Film and Literature Projects

PLOT ELEMENTS The plot of a story is the total of all of the events – beginning, middle & end - that impact the characters. A basic plot outline would include the following: Plot element Description Exposition Background details: characters, setting Conflict The problem faced by the characters (esp. protagonist vs antagonist) Rising action Tense situations faced by characters Climax The peak of action; the most tense situation Falling action What happens immediately after the climax Resolution/Denouement End of story; change exhibited in characters

BASIC PLOT STRUCTURE Climax: peak of action Falling action: what happens after climax Rising Action: tense situation(s) Exposition – Background Details Resolution – see a change in characters. Conflict: problem faced by characters (esp. protagonist vs antagonist)

Map the plot for another book or movie: Lord of the Rings Climax: Gollum & hobbit struggle over Ring. Eventually Gollum & Ring fall into volcano & are destroyed. Falling action: Sauron destroyed, along with his kingdom. Fellowship reunited and world is saved. Rising action: Fight, fight, fight!!! Orcs, evil wizard!!! Exposition: Hobbits & wizard & others form Fellowship & go on quest to destroy Ring of Power Resolution: Everyone returns home, though others hardly aware anything has happened. Conflict: Villain Sauron & his armies want to kill Fellowship and seize Ring. Ring’s former owner Gollum wants it back.

THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD A storyboard is one way of mapping the plot of a story Work with a partner (no more than 3 students to a group) to make a storyboard to map key events in GG. Exposition, Conflict, Rising action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution

THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD

ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD For Assignment #2… Create a six-panel storyboard Work with a partner (groups of 2) Choose a story familiar to most readers Include the plot elements discussed in class Illustrated & captioned Feel free to exercise creativity in your project Can do a simple panel layout like the in-class practice or something else DUE DATE: 21 Nov. (Tue) Grading (5pts overall) based on… Plot elements Accuracy of plot elements Contents Several sentences in captions to explain each scene & its importance Illustrations A detailed & understandable illustration for each element Grammar/mechanics Captions well written Layout Attractive design; engages the viewer in terms of layout & neatness

ASSIGNMENT #3 Must read one (1) story in full- length original For Assignment #3: Write a 500-600 word essay on the topic given for the novel you’ve chosen (must be one we studied) Work individually Use correct essay structure: Clear thesis statement that answers the question Body paragraphs that develop different aspects of your answer Include between 3-4 quotations from the original novel to support your ideas Proper essay format (spacing, font, personal info, etc.) DUE DATE: Dec. 7 (Thu) Grading (5pts overall) based on… Relevance of answer to the question How thoroughly the question is answered Organization & logic of paper Integration of evidence from the story (quotes included & explained) Writing mechanics & formatting *Visit the blog later for topics.

FINAL EXAM PROJECT For the final exam in Film & Literature, you are required to do a group-level ‘performance’ of some type Two (2) options: Create & screen a short (10 min) film based on a short story or scene from a novel Create & perform a short (10 min) dramatic ‘table read’ version of a short story or scene from a novel DUE DATE: Dec. 14-21 (last 3 days of semester)

FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #1: SHORT FILM (20 pts overall) Create a 10-minute short film based on a short story or scene from a novel. Criteria for the film are: Appropriate for classroom viewing In the range of 8-12 minutes Include a ‘title card’ (credits) The project will be done in stages Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual responsibilities (Nov 21 Tue) Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your film (6 panels) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (Nov 30 Thu) Stage 3: Screen your film in class between Dec. 14-21 Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of film, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #2: TABLE READ (20 pts overall) Create a 10-minute dramatic table-read based on a short story or scene from a novel. Criteria for the table read are: Appropriate for classroom viewing In the range of 8-12 minutes Include credits in PPT form, or spoken by narrator The project will be done in stages Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual roles/responsibilities (Nov 21 Tue) Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your presentation (6 panels) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (Nov 30 Thu) Stage 3: Present your table-read in class between Dec. 14-21 Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of presentation, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

WRAP-UP Select a Lit Circle role from the following: Summarizer Discussion Director Word Master Connector Culture collector Read section titled “Flowers from a Thousand Miles Away” in The Joy Luck Club Journal according to your Lit Circle role Journal collection: Thurs. 16 Nov