ENG225 Introduction To Film
Week 1 Discussion
Dq 1
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Review the Modeled DiscussionPreview the document.
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapters 3 and 10 in your text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Then, watch the following movie clips, paying special attention to the cinematic elements under the discussion.
Editing – visual transitions between shots that work to move the story forward
Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of editing.
The Baptism Murders – The Godfather (8/9) Movie Clip (1972) HD (Links to an external site.)
A Beautiful Mind (4/11) Movie Clip - Nash Cracks the Code (2011) HD (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
The Shower – Psycho (5/12) Movie Clip (1960) HD (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
Cinematography – camera angles, types of shots, framing, and color all working to set a particular mood
Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of cinematography.
The Long Take: Goodfellas (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
Manhattan – The Bridge Scene (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
Miriam’s Last Breath – Strangers on a Train (4/10) Movie Clip (1951) (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
Lighting – light and shadow used to affect the mood, the way we view characters, and set the overall tone of the film
Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of lighting.
Jurassic Park (10/10) Movie Clip – Raptors in the Kitchen (1993) HD (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
Lost in Translation (7/10) Movie Clip – Bob and Charlotte Meet (2003) HD (Links to an external site.)
The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of – The Maltese Falcon (10/10) movie clip (1941) HD (Links to an external site.)
TranscriptPreview the document
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Reflect
Think about how you watch film and how the aesthetic elements of editing, cinematography, and lighting work together to create meaning for the viewing audience.
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Write (due Thurday, Day 3)
Analyze each of these aesthetic choices by following the instructions below. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.
Choose one of the clips from the “Editing” section and analyze the use of editing in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the transitions between specific shots and the overall effect this has on the scene.
Choose one of the clips from the “Cinematography” section and analyze the use of cinematography in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the way specific shots are composed, paying particular attention to the camera angles, types of shots, framing, color, and the overall effect this has on the scene.
Choose one of the clips from the “Lighting” section and analyze the use of lighting in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the way the light looks in specific shots, how it affects the mood and the way we view characters, and how it sets the overall tone of the film.
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who analyzed at least one different clip than you did in your initial post, focusing on the clip that you did not discuss. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
Dq2
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 3 from the text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Select a full-length film from the AFI 10: Top 10 list (Links to an external site.).
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Reflect
Our textbook sets up a distinction between story and plot, stating that story is what happens in a movie, and plot is how it happens. The distinction may seem minor; however, throughout this course, we will be scrutinizing the various aesthetic choices and cinematic techniques that work together to create meaning in any movie. With that in mind, we can see that how a film presents action can be very important.
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
HELPNOWlogo.png Please view the video Adding Pictures and Video to Discussions and Introductions (Links to an external site.) for guidance on how to integrate multimedia with your response.
In at least 200 words, describe the relationship of story to plot in your chosen film. Be sure to:
Identify the title, writer, director, major actors, and the year.
Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.
Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly. In your discussion, address the following:
How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?
How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?
If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?
You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the Ashford Center (Links to an external site.).
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 150 to 175 words each.
ENG225 Introduction To Film
Week 2 Discussion
Dq1
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Review the Modeled DiscussionPreview the document.
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 4 from your text and the articles by Grant and Wright.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list (Links to an external site.).
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Reflect
Genre, a category of artistic production characterized by similarities in composition and style, is a term used to discuss literature, music, art, and film. It is particularly useful in critical applications because it distinguishes a work within a context of similar works. In film, we are familiar with certain broad genre categories such as horror, science-fiction, romance, and drama.
Understanding genre helps provide the viewer with certain expectations about film. For instance, the film The Conjuring trailer (Version 2) (Links to an external site.) is of the horror genre and thus can be discussed in context with other horror films. More specifically, it is of the sub-genre, supernatural horror, so it can be discussed in context with, say, The Exorcist trailer (Links to an external site.). Making this distinction enables the audience to situate their reaction within a particular framework.
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
In this discussion
Identify a film and classify it according to its genre (or sub-genre). Include a link(s) to a trailer or scene(s) from the film. You may choose to continue with a film you have already discussed.
Discuss the conventions that are typical in films of that genre (or sub-genre).
Explain how this specific film meets the expectations of its genre.
