1. Ch. 12 from “The Film Experience”
Writing a Film Essay
Ch. 12 from “The Film Experience”

2. Personal Opinion and Objectivity
“Writing about film usually involves a play between subject matter and meaning.”
Useful and insightful writing always balances opinion and critical objectivity
You need both!

3. Elements of the Analytical Film Essay
Film reviews
Describes the plot of the movie
Provides useful background information
Pronounces a clear evaluation of the film to guide its readers
Analytical Essay
Focuses on a particular feature or theme of a film
Provides an interpretation of the material
A careful analysis that proves or demonstrates that interpretation

4. Preparing to Write About a Film
Asking questions
What have you heard? What do you know?
Taking notes
Three general rules
Take notes on the unusual – events or formal elements that stand out in the film
Take notes on events or techniques that occur with regularity
Take notes on oppositions that appear in the film

5. Popular Shorthand
es: establishing shot ha: high angle ct: cut cu: close-up mcu: medium close-up la: low angle trs: tracking shot ls: long shot ds: diegetic sound ps: pan shot mls: medium long shot nds: nondiegetic sound vo: voiceover

6. Select a Topic Formal Topics Contextual Topics Character analysis
Narrative analysis
Stylistic analysis
Contextual Topics
Comparative analysis
Cultural analysis

7. Elements of a Film Essay
Interpretation, argument, and evidence
What is your opinion? What is your claim? What is your evidence?
Thesis statement
Have a “working thesis” before you start writing
Outline and Topic Sentences
A blueprint is the secret to success
Generate topic sentences that support your working thesis

8. Writer’s Checklist
Review your notes, filling in details where you can. Ideally, view the film one more time.
Try to summarize the most important themes or motifs in the film.
Formulate a working thesis and an argument for the essay.
Outline the argument. If possible, use full sentences for your headings because they can then become your topic sentences.

9. 5. Develop the central idea of each paragraph using details from the film that support that paragraph’s topic sentence. 6. Rewrite your thesis to reflect any changes or refinements in your thinking that occurred while you were writing your first draft. 7. If you are writing a research essay, be sure to use the correct documentation format for in-text citations and the works cited list. 8. Revise your essay, checking for such problems as vague or illogical organization, and proofread for surface errors in spelling and grammar.

10. 9. Select a title that reflects that reflects the main argument of your paper. 10. Print out the essay and correct any remaining typographical errors.

11. Researching the Movies
Primary Research
Actual Film, script, ect.
Secondary Research
Books, articles, web sites, ect.
Internet Sources
Databases, journals, ect.

12. Using and Documenting Sources
Citations need to be accurate and enriching
Direct quotations and paraphrasing
Include citations on “Work Cited” page
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Use page 461 in your text to complete your work cited page