The 400 Blows

I hope you all have read the Marilyn Fabe essay I gave you. If you haven't yet, go away from your computer right now and take 15 minutes to read the essay.

OK. Now, take a look at this quote from Truffaut in a 1966 interview:

"Before I met Rossellini, I wanted to make films of course, but it seemed impossible. A dream. He made it all seem easy. He has a powerful gift for simplification. He told me, it isn't hard to write a screenplay, you only have to look at the reality around you...The 400 Blows owes a great deal to Rossellini...[H]e showed me that things must be close to life."

Think about this quote and respond to it, using at least one scene from The 400 Blows. Feel free to include evidence from Rome Open City to back up any statements you make regarding Rossellini's filmmaking style. Write at least 3 meaty paragraphs (be sure to write cinematically) and use at least one quote from the Marilyn Fabe essay. Also, tell me your favorite scene and why (cinematically).

Due Wednesday, May 2.

The Awful Truth

Think about the film's mise-en-scene. Choose a scene in the film and discuss the mise-en-scene (costumes, set, properties, etc.) and its relation to the scene and the film as a whole. Use at least 2 hearty paragraphs for your discussion.

Also, please post your favorite line from the film.

Bicycle Thieves Assignment

I want you to analyze a scene from Bicycle Thieves. Please use the Internet sparingly--don't get caught up in what you read online about the film. The IB (and I) want to hear what you have to say!

Remember, this assignment is MORE practice for the Presentation assessment next year. Choose a 5-minute scene in Bicycle Thieves to analyze. 

After you have your 5-minute scene chosen, analyze it completely. Remember that you need to mention WHY you chose the scene and this scene's relation to the film as a whole. In addition, pay close attention to: mise-en-scene, lighting, camera angles, shot types, etc. Here is a list of items to pay attention to when you are writing your 750 words (at least) and when you do your oral presentation:

How well do I understand how meaning is constructed through the use of film language in this extract?

How well do I understand the extract's relationship to the film as a whole?

How well do I understand the influences of the film's genre?

How well can I place the film and this extract in a broader socio-cultural context?

How insightful is my analysis of the director's intention?

How coherent, incisive, insightful, and detailed is my evaluative interpretation of this scene?

Here is a list of "vocal" you can use:

narrative

direction

cinematography

mise-en-scene

framing

lighting (which is often, but not always, considered part of mise-en-scene)

camera movement

editing

sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)

Be sure your essay is AT LEAST 750 words. Let your ideas flow. Don't keep counting words and they will come. As you start talking about what you see and hear in the film you won't want to stop!

Please see me/email me with questions if needed.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DISCUSS IMPLICIT MEANING AS YOU ANALYZE THE SCENE AND USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES!!!

This is due Wednesday, April 4. Feel free to email me your completed essay.

Rome Open City assignment

I want you to analyze a scene from Rome Open City. Please use the Internet sparingly--don't get caught up in what you read online about the film. The IB (and I) want to hear what you have to say!

Remember, this assignment is MORE practice for the Presentation assessment next year. Choose a 5-minute scene in Rome Open City to analyze. 

After you have your 5-minute scene chosen, analyze it completely. Remember that you need to mention WHY you chose the scene and this scene's relation to the film as a whole. In addition, pay close attention to: mise-en-scene, lighting, camera angles, shot types, etc. Here is a list of items to pay attention to when you are writing your 750 words (at least) and when you do your oral presentation:

How well do I understand how meaning is constructed through the use of film language in this extract?

How well do I understand the extract's relationship to the film as a whole?

How well do I understand the influences of the film's genre?

How well can I place the film and this extract in a broader socio-cultural context?

How insightful is my analysis of the director's intention?

How coherent, incisive, insightful, and detailed is my evaluative interpretation of this scene?

Here is a list of "vocal" you can use:

narrative

direction

cinematography

mise-en-scene

framing

lighting (which is often, but not always, considered part of mise-en-scene)

camera movement

editing

sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)

Be sure your essay is AT LEAST 750 words. Let your ideas flow. Don't keep counting words and they will come. As you start talking about what you see and hear in the film you won't want to stop!

Please see me/email me with questions if needed.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DISCUSS IMPLICIT MEANING AS YOU ANALYZE THE SCENE AND USE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES!!!

This is due Wednesday, March 28. Feel free to email me your completed essay.

All About Me Reflection

I want at least 750 words in which you reflect on your experience making your All About Me project. Please touch on the following:

• Planning and research--Discuss how you came up with your idea and how you went about putting your plans on paper. Did your final product match? What changed and why?
• Reflection and evaluation--Include artistic and logistical analysis of your production processes and provide critical evaluation of the project as a whole.
• Effective use of film language--Discuss your use of film language throughout the project.

Due: Wednesday, 2/8 (half day)

Blood Simple Assignment

Due: Monday, January 23

Blood Simple is from the genre of neo-noir. You have now watched 2 films from the noir category (one American, one French) and one from the category of neo-noir (American). Think about Blood Simple and one of the other films we have watched and discuss one of the following:

•  the role of the female and her relationship with the “bad guy” (who can also be a female) and how this relationship is represented cinematically by the filmmakers
• the “bad guy” and his/her violence and how he/she and the violence is represented cinematically by the filmmakers

For a high grade, you must:

• provide examples from the film to back up your argument
• speak cinematically and use your cinematic vocabulary
• show what you know about the genre of film noir
• include quotes from any film essays you’ve read on the subjects (women, noir, etc.)

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