television show, or play. S/he has the main S/he has the main responsibility for: choosing responsibility for: choosing locations, setting the scene, locations, setting the scene, directing camera angles. directing camera angles.

The thing to remember while The thing to remember while watching a film is that watching a film is that everything could have been everything could have been presented differently, it is presented differently, it is the director who decides the director who decides how you see each:how you see each: SceneScene CharacterCharacter ItemItem ShotShot

Dramatic Aspects of FilmDramatic Aspects of Film

Those elements Those elements film shares with film shares with live drama:live drama: actors portraying actors portraying

characters through characters through dialogue, costumes, dialogue, costumes, and makeupand makeup

sets and/or sets and/or locationslocations

directors who leave directors who leave personal stamp on personal stamp on final productfinal product

Questions to ask when Questions to ask when viewing on a dramatic viewing on a dramatic

level:level: How effective is the acting? Why?How effective is the acting? Why? How does the set affect How does the set affect

understanding and enjoyment of the understanding and enjoyment of the story?story?

How are the costumes and makeup How are the costumes and makeup effective in establishing a character?effective in establishing a character?

Cinematic Aspects of Cinematic Aspects of FilmFilm

Elements unique to Elements unique to filmfilm

Requires some Requires some knowledge of knowledge of technical termstechnical terms

Close Up (CU)Close Up (CU)

A shot of one face A shot of one face or object that fills or object that fills the screen the screen completely.completely.

Gives importance Gives importance to objectto object

Allows us to see Allows us to see the emotion of a the emotion of a particular particular charactercharacter

USUAL SUSPECTS

High Angle (h/a)High Angle (h/a)

Angles are defined Angles are defined by where the by where the camera is placedcamera is placed

Camera looks Camera looks down on what is down on what is being being photographedphotographed

Takes away power Takes away power of the subject of of the subject of shotshot

HIGH NOON

Long Shot (LS)Long Shot (LS)

A relative termA relative term A shot taken from A shot taken from

a sufficient a sufficient distance to show a distance to show a landscape, a landscape, a building, or a large building, or a large crowdcrowd

BULLIT

Questions to Ask…Questions to Ask…

Why was this character shot from Why was this character shot from this angle?this angle?

What feeling is imposed by the What feeling is imposed by the movement of the camera in this movement of the camera in this shot? shot?

What other camera angles could What other camera angles could have been used to shoot this shot, have been used to shoot this shot, why was this the best one to use? why was this the best one to use?