Should be one to two pages (250-500 words) and analyze the film’s theme and formal elements like camera work, lighting, composition, color, sound, and editing. At its most fundamental level, editing is the process of managing the transitions (called cuts) from one shot to another. Those transitions can be managed to produce a sense of continuity or of discontinuity.
It’s important to understand the difference between these two goals, and to note that individual films can contain examples of both continuity and discontinuity editing. Editing that strives for continuity must carefully manage spatial and temporal relationships between shots to ensure that viewers understand the movement of figures in the frame and the progression of narrative information. One of the most fundamental conventions of continuity editing is the use of a master (or establishing) shot to establish for viewers the overall layout of a space in which a scene takes place. This shot, when followed by shots that are in closer implied proximity to subjects, makes it easy for viewers to understand relative positions of people and objects throughout a scene.
Show ways the director uses film FORM (lighting, camera, color, sound, editing, composition, etc) to reenforce that theme. DO identify the underlying theme of the film. DO take the movie apart and reveal how it works. DO mention the formal elements (lighting, camera work, sound, editing, color, design, etc.) and how they reveal the theme. DON’T tell the plot or story (I know what happens — I’ve seen the movie ten times). DON’T make value judgements (good, amazing, terrific, influential, inspiring). DON’T bring in box office numbers, ticket sales, cost of production or profits. DON’T include biographical information about the director. IF ONE OF THESE MOVIES DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU PLEASE REACH OUT I HAVE MORE OPTIONS
