movie analysis

Read these instructions carefully and completely.

Overview:

This extra credit assignment represents the culmination of the Critical Journal and Lighting Diagram Assignments. You will draw upon in-class critiques and your previous work to execute a thorough and detailed analysis of the cinematography in a given film.

**NOTE: Unlike the journals, you will not be choosing a film from a list. In order to participate in this assignment, you must email the instructor immediately to receive your assigned film. Every student will be given a different film to analyze.

This analysis will be executed in two parts:

Part 1 consists of a 4-page minimum comprehensive analysis of the cinematography in your assigned film. Where the journals focused on a single aspect of the cinematography (such as color or stylization), this paper should encompass any number of cinematography components that you find interesting and relevant to the success (or lack of success) of the film as a whole. Consider such aspects of the image as color, composition, quality of light, camera movement, aspect ratio, depth of field, blocking, shot length, and lighting motivation. You must focus on the cinematography, but may certainly discuss how the cinematography interacts with other aspects of the film (story, performance, character, editing, and so on). You should also identify motifs and stylistic through-lines in the film (similar to the “themes” explored in the journals).

Part 2 will be a close analysis of a single shot from the film, including a lighting diagram.

· 2a)  Select a shot that you find particularly compelling and capture a framegrab of that shot (or multiple framegrabs if the shot utilizes camera movement). 
*Your framegrab(s) will occupy a single page.

· 2b)  Draw a lighting diagram for the framegrab, identifying every source that you believe is contributing to the image. Label each source according to its purpose (key, fill, etc). 
*You are not expected to know what types of instruments were used. *You may draw the lighting diagram by hand if you like.
* Provide a key to explain your symbols (camera, lights, etc).

· 2c)  List each individual source from your diagram and answer the following for those individual sources: 
x) What is the source lighting (is it keying the subject, kicking a prop, serving multiple purposes, etc?)? 
y) What are the quality and color of the source? z) What is the motivation for the source?

· 2d)  Provide a close analysis of the shot represented by the framegrab, applying the same critical analysis techniques used in Part 1. Consider how your chosen shot may be representative of the film as a whole.

Including Parts 1 & 2, your paper will be no less than 8 pages in length:
4 pages for the comprehensive analysis
1 page for the framegrab(s) – 2a
1 page for the lighting diagram and breakdown of the diagram – 2b & 2c 2 pages for the single-shot close analysis – 2d

The paper can, of course, be longer than 8 pages.
** You should include a cover sheet, which will not count towards the page total. Additional Content Requirements:

Absolutely no plot synopses are allowed. Any paper that utilizes plot synopsis to increase page count will receive a severe deduction from the extra credit grade. In discussing a shot, moment, scene, or aesthetic arc, you may provide a brief context for the analysis; but you should assume that the instructor is familiar with the plot of each film (you are not writing for a general audience).

Production trivia, dates, etc. are unnecessary and off-topic and should not be included in your paper. The inclusion of such material will lower your extra credit grade.

The writing style may be informal, but must be clear and effective.
This is not a completion-only assignment. Grades will be based on quality of thought and clarity of communication.

You are strongly encouraged to visit Karen Ogle for assistance in organizing and refining your work.

This is not a research paper. Outside sources are prohibited. You are intended to relate your own observations, analyses and opinions.

Review the Academic Honesty policy and be certain that you clearly understand the rules regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If a paper contains plagiarized material, the student will be reported to the administration, and will receive no extra credit for the assignment.

Formatting Requirements:

Times New Roman 12pt Font
Double-spaced line spacing
1-inch side margins and 1-inch top and bottom margins
Indent new paragraphs and do not double-double space between them.

NOTE: Formatting must follow these requirements exactly. Any violation of these formatting rules will result in a deduction from the extra credit grade.

Due Date:

A hard copy of the paper must be turned in to Matthew Ladensack’s desk on the 2nd Floor of the Riverside Building no later than 1:00p on Friday 3 October 2014.

*You may turn the paper in any time before this date if you like. Please notify me via email if you do and I will retrieve it to be graded straightaway.

Electronic copies will not be accepted. Late work will not be accepted.

Extra Credit Grading:

This assignment will be graded on a 6-point scale, where each point represents a 1/3 letter grade.

A 1 / 6 would raise your final course grade by 1/3 letter (Ex: a D- would be raised to a D).
A 2 / 6 would raise your final course grade by 2/3 letter (Ex: a D- would be raised to a D+)
A 3 / 6 would raise your final course grade by 1 letter (Ex: a D- would be raised to a C-).
A 4 / 6 would raise your final course grade by 1 1/3 letter (Ex: a D- would be raised to a C).
A 5 / 6 would raise your final course grade by 1 2/3 letter (Ex: a D- would be raised to a C+).
A 6 / 6 would raise your final course grade by two full letters. (Ex: a D- would be raised to a B-).

Additional Notes:

If you require clarification of any sort or if you are confused in any way, you must email questions to the instructor immediately. If you accept this assignment, then you are accepting all of the rules described here and will be responsible for following them.