This assignment is to see how well you can recognize, label, and analyze elements of film form (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound) as they operate within a scene from one of the films we have examined in class.
Specifically, you must:
Select a scene from one of the feature-length films. You must use a different film from the one you wrote about for the Midterm Essay.
Isolate, describe, and analyze the uses of mise-en-scène within the scene.
Isolate and describe the uses of cinematography within the scene.
4. Isolate and describe the uses of editing within the scene.
5. Isolate and describe the uses of sound within the scene.
6. You should also provide a brief plot summary of the film within an introduction
and discuss how the elements of film form contribute to the narrative and/or themes of the film in a conclusion if you have not already discussed film form’s relation to narrative and theme in earlier sections.
Plan:
The first requirement will depend upon you determining which scene you want to analyze. You could select the one you enjoy most, since you will need to view the scene many times in order to complete this assignment. Or you could select the one where elements of film form are easiest to recognize for you.
Once you selected the film scene you will analyze, begin to take notes on mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound.
For mise-en-scène, at the very least you should note elements of design, such as set design/décor, props, costume, makeup, and hairstyle. You are more than welcome to discuss composition and acting here.For cinematography, at the very least you should note camera distances (called “implied proximity to the camera” in Looking at Movies) and angles. You are more than welcome to discuss also lighting, color, lens focal lengths and depth of focus, camera movements, and speed and length of shots, if you like.
For editing, at the very least you should note continuity edits and transitions between shots.
For sound, at the very least you should note uses of diegetic and nondiegetic sound, as well as uses of vocal sounds (dialogue and narration), environmental sounds, music, and silence.
Finally, as you draft your essay, you will want to be concerned about integration and organization. Do you want to cover all elements of film form before you discuss how each of them contribute to the narrative and meaning of the film? Or will you discuss these connections as you work through each element of film form? In what order will you address elements of film form?
Format:
Your paper must follow all formatting and length guidelines as noted in the syllabus. If you draw upon any research, including definitions of terms from Looking at Movies, make sure to cite this information with parenthetical citations and a works cited page. Titles of films should be italicized, and the first time you mention a film title, you should follow the title with the year of release in parentheses. You may also provide the name of the director if you wish. Refer to events within the film in present tense. Example: “In Do the Right Thing (1989, dir. Spike Lee), both Mookie and Pino are upset by Sal’s interactions with Jade.”
