Viewing Films Actively New ways of looking at a movie! Mrs. Garbo Advanced Communications

Three Aspects of Film to Consider Literary… Dramatic… Cinematic

Literary Aspects of Film  Those aspects that films share with literature:  plot  characters  setting  themes  point of view  recurring images  symbols

Questions to ask when viewing on a Literary Level:  Who are the characters?  What is the setting?  What is the plot?  From whose point of view is the story told?  What is the film’s theme?  Are there any symbols or recurring images?

Dramatic Aspects of Film  Elements that film shares with live drama:  actors portraying characters through dialogue, costumes, and makeup  sets and/or locations  directors who leave their personal stamp on the production

Questions to ask when viewing on a dramatic level:  How effective is the acting? Why?  How does the set affect understanding and enjoyment of the story?  How are the costumes and makeup effective in establishing a character?

Cinematic Aspects of Film * Elements unique to film * Requires some knowledge of technical terms: * Framing/Angles * Lighting * Camera Movement * Music/Sound * Editing

A Few Examples of Technical Terms

Close Up (CU) n A shot of one face or object that fills the screen completely. n Gives importance to object n Allows us to see the emotion of a particular character USUAL SUSPECTS

High Angle (h/a) n Angles are defined by where the camera is placed n Camera looks down on what is being photographed n Takes away power of the subject of shot HIGH NOON

Long Shot (LS) n A relative term n A shot taken from a sufficient distance to show a landscape, a building, or a large crowd BULLIT

Writing and thinking about films can help you: Understand your own responses to a movie Convince others to see or not see a film Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker, or a group of movies that others did not know Make comparisons and contrasts between one movie and others Build connections between a movie and other areas of culture

“Film, the most powerful medium in the world, is awesome in its ability to change thinking and behavior. It has no peer in its power to impart concepts, ideas, and information quickly, interestingly, and, if it is well crafted, indelibly.” -Marion Blue