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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