Film Studies
Welcome to film studies FYO. The year we will view a variety of films and shorts to better understand the techniques involved in film production.
|
Introduction to Techniques
|
Peter Jackson is a film director best known for his cinematic portrayal of Tolkien's "Lord of the the Rings" series and "The Hobbit"
He has been regarded as one of the great film directors of our time and is known his attention to detail and angles when filming. We will take a look at some basic film techniques using scenes from the Lord of the Rings.
|
Predicting Plot
When viewing any film, to better analyze it, we can predict the plot. This allows us to pay closer attention to details and film techniques, leading to a deeper understanding of the story. Remember, the director CHOSE every shot, angle and character. They intended for the audience to be entertained, moved, and ultimately satisfied with the viewing experience.
Prediction in Nick White's short "Inseparable"
|
InseparableDirector: Nick White
Lead Actors: Benedict Cumbebatch & Nathalie Press Film Style: Short Synopsis: When young dad, Joe, discovers he's dying, drifter Charlie is given a unique opportunity to turn his life around. Techniques to watch for: |
Comedy
NOTES: Comedy comes in many forms. Check out the notes to determine what kind of comedy we have previewed already!
|
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty |
When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.
Director: Ben Stiller Writers: Steve Conrad (screenplay), Steve Conrad (screen story by) Stars: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly | |
Hidden Meaning: Symbols in Film
The revered writer and thinker Joseph Campbell once wrote about the double aspect of symbols, stating, “We must distinguish, therefore between the ‘sense’ and the ‘meaning’ of the symbol … It is the province of art which is not ‘expression’ merely, or even primarily, but a quest for, and formulation of, experience evoking, energy-waking images.”
In this sense, the symbolic content of a movie lies beneath the surface. Compared to the more literal interpretation of signs (for instance street signs), the symbol can evoke multiple meanings. In films, sometimes these interpretations are deliberately evoked on the part of the creator; at other times, the viewer teases out their own interpretations influenced by their own thoughts and feelings. Naturally, on account of their subjective nature, such interpretations are open to debate.
http://whatculture.com/film/10-great-movies-didnt-know-hidden-symbolic-meaning.php
The revered writer and thinker Joseph Campbell once wrote about the double aspect of symbols, stating, “We must distinguish, therefore between the ‘sense’ and the ‘meaning’ of the symbol … It is the province of art which is not ‘expression’ merely, or even primarily, but a quest for, and formulation of, experience evoking, energy-waking images.”
In this sense, the symbolic content of a movie lies beneath the surface. Compared to the more literal interpretation of signs (for instance street signs), the symbol can evoke multiple meanings. In films, sometimes these interpretations are deliberately evoked on the part of the creator; at other times, the viewer teases out their own interpretations influenced by their own thoughts and feelings. Naturally, on account of their subjective nature, such interpretations are open to debate.
http://whatculture.com/film/10-great-movies-didnt-know-hidden-symbolic-meaning.php
Thriller/Sci-Fi |
|
Film Study: Inception
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an expert at the dangerous, rarely performed skill of inception – infiltrating people’s dreams to plant an idea that may change their actions or ideologies when they wake. He is also in exile from his home in the US, hunted across the globe for allegedly murdering his wife. When Cobb and his team of ‘extractors’ are offered the deadly task of performing inception upon the heir to a business conglomerate, he sees the last chance to earn the privilege of returning home. Risking everything, Cobb ventures deep into the dream world where anything can happen, minutes last decades, and the line between the subconscious and reality becomes increasingly blurred...
|
|
TOTAL MARKS: 20 In your film log for Inception, you will determine how closely Cobb's journey adheres to the monomyth. Make sure you understand the steps and what they SHOULD look like!!!
|
Character Assessment: Inception
Vladimir Propp was well known for his theories on characterization. You are required to complete a project that discusses who Vladimir Propp was, why/how his ideas were influential, and how his archetypes apply to the characters in the film "Inception".
Checklist:
|
|
Synopsis: Survivors of a biological pandemic find refuge with Horizon Corporation, a company spearheading the global rebuild.
Director: Scott Belyea Written By: Zack Mosley
|
Action/Adventure
The action genre is a class of creative works characterized by emphasis on exciting action sequences. This does not always mean they exclude character development or story-telling. There are many sub-genres, including martial arts action, extreme sports action, car chases and vehicles, suspense action, and action comedy, with each focusing in more detail on its own type and flavour of action.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_(fiction) |
Intro Task
|
Film Study 1:
Batman (1989) The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker.
|
Film Study 2:
The Dark Knight (2008) When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice.
|
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Sam Hamm (screenplay), Bob Kane (Batman characters) Stars: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger Task #1: Film Critique
|
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan(screenplay) Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart Task #2: Then & Now: The Action Genre Through Time
|
Film Production: Emerging From the Silence
|
Originally, films were black and white, and there was no audio attached to them.
Typically, a musician would play along with the film while it was projecting. Later, music was connected to the film itself (musicians were no longer needed as the music was recorded). During the days of actors like Charlie Chaplin, dialogue was not yet possible. This changed as film progressed into the Golden Age during the 1920s. |
The Golden Age Of Film
|
Film Log Questions (Must be submitted following the last viewing class)
1. Did you recognize someone in Oz who reminded you of Miss Gulch? Who was she? Was there someone in Oz who was like Professor Marvel, the man who told Dorothy's fortune with the crystal ball? Who was he? Were there people in Oz who were like the farmhands? Who were they?
2. A symbol is something in a story that stands for something else. Knowing this: What does the tornado stand for? Why is the land of Oz green?
3. Despite the courage of the Cowardly Lion, the intelligence of the Scarecrow, the compassion of the Tin Man, and the wisdom of the Wizard, Dorothy is the real hero of this story. Compare Dorothy's story to the story of another hero that you know and tell some of the ways in which their stories are alike.
4. In what ways does Dorothy change through the course of the story told by this movie?
5. In our dreams, our minds work out our wishes and our fears, especially in relation to what happened during the day before. Name two fears and one wish that Dorothy was working out in her dream about Oz. When thinking about Dorothy's wishes, remember that people's wishes often conflict so it is possible that Dorothy could want two different and opposite things.
2. A symbol is something in a story that stands for something else. Knowing this: What does the tornado stand for? Why is the land of Oz green?
3. Despite the courage of the Cowardly Lion, the intelligence of the Scarecrow, the compassion of the Tin Man, and the wisdom of the Wizard, Dorothy is the real hero of this story. Compare Dorothy's story to the story of another hero that you know and tell some of the ways in which their stories are alike.
4. In what ways does Dorothy change through the course of the story told by this movie?
5. In our dreams, our minds work out our wishes and our fears, especially in relation to what happened during the day before. Name two fears and one wish that Dorothy was working out in her dream about Oz. When thinking about Dorothy's wishes, remember that people's wishes often conflict so it is possible that Dorothy could want two different and opposite things.
Evolving with the Industry - Chaplin
|
|
film_studies_final_project.pdf | |
File Size: | 91 kb |
File Type: |