The coursework unit gives you the opportunity to explore how film works to engage audiences. You get to design your own film sequence, and to apply your thoughts, ideas and concepts in a personal reflective analysis and micro study essay.

This section will provide you with all the information that you need to complete your coursework successfully. It is to be used in conjunction with class based work, lectures, presentations, screenings, field trips and debates.




This unit focuses on the micro features of film and the construction of meaning and emotion.

Your understanding will be developed through:

 

1. Studying micro features of film: mise-en-scène, performance, cinematography, editing and sound

2. Identifying how these construct meanings and contribute to the sensory impact of film

3. Reflecting on individual response to micro features of film as a means of exploring the     relationship between film and spectator

4. Creating a sequence to demonstrate how micro features produce meaning/s and response/s.

  Assessment  

 

An Analysis of a Film Extract and a Creative Project

 

Please read the examples of these before starting to write your own. See coursework examples - Written Analysis, and the 3 options for the Creative Project: the illustration and visualisation of an Imaginary Film Sequence, the Photographic Storyboard, the Extended Step-Outline and the Video Sequence. You will reflect on your work, intended meanings and actual responses using the macro elements, narrative and genre, and micro elements as tools for analysis in the Reflective Analysis

 

  An analysis of a film extract - 1500 words (30 marks)  

 

Candidates are required to explore how one or more of (the micro elements) mise-en-scène, performance, cinematography, editing, and sound construct meaning and provoke response in a film extract. We often refer to this as the ‘micro essay’• Candidates are encouraged to support their work with illustrative visual material. (Photos or internet images, DVD screen grabs are brilliant)•

 

Recommended length of film extract to analyse: approximately 3-5 minutes (depending on the complexity of the extract).

 

Please contact the BLOG and tell others your name or nickname and what film you are thinking of writing your analysis on. - hopefully we can share ideas and readings here, we can help each other out. Yay, study-buddies and all that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Project:   

aims & context, film sequence or short film & reflective analysis (50 marks)


Candidates are required to create a film sequence that demonstrates how the micro features of film construct meaning. This comprises three elements:

(i) Aims and context
A clarification of the aims and context of the sequence or short film to be completed on the appropriate coursework cover sheet.
    
Please note: the 'Aims and Context' must be completed on the appropriate cover sheet, otherwise the Creative Project and accompanying Reflective Analysis cannot be adequately assessed.


 

 

 

 

(ii) Film Sequence or Short Film – CHOOSE ONE OF THREE OPTIONS
The film sequence may either be an extract from a longer film, e.g. an opening sequence or a complete short film, with the emphasis on visual communication rather than on dialogue. It may take one of the following forms:

    • an extended step outline of 1000 words (representing 5-8 scenes, 1000 words of scene and description and micro element detail)

 

See exmples here:
 

OR
    • a photographed (digital or photo-chemical) storyboard of between 10 and 25 different shots (some of which may be repeated and there's a 10% +/- tolerance on length) plus up to 5 found shots (shots which would be difficult to photograph or where locations need to be established).
    The 5 found shots must be acknowledged.

See exmples here:

 

OR
    • a film sequence or short film of approximately 2 minutes and containing between 10 and 25 different shots (1-3 minutes is fine, some shots may be repeated).

 

See exmples here:

 

Group work is permitted for the filmmaking option (maximum 4).
Groups of candidates should take primary responsibility for – without precluding collaboration - one or more micro features of the sequence (such as camerawork, editing or sound). Each candidate must identify their role and the micro aspect they are responsible for on the appropriate coversheet.

 

 

 

(iii) Reflective analysis approximately 750 words or equivalent (10 marks)
The reflective analysis should select key micro features of the sequence and demonstrate how they make meaning(s) and aim to provoke response(s) in audiences. Candidates working in a group should focus on the construction and impact of their chosen micro aspect.

 

See exmples here:

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout this unit, the emphasis will be on the interaction of film and spectator.

In relation to the above, the 'interaction of film and spectator‘ should be seen primarily as the study of the interaction of a film text and the audience as a communication process.

Interpretation of, for example, character and theme must be balanced by a consideration of the response to the sensory qualities of, for example, shot composition and soundtrack.

 

The basic distinction between the two areas of assessment is that in FM1 about 70% of the written work is concerned with the Micro elements and 30% with the Macro, for FM2 this is reversed, the exam having more leaning to the Macro (70%) and the remainder for Micro details. This is not set in stone, just a rough guide and there will be inevitable overlap.