1. COST Analysis - The Pursuit of Happyness
KM English 12

2. Objective
Learning Objective: Analyze the use of cinematography techniques to convey a message
Success Criteria: Complete a COST analysis of a scene or still shot from “The Pursuit of Happyness”

3. “The Pursuit of Happyness” The Message
Journal – Now that you’ve watched the film. Try to explain the message behind the film as best as you can. Write this in your notes and save it. You will use this in your COST analysis project. Use specific character names. Look the film up on IMDB if you do not recall the names of the characters.

4. COST Analysis – Cinematography
complete a COST analysis of a scene or a particular shot from “The Pursuit of Happyness”
Use all parts of the COST analysis, base all interpretations on evidence from the film or from relevant contextual information
Identify any significant cinematography and editing techniques that were used. Explain how these techniques are used to convey a specific theme
Content
Composition
Context
Style
Theme

5. Pursuit of Happyness COST Analysis Presentation – Rubric
Reading
Shows understanding of essential concepts: content, composition, context, style, and theme. Able to explain how cinematography techniques are used to convey meaning. Supports analysis with fact-based observations. Identifies where meaning is unclear, or open to interpretation by the viewer. Can explain multiple interpretations of the text. Uses academic vocabulary effectively.

6. Pursuit of Happyness Scenes
(Basketball scene)
(Job interview scene)
(Rubik’s Cube scene)
(The end)
(Cold calling)
(Night at the police station +interview)
(Chase in the park scene)
(Ferrari scene)
(Glide Memorial church shelter scene)

7. Pursuit of Happyness Scenes Cont.
(Locked hotel scene)
(Church choir scene)
(Distracting Christopher scene)

8. Cinematography terms to know
High contrast
Low contrast
Depth of field
Telephoto shot
Tracking
Zooming
High angle
Straight shot
Low angle
Canted or Dutch angle
Long Shot
Medium Shot
Close up
Shallow focus
Deep focus
Focal distance

9. Editing terms to know - Transitions
cheat cut
cross cut
cut- in/cut- away
dissolve
jump cut
establishing shot
shot/reverse shot
superimpose
eyeline match
graphic match
match on action
diegetic time
long take
overlapping editing

10. Outline Your Presentation
Pick a scene
Content – what can be seen in the scene? Describe what can be seen in detail. Include lighting and color scheme.
Composition – Where are the elements placed in the image? What is near the camera and what is far from the camera? What angle is the camera using? How does it move?
Context – What outside information should be considered when watching this scene? How does your knowledge of the outside world affect the way you interpret the message of the scene?
Style – What is the visual style? Is the editing style continuity or montage? How can you tell? How does the style help to convey the message?
Theme – How do all of these elements help to get across the message of the scene? Do these techniques help reinforce the theme? If so, how?

11. Content What can be seen in the scene?
Describe what can be seen in detail. Include lighting and color scheme.
Day, urban setting
Concrete steps, street and cars visible
Busy background filled with many people, most in business attire
Areas of light and shadow
Main focus is African American male, wearing a suit and tie
Has a brown leather bag over his shoulder
Shoes are brown and don’t match his suit

12. Composition
Where are the elements placed in the image? What is near the camera and what is far from the camera? What angle is the camera using? How does it move?
Green trees are lit near the top of the frame, shadows towards the bottom
Man moves from left to right in a diagonal swoop
Shot starts in high angle, long shot
Man comes up the steps, the shot becomes medium then close
The camera pans to follow the man and switches to a low angle as he climbs the final steps

13. Context
What outside information should be considered when watching this scene? How does your knowledge of the outside world affect the way you interpret the message of the scene?
We know that business suits are associated with high paying jobs
The steps we associate with an important building
We can tell by the fact that his shoes don’t match that something is different about him
We associate mismatched clothes with being disorganized, lazy, or poor

14. Style
What is the visual style? Is the editing style continuity or montage? How can you tell? How does the style help to convey the message?
The style used is realism and the style of the setting is urban
The style of the clothing is sophisticated business wear
The editing style in this scene is continuity editing
The elements of style make the scene seem more realistic, and they suggest a serious atmosphere

15. Theme
How do all of these elements help to get across the message of the scene? Do these techniques help reinforce the theme? If so, how?
The movement of the camera follows Chris Gardner as he quickly ascends the stairs
The fluid transition from long shot to medium to close to medium again, as well as the shift from high to straight to low angle creates a sense of urgency—this person’s life moves fast
The close up on the shoes reminds us that Chris is different from these other people, but that he will stop at nothing to reach his highest goal

16. Text Elements Are Important
This example did not feature text
Language still has an important role in conveying meaning in a film
This film uses dialogue and voice over narration
If you want to include the language of the film, use the YouTube video so that the audience can hear the dialogue or narration
Use IMDB to help you find text evidence from the film:

17. Options for Including Video
Insert the video directly into your PowerPoint using YouTube
Make a GIF from the video, download the GIF, and insert the GIF as a picture directly into your PowerPoint
Use screen captures to make still images, insert the images directly into your PowerPoint

18. How to Insert a YouTube video into PowerPoint
Search for the video you want to use
Click on the “share” button
Copy the link
Click “Insert” tab in PowerPoint
Click “video”
Select “Online Video”
Paste link into “Search YouTube”

19. Make a GIF from YouTube Use this site: https://www.giflike.com/
Find your video on YouTube
Press the share button and copy the link
Paste into “Paste YouTube link here to get started!”
Use the frame selection tool to change what portion of the scene you want to turn into a GIF
You can also adjust the number of frames you select
Press the capture button when you have the selection you want

20. Make a GIF from YouTube Continued
Use the web site tools to add text to the GIF, if you like
You can adjust the appearance of the text
Adjust when the text appears
And add additional text if you like
Use the “Remove” button to delete text you have added, but don’t want
Click “Publish” when you are finished

21. Make a GIF from YouTube Continued
Open your GIF in a new tab or window
Right click and select “save image as”
Save to your H: Drive
Click “Insert” tab in PowerPoint
Click “Pictures”
Select saved file