Play hard learn harder: The Serious Business of Play
WCC FILM 100 psycho parlor scene worksheet LUTHER
1. PSYCHO – PARLOR SCENE
WORKSHEET ASSIGNMENT
Watch the “Parlor Scene” scene (posted on
Blackboard) carefully and repeatedly. You
will then write a brief scene analysis by
looking at 4 main elements of MISE EN
SCÈNE. Using questions #1-#4 you will
make a basic list of each one and how it’s
used in this scene. Then, with #5, you are
to bring them all together into a unified
SCENE ANALYSIS by giving these
decisions “MEANING” in terms of FILM
LANGUAGE.
2. PSYCHO – PARLOR SCENE
WORKSHEET ASSIGNMENT
1.) LIGHTING (just a basic list of how is it being used – NOT what it all
“means” yet):
2.) FIGURE/OBJECT POSITION (just a basic list of where/how are
characters/things placed and/or moved – NOT what any of it “means” yet):
3.) CAMERA ANGLES (just a basic list of how the is camera tilted – NOT
what that might “mean” yet):
4.) SET DRESSING/PROPS (just a basic list of the specific items being
used as props – NOT what any of them “means” yet):
(While I want you focus mainly on the LIGHTING, FIGURE/OBJECT POSITION,
CAMERA ANGLES, and SET DRESSING/PROPS, is there anything else
appropriate and/or interesting you’d like to add/observe about the parlor
scene/film for use in your analysis?)
3. PSYCHO – PARLOR SCENE
WORKSHEET ASSIGNMENT
5.) OVERALL ANALYSIS – NOW
take all these listed elements into
consideration and tell me what they
“mean” in the context of the VISUAL
LANGUAGE of the film, both
individually and collectively. What is
your SCENE ANALYSIS?
4. PSYCHO – PARLOR SCENE
WORKSHEET ASSIGNMENT
BE SURE TO ASK YOURSELF:
Why do you think Alfred Hitchcock
made the choices that he did?
What is he conveying through film
language about the characters and
story/plot of the film?
How do these specific choices
contribute to the overall storytelling?
5. LOOKING AHEAD
Bring your completed PARLOR SCENE
WORKSHEET next class for discussion
and credit
I am much more interested in quality
over quantity but your work should be at
least 250 words if you do all that is
required.
CHAPTER #4: EDITING