Film 2120 1st EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 12Lecture 1 (January 7) What is analysis and interpretation?1) Analysis-breaks something into its component parts and explains how those parts work together (ground level work) 2) Interpretation-propose a way in which parts work together - Can be a leap Explain the 5 Principles of film form 1) Function-unified set of interrelated elements - every element (character, camera movement, clothing) is a stylistic choice thatcan be a function- can be narrative or stylistic2) Motivation-justification of a element being in a film- Example: in films, when you hear birds it’s motivation is to tell viewers that they’re outside - Example: Mrs. Gulch is mean to Dorothy and Toto in the Wizard of Oz, thefilm needs her so that there can be a villain (wicked witch) in OZ3) Repetition-things that are repeated - Motif: any significant element repeatedin a film this can be a object, place person, etc- Example: “we’re off to see the wizard” plays whenever a new character is met4) Variation-if a pattern of repetition breaks or varies- When farmhands change to lion, tin man and scarecrow5) Development-all elements change and develop throughout the film - Segmentation: plots out specific details by scene - Unity/disunity:1) everything goes conventionally=unity2) Elements cannot be explained rationally and don’t fit together=disunity Lecture 2(January 12) What is the difference between a narrative and narration?1) Narrative- a chain of events which are structured by a cause and effect relationship and which occur in time and space- We imagine what the narrative might be like or what will happen next 2) Narration- the moment by moment process by which a film gives us cues about how to interpret events and how to reconstruct the world of the story - One form of narration is a voice over - Basically narration is the way in which a film tells that story What are some characteristics of narration?1) Knowledge- what we know and don’t know about a film- Example: In the movie “Speed” we see a bus and it blows up in the first scene, its terrifying because we don’t know why it blew up. We have no knowledge of what is going on - Giving/withholding information:we learn more information later on1) Example: Later on in the movie “Speed” we learn about the villain and we know that he is placing bombs in busses 2) Range:- Restricted- knowledge is restricted to one character - Unrestricted-we have more knowledge than the character 1) Example- in a horror movie when the viewers know that someone is in house but the character doesn’t3) Depth-how we relate to a characters mind - Objective-watching characters from outside, looking at their external behavior - Subjective- what the characters think or perceive A) Perceptual- when we hear/see exactly what the characters hear/see, this is a point of view shotB) Mental- voice over (thoughts of characters) and flashbacks to experiences of characters 4) Story - The sum total of all events and all spaces which we imagine or infer 5) Plot - All of the events explicitly presented to us in a film6) Exposition- All of the back story in a film (we want to know who these characters are) 7) Ellipsis- A gap or whole- these are things we don’t understand A) Example- In Madmen we don’t know why Don Draper is the way he is Explain the difference between plot and story 1) Order-the story is always chronological and the plot can be out of order - A flashback is part of the plot, its not in chronological order 2) Duration-How long these events last - Story- how long the sum total was supposed to be A) Example- In “Saving Private Ryan” the story takes place during D-Day which was a couple days long - Plot- smaller amount of time than the story A) Example- In “ Saving Private Ryan” the plot is the actual battle - Screen-the amount of time the events are actually on the screen A) Example- In “Saving Private Ryan” the battle scene is 25-30 minutes long What is Frequency?- Frequency-number of times an event happens in a story Lecture 3 (January 14) What are the different aspects of Classical Hollywood Cinema?A) Cause and effect logicEx: It’s a wonderful life- the angel shows George why he has a good life and what life would be without himB) Clear motivation- Stylistic elements have a clear motivation, there is almost always a reason why the element is there 1) Example: Wizard of Oz-things weave together from Kansas to OZ that eventually shows the clear motivation of Oz (that there is no place like home)2) Counter example: Punch Drunk Love: the harmonium in the film has no clear motivation and we never find out the purpose of it C) Goal-orientated protagonist- Hollywood films create protagonists in film and filmmakers try to make you identify with the protagonist - In the first 20-30 minutes of a film you get to know the protagonist (their goals,traits, etc) 1) Example: groundhog day-the main character, Phil repeats his day until he changes his bad attitude and becomes a better man (he’s goal orientated) 2) Counter example: Breathless-the main character has no clear goal D) Deadlines- In films, the main character has to complete something by the end of the movie 1) Example: Speed- the main character has to figure out how to diffuse the bomb in bus before they get off of itE) Delays and Obstacles- You need delays and obstacles to come in the way of the deadline so its creates more suspense 1) Example: Speed-If the main character diffuses the bomb in the first 20 minutes the movie is over so filmmakers add in delays and obstacles 2) Example: Punch Drunk Love- The 4 brothers create obstacles for Berry’s love for Lena F) Opening and Closure- In Hollywood endings, they tie up loose ends 1) Example: It’s A Wonderful Life-everything is morally correct at the end of the film and George comes to the realization that he has a great life 2) Counter example: The 400 blows- There is a confusing end, there is no close to what happens to the little boy when he’s looking at the ocean witha confused lookLecture 4(January 21) What is Cinematography?1) definition: writing in motion2) choices are made about what is filmed and how it is filmed3) cinematographic qualities include the photographic aspects of the shot(focus, film stock), the framing of the shot(scale and angle) and the duration of the shot What is framing: scale?1) How big is the object or person you’re taking a shot ofWhat are 7