1. Elements of Film Getting ready for the critique

2. Developing your Critique Writing a critique about a movie is more than just saying it was good or bad. You are describing the elements and then concluding whether it is a good film or not. Basically, you are writing a story version of the film.

3. Elements of Film Setting Atmosphere Cinematography Lighting Décor/Clothing Pace Suspense Sound & Music Editing Character Acting Plot Narrative Structure Genre Themes

4. Setting Describing the location – Geographical – Historical – Social Milieu (Social Environment) Culture The physical space where something occurred Social Structure

5. Atmosphere Mood – Cheerful – Depressed – Tense – Calm I.E…You are describing the “feeling”. – What feeling does this film give off in your opinion? – What is the feeling one can expect to receive in watching this film?

6. Cinematography How the camera is manipulated – Camera Angles High Low Straight – On Bird’s Eye – Camera Distances Extreme long shot Long Shot Medium Close – Up Extreme Close – Up – Camera Movement Camera Movement Tracking/Dollying Hand Held Crane Pan Tilt Helicopter

7. Lighting Helps set the mood of the film. Can be implemented in many different ways to obtain various affects – Realistic – Romantic – “Dark” – “Surreal”

8. Décor/Clothing Design and costume set – The arrangement of objects and costumes in the setting of a film.

9. Pace The rate of activity or movement – Rhythm or tempo Fast – paced Slow – paced “Meditative” “Poetic” A main concern for the director – Control Actors’ actions The action must swell, subside, and swell again. – The director does this to keep the scene from losing its energy and intensity

10. Suspense A feeling of pleasurable fascination and excitement mixed with apprehension, tension, and anxiety developed from an unpredictable, mysterious, and rousing source of entertainment.

11. Sound & Music Sound: – Like, lighting it helps set the mood of the film. – Aid to the other elements of the film. Realistic Expressive Simple Multi-Layered Music: – Helps with the pacing of the film and helps set the mood and define the setting Soundtrack Source

12. Editing Happens post - production Cutting & Pasting – Cutting for Continuity – Cutting Within a Scene – Cross Cutting Parallel Editing Create sensually provocative montages; bring out the emotional truth in an actor's performance; create a point of view on otherwise obtuse events; guide the telling and pace of a story; create an illusion of danger where there is none; give emphasis to things that would not have otherwise been noted; and even create a vital subconscious emotional connection to the viewer, among many other possibilities.

13. Character Defining the person – Complexity – Believability – Voice – Stereotype

14. Acting The art of character portrayal – Professional (big screen) – Nonprofessional (independent film) – Realistic – Stylized/Symbolic (fantasy)

15. Plot The events that make up the film Storyboarding Storyline – divided into five parts Are: exposition (of the situation); rising action (through conflict); climax (or turning point); falling action; and resolution. Cause & Effect An intricate, complicated plot is called an imbroglio

16. Narrative Structure The structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative/story is viewed. Divided into three sections: – Setup all of the main characters and their basic situation are introduced. contains the primary level of characterization (exploring the character's backgrounds and personalities – Conflict is the bulk of the story begins when the inciting incident (or catalyst) sets things into motioncatalyst Character Development – Resolution the problem in the story boils over, forcing the characters to confront it, allowing all elements of the story to come together and inevitably leading to the ending Straightforward or Complex

17. Genre Action & Adventure Animation Biopics Bollywood Comedy Crime Documentary Drama Family Horror Music documentary Musical Period & Historical Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Films Sport Thriller War Films Westerns World Cinema

18. Themes The Point of the Film – Issues – Ideological Conflicts – Lessons Learned