Film+Discovery+assignment

This project is designed to allow you to discover something about the movies you love and explain your discoveries. For the next week you will do one of the following: Aspects of film available for analysis and production:
 * Film Discovery assignment **
 * Watch at least two movies to study some of the aspects of film in more depth than we’ve been able to cover in class.
 * These movies should have some common factors that you are looking at.
 * Choose one, two, or three of the aspects listed below to analyze. Discover how these aspects have affected the final film.
 * Write an outline to organize your discoveries.
 * Using your outline, present your analysis to the class, comparing and contrasting the different films to show your discoveries.
 * Watch one movie over and over again to study some of the aspects of film in more depth than we’ve been able to cover in class.
 * Choose one, two, or three of the aspects listed below to analyze. Discover how these aspects have affected the final film.
 * Write an outline to organize your discoveries.
 * Using your outline, present your analysis to the class, comparing and contrasting the different films to show your discoveries.
 * Make a short movie to show the application of some of the aspects of film in more depth than we’ve been able to cover in class.
 * Choose one, two, or three of the aspects listed below to focus on in your film. Be ready to explain your production process.
 * Reflect on how these aspects have affected the final film.
 * Write an outline to organize your discoveries.
 * Using your outline, present your film and your analysis of its production to the class, comparing and contrasting the different films to show your discoveries.
 * Watch several different examples of animation. There are many of the same issues, but some others as well. Animators must choose how to show movement, for instance, and choose what to include in the background in a different way than live-action directors.
 * Follow the same guidelines as the projects above.
 * camera angle
 * camera movement
 * framing
 * diegetic vs. non-diegetic sound
 * special effects for information for the audience (think //Run, Lola, Run//)
 * many other options! Ask me.

We will have computers in class from Thursday, June 15, until finals. During the finals period we will present our work to each other.

You may want to watch movies with friends (always better). This is fine, but each person must do an independent project. It is possible to present together. Check with me if you have questions. What topics interest you? A film genre? A particular job in the industry? Look over the following list: Sports films:
 * Hoop Dreams – NBA chance of success for guys with few options
 * Eight Men Out – history – baseball

War films –
 * which point of view is shown?
 * how is one point of view shown and another set to the side?

Foley project - how is sound used in different movies? How was that sound produced? - record sounds? Explain

Multiple film versions of same story
 * which is more effective? Why?

Costume? Check with me.

Utopia/dystopia–
 * racial prejudice – Brother From Another Planet
 * human vs. non-human – Blade Runner

horror – comparison of different movies?
 * What’s the purpose of horror?
 * Which techniques are used to make a film scary? (music, sound, lighting?)
 * So which movie is most effective?

Skateboarders Dogtown and Z-Boys vs. Lords of Dogtown What was the purpose of each movie? Which succeeded?

Write a short screenplay Including blocking, cameras, angles, etc.

Listen to director’s or actor’s voice-over in several films What decisions did the director make to convey his/her theme? Compare approaches of different directors/same director – different films How did the actor participate?

Westerns – Genre patterns Seven Samurai (homage to the American western) Magnificent Seven (response to the Seven Samurai) Stagecoach Stunts – Yakima Canutt Western genre – how does it match the pattern? Watch another western and compare?

Gender bending – (these are some that are easy to find)

Some Like it Hot La Cage Aux Folles The Birdcage Priscilla, Queen of the Desert