Independent Reading of Film Directions

Independent Reading of Film – Directions

1. Choose a topic. (Look over all the choices and watch trailers to help you decide. Once you commit to a topic, you cannot switch.)

2. Plan to watch both the fiction and nonfiction films about your topic. You must get copies of the movies yourself. I suggest using the library.

3. BEFORE YOU WATCH, read “How to Read a Film.” (If you need to, get some help about these ideas so that you fully understand them.) Decide which 1 or 2 aspects of filmmaking you want to focus on as you watch. Get ready to watch a film and notice how it’s made; that is, what were some of the specific choices that the filmmakers made as they created the film? You must look for the same 1or 2 aspects in each film.

4. For each film you watch, fill out a Project form. (This will be posted shortly, so you can download it and fill it in.) It will have space for topic, title, director, year of publication, quick summary, and your notes about techniques. (Optional extra sources are truly optional; watch them if you are interested and you want to learn more. If you plan to watch or read the extra sources, see me for a simplified form that you can fill out to earn possible extra credit.)

5. AS YOU WATCH each film, look for five (5) examples of the aspect(s) that interest you. Record your thoughts on the Project form. Some of this information – especially the 3rd column of the table – should be filled in after you watch. Here are full explanations of what the table requires: Example of Technique Effect of Choice Message or Lesson Focusing on an aspect which Explain the effect of this choice on * According to the filmmakers, interests you, discuss how the film an audience member: does it affect what is the truth? What is the was made. In each box, describe mood, understanding, or something implied societal commentary or one example of a technique being else? Why did the filmmakers lesson of this choice? What did the used. What specific choice did the make this choice instead of doing filmmakers want the audience to filmmaker make? something else? Is the choice believe or do after viewing the effective? film?

* “According to the filmmakers, what is the truth?” I am less interested in what facts they portray, and far more interested in the truths they want to convey about humanity: our flaws and weaknesses, our positive traits and strengths. Assume that filmmakers want to teach the audience to be better people as individuals, and/or to teach society to be better as a group. Consider how the filmmakers try to achieve this goal, and whether they are successful. In this table, you will discuss not just the information they give, but also how they present it.

6. Be prepared to participate in a small group discussion about what you noticed. Members of your group may have seen different movies.

Possible Discussion Plan 1. Meet with people who saw the same films. Note similarities and differences. Prepare to represent your topic in a jigsaw meeting. Address questions like these: a. What valuable lessons can audience members learn from this story? Think of several. Explain each in a few sentences. b. Consider one lesson in detail. How does each film teach it? Which teaches it better, and why? c. What can you surmise about the fictional film-makers point of view? What details make this evident? d. What can you surmise about the nonfictional film-makers point of view? What details make this evident? 2. Jigsaw with reps of all films to discuss deeper questions of the value/worth/reliability of various fictional and nonfictional sources 3. In class or at home: independent short writing. Summary question requires responding to what was discussed and learned from Film Project.