1. Viewing Films Actively
Written Responses to Motion Pictures
Paige Mayhew
Oklahoma Writing Project

3. “The schools do not have the power to change public
acceptance of the visual media. Training students to
understand and use them would be far more productive
than to endlessly deplore the quality of television and film.”
-Marion Blue

4. “As students view a film, we want them to pay special attention to those areas of the film we consider important and to draw conclusions from their experience with the film. Only then does a passive viewer become active; for by thinking about the film’s content, the student is interacting with the film.” -Resch and Schnicker

5. According to Corrigan “Writing about films can serve one or
several functions. It
can help you:
Understand your own response to a movie better
Convince others why you like or dislike a film
Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker, or a group of movies that your readers may not know
Make comparisons and contrasts between one movie and others, as a way of understanding them better
Make connections between a movie and other areas of culture in order to illuminate both the culture and the movies it produces.”

6. Three ways of looking at a movie
Analyzing Films
Three ways of looking at a movie

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

8. 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?

9. Dramatic Aspects of Film
Those elements film shares with live drama:
actors portraying characters through dialogue, costumes, and makeup
sets and/or locations
directors who leave personal stamp on final product

10. 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?

11. Cinematic Aspects of Film
Elements unique to film
Requires some knowledge of technical terms

12. Examples of Technical Terms

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

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

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

16. Helpful Hints:
It is helpful to show clips of familiar films, so students can focus on cinematic elements
Show clip a second time, after some discussion
View clip without sound

17. Putting It All Together
Ways of looking at a film on all 3 levels:
Use different color notecards
Use a viewing guide

18. “…film is one medium which cuts across diversities of ability, student background and communication modes. When film is effectively integrated into the curriculum, it touches upon a wide variety of skill areas.” Resch and Schicker

19. the most powerful medium in the world, is awesome in its ability to
“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

20. Writing Exercises Film Review Plot Summary Literary Analysis
Dramatic Analysis
Cinematic Analysis
Complete Review
Summary, analysis, and evaluation of film

21. Sample Assignments Personal Essays
Write a letter to the director or writer of the film. This letter can be negative or positive, but it is important that you support your thesis with specific details from the film. If you do write a negative letter, do so without being disagreeable. Watch your tone.

22. Analytical Essays
Students can discuss possible topics for a particular film and write their own thesis statement or the teacher can provide a essay topic
Typical Essay Topic: Explain the significance of Rosebud in Citizen Kane. Is the word important to the film or is it a red herring?

23. Imaginative Writing
Students can be asked to create a background or future for a particular character based on his/her behavior in the film.
Students can expand on the cultural aspects of what they observe in the film.

24. Film Treatments, Scripts, and Storyboards
Students can write film treatments and scripts or design storyboards for possible sequels or prequel of a certain film.
Students can create new scenes they feel could add information about the characters or story.

25. Other Ways to Organize a Film Study
Genre Studies
Film History
National Cinema (Culture, Politics, Etc.)
Auteurs (Directors)
Foreign Films
Thematically