1. Assignment brief
Qualification Level 3 90 Credit Diploma in Creative Media Production
Unit number and title
L3 Unit 26 –Film Studies
Assessor name Paul Rossington
Date issued 3rd October
Hand in deadline 17th
October
Assignment title PR1: How Do We Analyse Film?
The purpose ofthis assignmentis to:
Be able to apply different analytical approaches to films
Scenario: FILMFACTZ, a new film webzine aimed ata target marketof 16 to 25 year olds who are studying or
working in the film industry and plans to go into production in spring 2017.The webzine will be published both
online and in print if it is successful.You have been commissioned to research and create a feature article about
how media analysts employdifferent methods to understand genre.You will carry out research into a range of films
and compare genre films with the work of auteur directors. The webzine wishes to cover a range of issues and
genres which appeal to young people, so your article should be pitched accordingly.
Introduction:
State that there a number of different ways that film can be analysed.
Two such ways are via the analysis ofa film’s genre,or genre analysis, and another method is
application of auteur theory.
State that to analyse genre,film theorists can apply
Lacey’s repertoire of elements…..
Daniel chandler’s theoryof…..
Steve Neale’s theoryof…..
Part 1: Leon and James Bond
Include analysis ofposters,using Lacey’s repertoire ofelements
Include your analysis ofthe film Leon, using Lacey’s repertoire ofelements and quoting examples where you can apply the
theories of Daniel Chandler and Steve Neale
Compare Leon to a more generic example of action thriller,such as a James Bond movie.(use analysis ofa Bond Movie trailer)
Part 2: Mean Girls & Napoleon Dynamite
Write about the film Mean Girls, applying Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements butfocussing on narrative style
Compare the film Mean Girls to Napoleon Dynamite, analysing similarities and differences.Apply Steve Neale’s
theory of repetition and difference to Napoleon dynamite.
2. Part 3: Auteur Theory
Explain:
What is meantby the term auteur?
Explain how film analysts applyauteur theory by considering whether a filmmaker is:
The principal creator of a film (e.g. Tarantino)
A filmmaker who demonstrates a particular style (e.g. Tim Burton)
A filmmaker who demonstrates innovation (e.g.James Cameron)
A filmmaker who values artistic meritover commercial success (e.g.Luc Besson)
A filmmaker who makes films with similar themes (e.g.Martin Scorsese)
Provide BRIEF reference to AT LEAST TWO of the directors above,after making notes in class based on your teacher’s
presentation
Now state why you think the director of Napoleon Dynamite, Jared Hess, is an auteur
Conclusion: Summarise how the two methods (genre and auteur theory) can lead to a wider appreciation offilm and help
inform film analysts,supported bya couple of brief examples from films you have seen or studied on this part of the course
Illustrate your assignmentwith movie posters and screen shots ofmovies from you tube, throughoutand where necessary
This provides evidence Unit 26 – P1, M1, D1
Evidence checklist Tick
You will complete a feature article with:
An explanation of the different ways a film can be analysed
Analysis of the film Leon with comparisons to a James Bond movie
Analysis of the similarities and differences between Mean Girl and Napoleon Dynamite
An explanation of how to apply auteur theory, as well as a definition of auteur and a reference to a t leasttwo auteur
directors
A summaryofthe reasons whyyou feel Jared Hess is an auteur
Your conclusion
Sources of information
Unit 26:
