MOVIE NOTES

Why Study Film? To know and appreciate the history of film. To know and appreciate the history of film. To understand how film techniques: lighting, camera angles and sound, are used to tell the story. To understand how film techniques: lighting, camera angles and sound, are used to tell the story. To use your knowledge to evaluate and judge the merits of films you see. To use your knowledge to evaluate and judge the merits of films you see. To apply your knowledge to your own movie. To apply your knowledge to your own movie.

Direct Links to Literature Use the same skills: connection, prediction, and questioning to understand and process what’s happening. Use the same skills: connection, prediction, and questioning to understand and process what’s happening. Just like reading, you can analyze key aspects of a movie like point of view, characterization, and irony. Just like reading, you can analyze key aspects of a movie like point of view, characterization, and irony.

Comparison Activity How many similarities can you come up with between the opening scene of a movie and the first chapter in a book? How many similarities can you come up with between the opening scene of a movie and the first chapter in a book?

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE BEEN MADE INTO A MOVIE? 1250 books have been made into movies books have been made into movies.

Is the Book REALLY Better Than the Movie? Most people think so. Why? Most people think so. Why? An author hopes to reach 20,000; a movie hopes to reach millions of people. An author hopes to reach 20,000; a movie hopes to reach millions of people. Authors can tailor their message to a select audience. Authors can tailor their message to a select audience. A movie has to appeal to thousands. A movie has to appeal to thousands. There is just one author; whereas there are numerous people involved in the creation of a movie. There is just one author; whereas there are numerous people involved in the creation of a movie.

Cinematic Transitions These are used like punctuation marks of film making. These are used like punctuation marks of film making. These are simple transitions that move the viewer from one scene to the next. These are simple transitions that move the viewer from one scene to the next. As viewers, we have learned to read such transitional devices as clues about the relationships within the film. As viewers, we have learned to read such transitional devices as clues about the relationships within the film.

Specific Transitions that Soften Cuts Fade-outs: the picture slowly fades away, usually on a suggestive scene. Fade-outs: the picture slowly fades away, usually on a suggestive scene. Dissolve: where one scene melts and the new scene appears. Dissolve: where one scene melts and the new scene appears.

Framing This effect is created by the 4 edges of the movie screen. Although movies are full of motion, sometimes the action is frozen in a frame. Alfred Hitchcock was a master a creating frames. This effect is created by the 4 edges of the movie screen. Although movies are full of motion, sometimes the action is frozen in a frame. Alfred Hitchcock was a master a creating frames.

Editing A scene is composed of several shots of the same action, time and location. A scene is composed of several shots of the same action, time and location. Sequence: covers a broader range with the same thematic subject. Sequence: covers a broader range with the same thematic subject. Establishing shot: orients the viewer, like a shot of the skyline. Establishing shot: orients the viewer, like a shot of the skyline. Insert – typically occurs during an action scene where there may be a close-up of a weapon. Insert – typically occurs during an action scene where there may be a close-up of a weapon.

Editing Continued… Cutaway: goes from the action and focuses on a single subject. Cutaway: goes from the action and focuses on a single subject. Reverse-angle shot: each speaker filmed from the other person’s point of view. Reverse-angle shot: each speaker filmed from the other person’s point of view. Reaction shot: showing a character’s reaction to an important scene. Reaction shot: showing a character’s reaction to an important scene. Jump cut: omitting part of the action between shots. It heightens the suspense. Jump cut: omitting part of the action between shots. It heightens the suspense.

Activity: How do YOU Read the Movie The next slide is a description of an opening scene in a short film. As we read it together, explain what you think is going on and why you think that. What clues helped you figure it out? The next slide is a description of an opening scene in a short film. As we read it together, explain what you think is going on and why you think that. What clues helped you figure it out?

First we see an image of a man standing on a bridge, a rope around his neck. Next, we see a close-up of his face. Beads of sweat form on his forehead. As he shuts his eyes, we hear the first strains of some banjo music. Then we see an image of a woman, elegantly dressed and smiling, seated on a garden swing and swaying gently to the music. Her motion is exceptionally slow. First we see an image of a man standing on a bridge, a rope around his neck. Next, we see a close-up of his face. Beads of sweat form on his forehead. As he shuts his eyes, we hear the first strains of some banjo music. Then we see an image of a woman, elegantly dressed and smiling, seated on a garden swing and swaying gently to the music. Her motion is exceptionally slow.

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Ironic Contrast This is one literary element which is unique to films. Remember that irony is where something happens that we don’t expect. Ironic contrast is where a movie character says one thing, but where we see something totally different. This is one literary element which is unique to films. Remember that irony is where something happens that we don’t expect. Ironic contrast is where a movie character says one thing, but where we see something totally different.

“Singin’ in the Rain” We start with this film to give you a little bit of background on the history of movies. This musical takes you from the era of silent films to the early talkies, and how difficult that transition was for Hollywood. We start with this film to give you a little bit of background on the history of movies. This musical takes you from the era of silent films to the early talkies, and how difficult that transition was for Hollywood. What really makes this film remarkable is that MGM had all of these songs that had been written for other musicals, and were never used, so the writers were given all of these songs and told to write a story around the songs. What really makes this film remarkable is that MGM had all of these songs that had been written for other musicals, and were never used, so the writers were given all of these songs and told to write a story around the songs.