The purpose of this assignment is to synthesize a description of formal film characteristics with an argument of the meaning conveyed by the aesthetic elements. A Sequence Analysis is a key technique in the study of visual media: It aids us in unpacking the details and choices that contribute to a finished product, and teaches us to see and evaluate the components of an individual shot, the shot-to-shot relationships, and the connection to the film as a whole.
Select a sequence that takes place within the first 20 minutes of A Hard Day’s Night (1964). The sequence should be approximately between 1.5 and 3 minutes long and be comprised of about 15 shots. The sequence must be important to the film as a whole, but need not be a complete scene. You will be creating and turning in two related write-ups of this sequence, a description grid and an essay.
1). Grid
List the bibliographic details of the film: title, year, running time, director, country of origin, and start and end times of your sequence. Then, create a detailed description, in grid form, of the aesthetic elements of each shot of the sequence.
Column 1: Shot time, beginning and end
Column 2: Visual components (mise-en-scène: lighting, composition, color, action, costumes, props; angle; framing; filters; camera placement and movement; etc.)
Column 3: Sound & editing (dialogue, music, effects, non-diegetic sounds; types of cut, length of shot, editing rhythm, relationship between shots, relationship of sound to image, etc.)
Column 4: Analysis (significant narrative effects, questions raised or clues given, meaning, etc.)
These should be complete sentences, but not complete paragraphs. Focus on aesthetics, and be sure to use correct terminology. In particular in columns 2 & 3, expect to note a great deal of detail. A sample of this component is available on Canvas – please follow carefully.
2). Essay
Write an essay (at least 2 full pages, not more than 4, typed, double spaced, 1” margins, 12-point font) analyzing the sequence. In your essay, make an argument for how this sequence conveys meaning. How do the formal elements contribute to the meaning of the sequence and its contribution to the overall film’s narrative and style? Your essay should make use of the details from your grid to describe aesthetic elements from the film that support your argument. The essay should also include information on why you chose this particular sequence, where it fits in the film, and a brief synopsis of the film as a whole, but these components should not comprise more than about 1/3 of the total essay.
I’ve attached a sample grid!
