Consider the art of acting on film, along with this week’s reading (Chapter 7 in Looking at Movies) and film screening (No Country for Old Men), and explore the range of techniques available to film actors and how they reveal their characters on screen.
There are many powerful actors in No Country for Old Men, each with their own distinct approach and style (Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, and more).
Select one and identify what elements are most distinctive in how the actor’s performance conveys the character’s actions, thoughts, and internal complexities: body language, gestures, facial expressions, language?
Be mindful of the elements that seem to be contributing the most to your experience and understanding of the story and characters from scene to scene and shot to shot.
Craft a substantive short essay with a solid introduction and thesis statement that showcases your point-of-view, compelling body paragraphs that support your overall thesis, and an effective conclusion. Don’t summarize the plot of the movie – spend your time focusing on the elements of the film and your viewing experience.
Page length: 2 full pages
Format:
MLA format
Double-spaced (no extra space: Format paragraph spacing set at 0 pt. – before and after).
12 pt. Times New Roman font, or 10 pt. Arial font
1-inch margins
Pages numbered, no number on first page.
No title page – put name, instructor, class, and date on first page at the top, flush left (double-spaced). Title of essay should be center-justified
Submit as Word .doc or .docx or .pdf
