This document provides an introduction to a film studies unit that aims to:
1) Understand how films are made for audiences and create meaning for them
2) Explore industry practices and apply film theory
3) Inform students' own film production
The unit will help students:
1) Analyze films using different approaches
2) Understand film production contexts
3) Grasp the relationship between filmmakers and audiences
To succeed, students should actively watch films, think critically, and recognize multiple valid interpretations. The document also discusses genre theory and conventions, using examples to illustrate how genres communicate and are marketed.
Class lecture introducing basic Documentary Film concepts and setting up information to prepare students to write a simple treatment. Most information from Bill Nichols and Anthony Friedmann
Class lecture introducing basic Documentary Film concepts and setting up information to prepare students to write a simple treatment. Most information from Bill Nichols and Anthony Friedmann
An over view of the Game Show brief (Unit 16: Film and Video Editing Techniques / Unit 21: Understanding Video Technology), including pass, merit distinction criteria.
1. Film Studies
Introduction to Unit 25: Film Studies
Aims of Unit 25:
• Understand how films are created for specific audiences.
• Understand how films make meaning for those audiences.
• Exploration of industry practices and the application of a
range of theoretical approaches.
• Inform and enhance your production activity.
2. Learning Outcomes
LO1: Be able to apply different analytical approaches to
films.
LO2: Understand the relationship between films and their
production contexts.
LO3: Understand the relationship between producers and
audiences.
LO4: Understand the relationship between audiences and
films.
3. Assessment Criteria
1.1: Apply approaches to analysing films with some
appropriate use of subject terminology.
1.2: Describe the relationship between films and their
production contexts with some appropriate use of subject
terminology.
1.3: describe the relationship between producers and film
audiences with some appropriate use of subject
terminology
1.4: Describe the relationship between audiences and films
with some appropriate use of subject terminology.
4. Unit Success
To succeed in this unit you need to:
• Watch a lot of films!
• Be an active viewer, not a passive film viewer.
• Understand film as a powerful medium.
• Be analytical.
• Know that several different theories can be used on one
film.
5. Genre Theory
• ‘Genre’ literally means ‘type’.
• Genre helps us catergorise films.
Task:
• Look at the following trailers and consider which genre
they belong.
• Make notes as to why you think it belongs to a specific
genre.
7. Trailer #3 Trailer #4
Speed Ace Ventura: Pet Detactive
8. Why is genre important?
• Good way to communicate meanings in film.
• Makes the information in films more controllable.
• Makes characters more predictable.
• Genres are used to create meaning.
• Very easy to market a ‘genre’ film.
• Audience knows what to expect – REPETATIVE.
9. The Language of Film
• How do films ‘speak’ to us?
• Codes / Conventions? The familiar and predictable forms and
techniques.
• Setting? Where is the film set, geographically, urban, rural.
• Props? Symbolic props – Crucifix, knife…
• Costume? Period costumes, well dressed, ‘cheap’ clothing.
• Lighting? Gloomy, sunny…
• Sound? Happy, atmospheric, SFX.
• Iconography? Eiffel Tower, specific props.
• MISE-EN-SCENE: What is in the scene.
10. Case study: HORROR
• ‘Horror has often been the most peculiar and the
most predictable of genres’ (Hutchings)
• What is your favourite horror genre?
• Consider the list on the previous page and
consider why your chosen film can be defined as
‘horror’
11. Horror synopsis
Task:
• Write the synopsis for a made up horror film.
• What makes it a horror?
• Again, think about, storyline, characters, setting…
• Find an image to accompany your horror film
synopsis.
12. Arguments against genre
• Clear, identifiable and sustainable boundaries?
• Sub-genres?
• Hybrid genres?
• Created by critics, not filmmakers?
• ‘Ultimately, perhaps we need to remember that the
concept of genre is a little like stereotyping. Once you
start investigating real people in all their complexity,
stereotypes tend to fall apart; similarly, once you
start analysing a complex media text, generic labels
become fairly meaningless.’ – Media Magazine