Please read the pdf file.
Same as PDF.
Film Clip Assignment
Points: 10 Points
Due Date: Thursday, October 13
Length: 1-2 pages typed and double spaced (include two clips)
Overview
This assignment asks you to focus on storytelling from the perspective of the scene.
The idea here is to examine how ideas are messaged without the audience being entirely conscious of the delivery. Assignment Context Many great scenes do not default to dialog to advance the character or plot. Instead, they use cinematic tools like camera position, camera lenses, locations, editing and so on to tell the story without dialog. It might also be a simple prop that is coded by the filmmaker to be of great storytelling significance. It might be a locket, a painting, a photograph or a wardrobe item. Prompt 2. Select TWO film clips that demonstrate how the story was advanced by the use of visual storytelling. They do not have to be the same genre. All selections will need to be from films that have been assigned for this class. Clips do not need to be from TWO different films. What that means is that the audience learned something about the character or the plot, not through dialog but by the use of the visuals on the screen. The film Amelie, All About my Mother, Crouching Tiger and Assassins are textbook cases of wall-to-wall visual storytelling examples. The book Cinematic Storytelling provides 100 examples. 3. Here is the list of Cinematic Storytelling Tools (Cinematic Invisibility) from which you can choose: Space / Frame Composition / Shape within a Frame / Editing / Time / Sound Effects Scene Transitions / Camera Lenses / Camera Position / Camera Motion / Lighting / Color / Props / Wardrobe Your Assignment Template: TWO EXAMPLES REQUIRED When answering the prompt, please be sure to label your responses with these headings to make sure you are properly given all your points. Remember to provide TWO examples. This means duplicating the template twice for each example. Assignment Template (5 Points) 1. Title of The Movie: 0 points 2. Clip: Provide a link: 1 point
3. Brief Description of the plot and the context in which we find the shot. Two sentences should be enough: 2 points Example 1: Joe doesnt believe the monster exists. In this scene he confronts her for the first time. 4. Technical Analysis of how the tool is used to advance the character or plot: 2 Points Example 1: Low angle shot made the looming monster appear even larger than she was. Joe is now convinced that the monster is powerful and exists.
Suggestions and Approach
This is not graded as a formal essay. The quality of the two clips in demonstrating their messaging ability of visual storytelling is the most important element. If you are having difficulty, I recommend viewing Amelie as your first film source.
Cinematic Storytelling and PowerPoint Viewing:
If you are not clear what visual storytelling is, please read at least three chapters in Cinematic Storytelling as required and review the PowerPoint named Cinematic Storytelling (It will be part of Wednesdays class and added immediately afterwards to the modules. There are multiple imbedded film clips in this PowerPoint.)
Selecting Your Clips
What you will notice is that these clips tell the viewer more than information about the setting but go further in advancing our knowledge of the character and the plot.
You do not need to write voluminously in answering the prompt. The difficult part is finding a scene and breaking down how that clip messaged to you the audience ideas on plot and character without the use of dialog. What you will notice is that this cinematic language is universal and breaks all language barriers.
What Not To Do
Please do not use the examples you find in the book, Cinematic Storytelling. You will need to find your own original examples.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please make an appointment with me by email or phone. Alternatively, consider attending one of the optional Zoom sessions early in the semester. You can also submit an early publish to get important feedback.
Good luck on this.