The English Teacher

Analyzing Films as a Genre


This form is used to help students analyze film as a genre. The form could be used as an in-class assignment, or also as a test. However, it asks for such a careful analysis of the film that it may be necessary to do as homework, or as a group project. Watching the film in slow motion would help in some areas. It could be adapted in whatever way seems most useful to the teacher.

I have used this form or a similar form for students to analyze professional movies and also to analyze their own film assignments. It is not intended to be used as the only or final film analysis tool in a media class.


Beginning Conflicts:

1. _________________________vs__________________________

2. _________________________vs__________________________

3. _________________________vs__________________________

4. _________________________vs__________________________

5. _________________________vs__________________________

6. _________________________vs__________________________

etc.

Character Sketches: How did your opinion of a character change as you watched the movie?

Character:___________________________

First Opinion:_______________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Second Opinion_____________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Character:___________________________

First Opinion:_______________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Second Opinion_____________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Character:___________________________

First Opinion:_______________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Second Opinion_____________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

SYMBOLS: Write the symbols in the film and what they represent or 'stand for.'

_____________________stands for________________________ ______________________________________________________

_____________________stands for________________________ ______________________________________________________

_____________________stands for________________________ ______________________________________________________

_____________________stands for________________________ ______________________________________________________

THEME: This movie is trying to say that people should:

___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

because of what happens in the movie, such as ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

MOOD:

What mood[s] does this movie cause viewers to have? How does it do that?

Beginning of film:

----------------------MOOD------------------------------CAUSE

_____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________

Middle of film:

----------------------MOOD------------------------------CAUSE

_____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________

End of film:

----------------------MOOD------------------------------CAUSE

_____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________ _____________________________-______________________

DIALOGUE:

Does the dialogue fit the characters and the situation they are in? Give an example.

___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

CAMERA VIEWS: 5 Minute Analysis

From scene _________________to scene ____________________

How many times does the camera change angles in 5 minutes?_______________

How many distant shots in 5 minutes?____________________

How many close-ups in 5 minutes?_______________________

Angle Analysis:

Does the camera "aim up" at some characters and "aim down" at others? _______

Which characters:_____________________________________

Explain the possible effect and significance of these camera angles:

___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

CLIMAX:

Who wins the main conflict?___________________________

How is this shown?

___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Would you recommend that anyone else watch this film or video? ___________________________________________________

Why do you have this opinion? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________


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