Include the name or partial name of the film you identified in the “Subject” line of your discussion. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who chose a different film than you did (though it is acceptable to respond to a classmate who chose the same genre). In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
Dq2
Prepare
Mise en scène is a term meant to encompass the arrangement and use of a variety of design elements in creating the visual theme of a film. Please look through Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors) for more information on this term.
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors).
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list (Links to an external site.).
Reflect.png
Reflect
It can be easier to grasp the importance of the term mise en scène if we break it down into its component elements. This week, we’ll look at the impact of lighting choices on the creation of meaning in a film.
In any film, the intensity and direction of lighting will influence how an image is perceived by the viewer, and it can establish or enforce particular themes. Think back over films you have watched and consider how the use of lighting in key scenes helped establish the theme or tone.
Write.png
Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
HELPNOWlogo.png Please view the video Adding Pictures and Video to Discussions and Introductions (Links to an external site.) for guidance on how to integrate multimedia with your response.
Using specific examples from your chosen film, write a post in which you
Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key) and assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.
What are the benefits of the style of lighting used?
How did this technique contribute to the theme?
How was the lighting technique suited to the genre of the film? For example, documentary films tend to rely on natural light as a way of creating an overall tone of authenticity.
Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.
You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
It is suggested that you approach this post by focusing your attention on the same film you will write about in this week’s “Genres and Genre Film” assignment.
Discuss.png
Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who chose a different film than you did. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 150 to 175 words each.
HELPNOWlogo.png Please view the video Accessing Feedback in the Gradebook (Links to an external site.) for guidance on how to review your instructor’s feedback when the post is graded.
ENG225 Introduction To Film
Week 3 Discussion
Dq1
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Review the Modeled DiscussionPreview the document.
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapters 6 and 7 from the text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Explore movie clips from the Movieclips (Links to an external site.) website or the Internet Movie Database – IMDB (Links to an external site.).
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Reflect
Choose a clip that you wish to analyze. The clip you choose must be from a film (preferably from a film with which you are familiar) – not a film trailer or a mash-up. Re-watch your chosen movie clip while closely observing the mise en scène. What analysis can you make about the placement and movement of characters and props in the scene as they relate to camera shots, color, lighting, and other elements of cinematography?
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
In your discussion, analyze at least three elements of cinematography and editing (e.g., lighting, color, shots, focus, transitions, and types of cuts) by evaluating the dramatic impact of the scene. Interpret the scene based on your analysis. In your view, what mood, symbolism, or meaning results from the scene’s creative editing and cinematography?
Include the name or partial name of the film clip you analyzed in the “Subject” line of your discussion. Include the link to your film clip in the body of your post. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.
Discuss.png
Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who reviewed a different clip than your own. After watching the movie clips reviewed by your classmates, compare how the scenes would be different had the editors or cinematographers chosen other options. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
Dq2
Prepare
As we have been discussing, the mise en scène of a film is the use of a variety of design elements to create the visual theme. As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 8 from the text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list (Links to an external site.).
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Reflect
Last week, we examined how different lighting styles and choices affected the final impact of a film. This week, we will consider different types and categories of sound at work in film and assess how they contribute to the overall sense of meaning in a film.
There are many types of sound in a film. Some are diegetic (sounds that are represented as coming from within the world of the film); others are non-diegetic (sounds that come from outside the world of the film). Your text describes the different categories of sound that fall under those types. What types of sounds, and what categories, are most effectively used in the film under consideration?
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
Using specific examples from your chosen film, construct a discussion post of at least 200 words in which you
Describe each of the three basic categories of sound (dialogue, sound effects, and music).
Explain how the different categories of sound are being used in your chosen film.
Assess the impact of sound in establishing the theme.
How does the use of sound inform the mood of the scene, or the film overall?
Can you identify specific sounds in your film that allow you to infer a particular genre?
Since each category of sound may produce a range of effects, how might you characterize the effects in your film? For example, realistic and expected sound effects may have a different effect on a viewer than exaggerated or unexpected ones.
Assess how the scene or sequence would play differently if you changed or removed a key category of sound.
You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.). It is suggested that you approach this post by focusing your attention on the same film you will write about in this week’s “Establishing Theme” assignment.
Discuss.png
Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who chose a different film than you did. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 150 to 175 words each.
ENG225 Introduction To Film
Week 4 Discussion
Dq1
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Review the Modeled DiscussionPreview the document.
