March 18th, 2019 
adminFinal Film Analysis Paper
The Task:
Although this assignment is called Film Analysis Paper it is primarily an academic paperoutlinethat is designed to assist you in organizing your thoughts writing and analysis as it applies to TWO films of your choice that we have covered in Cinema 201.
You are required to write a23-page informative outlinethat compares the two films. You arerequired to use at least ONE of Barthes narrative codesto analyze both films (i.e. Symbolic Enigma Action etc.) as well as a minimum of TEN terms derived from the course. The terms you choose should also be usedaccurately demonstrating an understanding of the terms.
Additionally a properly-formatted bibliography of a minimum of threeacademicsources needs to accompany your outline (Open-sourced sites such as Wikipedia are not academic sources.)You may want to consult with the writing center on help with sources.) Writing center link here:
https://www.shoreline.edu/twls/
Note:One of the three academic sources can be one of the texts read for class. These sources need to be cited within the outline with a proper MLA citation.* For information on MLA citations use the following link:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Format:The paper outline should be written in 12-point Times New Roman font single spaced.
The Outline:
After choosing the two films you wish to analyze consider which one of the narrative codes will best be suited to the analysis you wish to do.
Are you primarily interested in the series of mysteries that unfold within the film?
Are you more interested how certain elements of the action reveal a deeper meaning?
Can the film be read through the analysis of competing forces binaries or antitheses?
Consider carefully which of the narrative codes you will use.
Your paper should include a full opening and closing paragraphthat identifies both films the narrative code/s you will be using and the main reasons that you feel these two films can be analyzed together. Your closing paragraph should include your conclusions. Note: always make sure to italicize the films title (i.e.A Trip to the Moon).
NOTE:You may want to write your opening and closing paragraphsafteryou have completed the overall outline.
Organize your analysis into topics.Imagine that each topic is an individual paragraph for thepaper and write a couple of sentences to introduce each paragraph of the outline. These
Cinema 201 – Goodson
paragraphs could center on topics such as CharactersMise-en-scne Camera Techniques Narrative Structure Mood etc. Proceed to bullet point your paragraphs with concepts connected to the paragraphs topic.
For example:(course terms and citations in red)
(Topic Sentence) Themise-en-scneof George MlisA Trip to the Moonis visually fascinating but is also very simple compared to how films are made today. The simplicity of his techniques are shown in a variety of ways.
The alien costumes are interestingButitsclearly just an actor.
The camera remains in one place during the entire filmFeels flat like watching
a play. Very littleDepth of Field.
The sets seem very Two-DimensionalJust flat drawings.
The director uses lots of smoke effects to make the simple tricks more exciting.
The lighting remains very staticNo changes in light.
Mlis loves to make characters disappear by stopping the camera. He was a
magician by trade whogave the cinema the tools of fantasy illusion and distortion (Mast 31).*
(Topic) The characters inA Trip to the Moonare often hard to identify with. It seems thatMlisfilm is notabout psychologically realcharacters thus theiractionstends to reveal little deeper meaning.
There is no use ofclose-ups cant see the charactersfaces / thoughts.
There is no central character. Its more about the special effects.
The acting seems very over-the-topnot realistic acting.
The alien characters are interesting visuallyBut why do they just explode when
hit? This is unexplained.
Lots of group shotshard to focus on one characters action.
But the finalaction of bringing out the French flag shows that the moon
journey a victory for the entire country.
Note:It may help in organizing your comparison if you choose to analyze the same topics within each film.
Things to consider in the outline:How are the two films different? How are they similar? What era of film-making are they from? From what culture did the films come from? Did they have aspecific impact on cinema as a whole? What might have been the directors intention? Was the director inspired by certain historical events (example: the depression in Germany in the 1920s that influenced Expressionism).
Cinema 201 – Goodson
Rubric:
140150 points
Excellent organization of ideas clear and accurate use of film terms clearly-written opening and closing paragraphs citations clear and paper properly formatted.
130140 points
Clear organization proper use of film terms clearly written opening and closing paragraphs citations unclear and/or improperly formatted.
120130 points
Clear organization proper use of film terms reasonably clear opening and closing paragraphs citations unclear and/or improperly formatted.
110120 points
Relatively clear organization flawed use of film terms weak control of sentence structure in opening and closing paragraphs citations improperly formatted.
100120 points
Reasonably clear organization flawed used of film terms weak control of sentence structure missing citations.
90100 points
Unclear organization fundamental writing flaws in opening and closing paragraphs (multiple errors) flawed and/or minimal use of film terms missing citations improperly formatted.
8090 points
Unclear organization fundamental and pervasive flaws in writing minimal and improper use of film terms no citations improperly formatted.
7080 points
Extremely poor organization no use of film terms improperly formatted no citations.
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