Film

“Coming to America” film report Instructions

Tech specs for submissions to Film Reports in your Assignments folder: 500+ words; 1-inch margins all around; 12 pt. font; double-spaced; name, title and page number in footer or header on every page; title your Report with the name of the film on which you are reporting, centered, in bold font; you may also expand the title as you please, according to your approach in your writing. 

Choose an ARGUMENT. With a consideration of the theme of the film (Early Cinema or Social Justice and Struggle or Film Noir/Neo-Noir) and what that theme represents, what does that film say about that theme? For example, an argument for Social Justice and Struggle could be for a film like Selma "racial inequality towards blacks in the South during the 1960s." And place that argument in the FIRST PARAGRAPH of your paper!

THEN...Back up your argument. First and foremost, use the film to support your argument. Consider the various texts we have discussed in the class leading up to your paper. Why do we watch them if they do not support your work? Take this into consideration without overdoing it. But, what I am trying to say is that you should think about elements of the film, such as editing, cinematography, sound, dialogue, camera work, acting, costume design, production design, music, special effects, etc. to look and analyze the film. You are analyzing not just the storyline but the acting style, the cinematography, the editing, the production design, the music, etc. These elements are what make the film specific; therefore, use it to your advantage to support your argument for why the film says what it says and how it says it (think of how editing alone, as illustrated in The Cutting Edge, can change how you look at a film!)

CITATIONS: If you need or want to include citations from other sources, I would prefer they come from the class versus the internet. I don't want you to overspend your time looking up how a specific movie was made unless you can make that quotation or comment relate to your argument. But, a good example of something you could quote from the class would be, say again for Selma, an excerpt from Birth of a Nation radio broadcast from Week Two. How are the effects of Birth of a Nation still evident in American society? How was that illustrated in Selma: through the storyline, a style of filmmaking, etc.? BUT, if you do use citations use MLA: what I expect for citations should look as follows within the text of your essay (Last name of author or editor SPACE Year Published) or for example (Anthony 2015). Then (as most of you have done), follow MLA guidelines for how to do "Works Cited" which you will put at the bottom of the paper (of course it would be a separate page if it was a hard copy).

REITERATING STORYLINE: Please do not tell me the storyline of the film as your entire paper. Choose an argument then back it up!

SENTENCE STRUCTURES: Be careful with long sentences. Make them succinct and to the point. It will make your writing much clearer.

YOUR OPINIONS?: Personal opinions of the film and personal anecdotes should be made only if it supports your argument. And, when you include them, make it brief. Remember that this is not a film review. Your papers are to be analytical papers illustrating that you have fully watched the film(s). They should demonstrate that you paid attention to the various elements that make up the film. This is not a place to give your opinion. Please do that in your Film Diary.

REVIEW (STRUCTURE/GRAMMAR/SPELLING): Please review your work. Pay attention to grammar and spelling. While I know spell check is a useful tool, it's not always accurate. If something doesn't look like it's spelled correctly, please look it up in a dictionary. ALSO, FILM TITLES should be underlined or italicized. 

FINALLY:  don't over simplify what you see in the film--this class is your chance to really WATCH and LOOK AT movies. It can be lots of fun when you learn more about the various elements of film (at least I think so!) and how they make up the whole of the film. Again, think about The Cutting Edge as a wonderful example of how little details changed in a film can dramatically change how you see them..... Hope this helps you with your writing going forward!