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 9 from the text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Reflect.png
Reflect
Auteur theory in film suggests not only that a director is the primary author of a film, but also that the film must be analyzed within the context of the director’s other films. Directors create certain expectations with their films much in the same way authors create certain expectations with their writing. Are there directors whose work you always recognize when you see it? What qualities bind their works together?
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
As you construct your initial post, focus on the importance of auteur theory in film analysis and interpretation.
Name a director who you would consider an auteur and explain your reasoning.
Discuss the arguments against auteur theory and provide examples to support your points.
Examine how the auteur theory influences audiences and critics, using examples from film criticism, film marketing campaigns, and your own personal experience.
Include the name of the director you identified in the “Subject” line of your discussion. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two of your classmates who named a different director than you. In each response, discuss whether or not you agree with your classmate’s assertion that the director being considered is an auteur, and be sure to provide examples to support your position. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
Dq2
Prepare
As we have been discussing, the mise en scène of a film is the use of a variety of design elements to create the visual theme. As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, referring back to Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors).
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list (Links to an external site.).
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Reflect
Mise en scène refers to different technical elements used in making a film such as lighting and sound, both of which you have already analyzed in this course. The term also encompasses the role of actors in a film, their physical positioning and movements within the frame, as well as the different styles and types of acting.
You can classify an acting category using only one film as reference, but these categories are subject to change. Each new role helps to clarify or shift an actor’s designation. Do some actors always fall into the same category? How can actors change from category to category? Does genre have any effect on the acting styles present in a given film?
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
Using specific examples from your chosen film, write an initial post of at least 200 words which should
Identify three actors from your film and classify each according to the acting category listed in your text.
Explain your reasons for classifying the actors as you do. Use specific references to the film and pay special attention to how these decisions impacted characterization. Also, consider the impact of any realistic or stylized portrayals within the film.
Focus on one of the actors you’ve discussed. Based on other films the actor has been in, would this actor always be placed in the same category? If so, what does this say about the category or actor? If not, what can you infer about the flexibility of these categories? Provide evidence (references from other films, including film clips and stills) to support your argument.
You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to at least two classmates who chose different actors or different categories than you did. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Your responses should be 150 to 175 words each.
ENG225 Introduction To Film
Week 5 Discussion
Dq1
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 2 from your text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
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Reflect
There are many ways in which technology is affecting the production, distribution, and appreciation of films. For example, think of how CGI, animation, and other advances in digital technology have changed the ways in which stories are told on film. Then, consider how the Internet has changed the way we access, evaluate, and discuss films.
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
According to the first letter of your last name, respond to your designated topic.
Topic A (Last names beginning with A through M)
Choose a film and discuss the importance of technological advancements to its success as a mode of storytelling. How might it have been told differently, for better or worse, without these technological advancements?
Topic B (Last names beginning with N through Z)
Choose a film that gained notoriety due to the Internet and discuss how social media and other instant modes of communication have changed the ways in which we approach, appreciate, and consume films. What do these changes imply about the future of film distribution and audience participation in the film’s lifespan?
Indicate Topic A or Topic B in the “Subject” of your post. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to a post by at least one classmate who was assigned to the topic group you were not. For example, if you wrote your initial post on Topic A, then choose a classmate who responded to Topic B. In your reply, provide your opinion on the topic and discuss how it is similar or different than your classmate’s. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
Dq2
Prepare
As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:
Review the Modeled DiscussionPreview the document.
Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapters 1, 2 and 10 from your text.
Review the grading rubric for this discussion.
Reflect.png
Reflect
As you have learned in this class, film is a far-reaching medium with the potential to affect the greater fabric of our culture. Our understanding this potential and our ability to analyze it reach far beyond just this medium and into all areas of our social structures and culture. For example, the practice of closely analyzing particular films, which we’ve honed in this course, is the same practice of analysis which you will find in other courses – or in learning any new skill.
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Write (due Thursday, Day 3)
Based on the films you have watched and the ways you have learned to interpret meaning in them, discuss your ideas about how films engage social concerns and have lasting effects on society. Pick a film (or films) as evidence of this dynamic and describe the social and cultural resonance you see.
Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.
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Respond to Peers (due Monday, Day 7)
Respond to a post by at least two classmates who referenced different films than those you have chosen. In your responses, compare the film you discussed as having a lasting effect on society with the films noted in your classmates’ posts. Your responses should be 125 to 150 words each.
