The
methods you use to analyze a film are closely related to those used to analyze
literature. Films are multimedial. They are visual media made for viewers.
Films take command of more of our senses to create special atmospheres,
feelings or to bring out emotions.
Along
with the literary elements such as plot, setting, characterization, structure,
and theme, which make up the text or screenplay, there are many different film
techniques used to tell the story or narrative. Attention is paid to sound,
music, lighting, camera angles, and editing. What is important is to focus on
how all the elements are used together in making a good film.
Film Contents.
Film Facts
·
Title of film
·
Year film was produced
·
Nationality
·
Names of the actors
·
Name of director
Genre
·
What main genre does the film
fall under? – romantic, historical, detective, thriller, adventure, horror, and
science fiction.
Theme
·
What was the central goal of the movie?
·
Was it made to entertain, educate, or bring awareness to an
issue?
·
Was there any strong impression the movie made on you?
·
Did any symbolism come into play?
Plot and structure
·
What was the movie about?
·
Was it believable? Interesting?
·
How was the climax revealed?
Conflict
Conflict or tension is usually the heart of the film
and is related to the main characters.
·
How would you describe the main
conflict?
o Is it internal where the character suffers
inwardly?
o is it external caused by the surroundings or
environment the main character finds himself/herself in?
Characterization
Characterization deals with how the characters are described.
·
Did you like how the characters were portrayed?
·
Did the acting support the characters, and help them come to
life?
·
Did the characters
display complex personalities or were they stereotypes?
·
Were there characters
that embodied certain archetypes to enhance or diminish the film?
Dialog
·
Were the conversations believable or necessary?
·
Did the dialogue bring
context to plot developments?
·
Did the words match the tone of the movie and personality of the
characters?
Narrator and point of view
The narrator is the person
telling the story.
·
Is there a narrator in the
film? Who?
·
Point of view means through
whose eyes the story is being told.
·
Through whose eyes does the
story unfold?
·
Is the story told in the first
person “I” point of view?
·
Is the story told through an
off-screen narrator?
Imagery
In films imagery are the elements used to
create pictures in our minds. They may include:
·
Symbols – when something stands
not only for itself ( a literal meaning), but also stands for something else (a
figurative meaning) e.g. The feather in the film Forrest Gump symbolizes
his destiny.
·
What images are used in the
film? e.g. color, objects etc.
·
Can you find any symbols?
Cinematic Effects
Director
·
Did you like how the director chose to tell the story?
·
Was the pacing and speed of the movie too fast or too slow?
·
Was the direction comparable to other movies this director has
created?
·
Was the storytelling complex or straightforward?
·
Was there a certain amount of suspense or tension that worked?
·
Did the director create a captivating conflict?
Soundtrack
·
Did the music support the mood of the movie?
·
Was it too distracting or too subtle?
·
Did it add to the production and work well with the script?
·
Were the music queues timed well for the scenes they were
supporting?
Use of the camera
·
Were the shots used in a unique way to tell the story?
·
Did the coloring and
lighting affect the tone?
·
Was the action coherently shot?
·
How well did the camera move?
·
Were actors or settings framed well?
·
The four basic shots used in
films are:
o a close-up – a very close shot where the
camera lens focuses on some detail or the actor’s face.
o medium shot – a shot where the camera lens
picks up some background or upper half of the actor.
o full shot – a shot where the camera lens has
full view of the actor.
o long shot – shot taken at a distance from an
object.
·
A camera angle is how the
camera is tilted while filming.
o straight-on angle – The camera is at the same
height as the object.
o high angle – The camera is filming from above
the object.
o low angle – The camera is looking up at the
object.
o oblique angle – The camera is tilted sideways.
Lighting
·
Lighting focuses the audience’s
attention on the main character or object in a film.
·
It also sets the mood or
atmosphere.
·
While high-key lighting is
bright and illuminating, low-key lighting is darker with a lot of shadows.
·
What special lighting
effects are used during the most important scenes?
·
Filters are often used to
soften and reduce harsh contrasts. They can also be used to eliminate haze,
ultraviolet light or glare from water when shooting outside.
·
Using color like red or orange
can be used to enhance the feeling of a sunset.
·
Can you find any examples where
a filter has been used in the film?
·
What effect did using a filter
have on the scene?
·
What colors are most dominant?
Editing
Editing is the way in which a film editor
together with the director cuts and assembles the scenes. The way the scenes
are joined together creates the rhythm of the motion picture. Scenes can be
long and drawn out or short and choppy.
·
Was the editing clean or choppy?
·
Was the flow consistent?
·
What unique effects were
used?
·
How were the transitions
between scenes?
·
Can you see a pattern to how
the scenes are cut?
·
How would you describe the
pace/tempo of the film?
Conclusion
When analyzing films for school work or
projects, you may be asked to use some or all of the characteristics above.
Link those elements together that seem most logical. Try to think of the film
as a whole and how the elements mentioned above work together to bring out the
main message of the film.
·
Did the movie flow well?
·
Was it too fast or too slow?
·
Was it clearly organized?
·
Did certain scenes drag
down the movie?
·
Did they integrate well to the purpose of the story?
