This document provides feedback on a student's microanalysis essay of the opening scenes of Gangs of New York. It offers several suggestions to improve the essay, such as giving it a title, using illustrative stills, applying film theory like editing and mise-en-scene, justifying comments with evidence and analysis rather than general statements, focusing the analysis, and explaining how the micro elements provoke an audience response. The feedback also critiques an example from the essay for being too vague and simplistic. It provides tasks for the student to redefine analysis, rewrite the example with greater detail and analysis using theory, and highlight parts of an exemplar essay that construct meaning and provoke an audience response.

1. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
• Give your essay a proper title, eg. “How Martin Scorsese uses Editing and
Sound in the opening 5 minutes of Gangs of New York (2002) to construct
meaning and provoke a response”.
• Use stills and other illustrative material in support of your comments.
• Don’t make generalisations or statements. You have to discuss your points;
you have to apply knowledge and a theoretical approach to your comments.
• You have to justify your comments by adding some critical commentary.
Prove that what you are stating is actually the case.
• Don’t use words like ‘might’, or ‘could’. You are meant to be an informed
specialist, confident in your understanding. So write like one.

2. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
• Don’t use words like “relaxed”, e.g., “…..the sun is shining, this gives us a
more relaxed response’. It doesn’t make sense.
• Or “mellow’. These words are not appropriate for describing the impact of a
micro element.
• Apply the theory; rule of thirds, semiotics, narrative, genre etc.
It is not enough to make simple statements. E.g. …..”The man is wearing dark
clothes which show the sadness in his life and also the fact that he himself is
not a good character”. This is just a statement and is not supported with any
evidence of understanding of film theory.
• Stay focussed on your specific micro features. If you are analysing camera
and mise-en-scene then don’t start discussing the use of sound.
• A key part of the essay is how these micro elements “provoke a response”.
Almost entirely ignored.

3. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
• It is not enough to simply describe the micro features and then add a brief
explanation/analysis or even no explanation/analysis of how these micro
elements are used or what they ‘might/could;’ mean.
TASK:
1.Define the term ‘analysis’ in your own words.
The ‘Oxford Dictionary’ definition reads as follows;
“detailed examination of elements or structure”.
At the highest level (4) the mark scheme requires you to demonstrate;
• “ an excellent knowledge and confident understanding of the micro features of
the film
• “ ability to refer in detail and with accuracy… how micro features produce
meaning(s)
• “high levels of analysis of the production of meaning(s) through the interaction
of film and spectator
• that this “interaction between film and spectator will be perceived as complex,
subtle and resistant to simplistic assumptions”.

4. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
TASK
2. Read the following point and commentary about an example from Martin
Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York”, (2002) and identify why it is not a
complete analysis. Using your knowledge of the scene re-write the point
adding greater detail and in depth analysis that applies film theory, uses
subject specific terminology and demonstrates an excellent knowledge and
confident understanding of the micro features under analysis.
“The editing starts off slowly as the fight spreads throughout the gangs and is
accompanied by slower music. As the intensity of the fight increases so
does the pace of the editing and the music. This makes it more dramatic
for the audience and we understand that these are brutal times.”.
This is too vague, too simplistic. It should read like this.

5. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
TASK:
3. Now read through the exemplar essay you have been given. Pay
particular attention to how constant reference to the interaction between
film and audience is made.
Using different colours highlight the parts in the essay that
• EXPLAINS how meaning is being constructed and
• applies KNOWLEDGE of film theory and ANALYSES how this provokes
a response in the AUDIENCE
Now look closely at the mark scheme. Read through the level descriptors and
identify the reasons why this essay received the marks it did.

6. AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK
TASK:
4. Re-draft your essay, paying particular attention to the advice and learning
objectives that we have covered. Be sure to make your comments
detailed and analytical and include visual images to illustrate your points.
Remember you must discuss how the audience respond to the use of the
chosen micro features.
Once you have completed your second draft, using different colours highlight
the parts in the essay that
• EXPLAINS how meaning is being constructed and
• applies KNOWLEDGE of film theory and ANALYSES how this provokes a
response in the AUDIENCE
This will help you to see just how efficient, knowledgeable and analytical your
essay is.
Finally, using the mark scheme, give your essay a level and a mark. Try to be
as accurate as you can.