Select a powerful, 4-5 minute scene from a film of your choice.Write and record a detailed analysis of the scene using your understanding of film elements like theme, narrative, cinematography, editing, sound, music, and acting. What themes are being explored in the scene? How do these fit with the film's overarching theme and story? What elements of film did the director use to bring the scene to life? What aspects of this scene spoke directly to you as a viewer, and how did it impact you emotionally, psychologically, or philosophically? Draw on all of the knowledge and analytical tools you have acquired or honed over the past six weeks.
Use Panopto (or other software) to record your computer screen while playing the scene on your computer.Record your voice and the film audio, adjusting the film audio as needed. Most of the 4-5 minute clip should include your narration, with brief pauses to highlight important sound, music, or dialogue. Students have also used the free appCapCut on their phones to successfully complete this project.
View an example here: Watch a
Many of the clips that we've been watching in this class are shorter than the required 4-5 minutes you'll need for the Anatomy of a Scene assignment due next week. You can find longer clips on this YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/BingeSociety
There's a magnifying glass icon on the channel's page where you can search just that channel for films you might be interested in using for the assignment.
Essential Activities:
- Reading Chapters 1-8 inMoving Pictures: An Introduction to Cinema (Sharman, R.)will assist you in completing this assignment.
- Watching the assigned videos in Weeks 1-6will assist you in completing this assignment.
- This assignment has some technical aspects. Make sure that Panopto is working well on your computer, and that your computer audio and microphone is working (I suggest using a high-quality mic or headset mic). Play around with the software and make sure that there are no technical problems before you record.
- Submit the project to the Peer Review discussion forum by Thursday of this week.
- No references are required. If drawing on outside sources, cite those sources verbally.
Notes:
- Write a detailed script or outline for your narration, and practice delivery multiple times before recording the peer review version and the final version.
- Please refer to the Anatomy of a Scene assignment rubric on the start here tab.
- This assignment is due Monday at 11:59 PM EST.