AS Film FM2 Section A: Pinewood Reports Profits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6499057.stm

AS FILM STUDIES: The Music / Films

1. Platoon

2. Star Wars
3. The Exorcist
4. Harry Potter
5. Little Miss Sunshine
6. Requiem for a Dream

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

8. Trainspotting
9. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Platoon, Go Ask Alice, The Game)

10. The Breakfast Club http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1I4q6lOpo
11. Trainspotting

12. Fight Club


13. Pulp Fiction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95hl53mmGEc&feature=related
14. American Psycho (Violence warning!!!)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwicLgOGJOI
15. Reservoir Dogs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTqecGbdCc&feature=fvst

A2 FILM STUDIES Monday 11th October

Sign your name on the register on the whiteboard or e-mail me to confirm your attendance.

Please ensure your poster or PowerPoint answering your URBAN STORIES question is completed and ready to hand in at the start of Wednesday's lesson.

AS FILM STUDIES: Lesson on Monday 11th October

AS FILM STUDIES MONDAY 11th OCTOBER


I am away on a visit today.
Write your name on the register sheet (This should be stuck on the white board.)


Please find a computer and complete the following work for next lesson.


On your blog I would like you to produce a CINEMATOGRAPHY entry answering the following:


1. What is cinematography?


2. SHOT SIZE:
Explain what is meant by shot size and give examples of 3 different shot sizes and what they would show. (eg Extreme Close Up could be of a person where only an eye is in the shot - you can find pictures to use as examples here.)


3. CAMERA ANGLE:
Where is the camera positioned for a low angle shot and what effect is created from a low angled shot?


Using google images find 1 example of a photo taken from a low angle and one from a high angle and add to your blog.


4. MOVEMENT:
What is the difference between pedding and panning?


What is the difference between tracking and crabbing?


5. COMPOSITION:
Using the Internet find 3 images that frame the subject effectively to make meaning.


What is rule of thirds and why is it often a preferred method for composing shots?

6. POSITIONING:
Explain the difference between subjective and objective positioning.
Using Let the Right One In give an example of when subjective positioning is effectively used. Describe the shot and explain why it is effective (what does it tell the audience?)


Use your booklets and notes to help you.

See you next lesson

Rachel

A2 FILM STUDIES Short Film

Created by Marlee Pryde and Ryan O'Connor, a beautifully shot film noir entitled The Package.

Film Recommendation: GREENBERG

Don't worry, it's not Bear! This is a superb indie film starring Ben Stiller (playing a serious role). I strongly recommend it.

A2 FILM STUDIES: Support Guide to FM3 Research Project

A2 film small scale research project

View more presentations from REHorner.

This (rather uninspiring) PowerPoint contains detailed support from the WJEC exam board for the research project.  Use it to help you complete your first draft.

AS FILM: Cinematography

This is a link to the website I showed you briefly in class to suggest how to compose shots.
http://www.better-photographs.com/photography-composition.html

AS FILM: MISE-EN-SCENE: 3 Point Lighting Technique

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=LFM8bHuYmhg&feature=related  A safe guide to 3 point lighting.

AS FILM: MISE-EN-SCENE: Set Design

Here's the full version of the behind the scenes of Bladerunner that we watched a section of in class. It's very useful to watch in order to appreciate how much thought and effort goes into designing sets and to give you a sense of the scale of full working film sets.

Hollywood's Biggest Stars 2010

http://money.uk.msn.com/news/celebrity-money/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=154700588&page=10
Hopefully this link will work.  If it doesn't, here's a run down of the best paid actors in Hollywood 2009-2010.

10. George Clooney £12.6 million
9. Brad Pitt £13.3 million
8. Tom Cruise £14.6 million
7. Robert Downey Jr £14.6 million
6. Daniel Radcliffe £16.6 million
5. Leonardo Di Caprio £18.6 million
4.Adam Sandler £26.6 million
3. Tom Hanks £30 million
2. Ben Stiller £38 million
1. Johnny Depp £50 million

AS FILM PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

AS students have been set the performance analysis task. If you're struggling for actors to study, here are some suggestions:
Sam Rockwell in the film Moon (Jones, 2009)

Paddy Considine in Dead Man's Shoes or A Room for Romeo Brass (both Meadows films)

Toby Kebbell in Dead Man's Shoes is another superb performance example.
Sticking with Meadows, Vicky McClure is a very enigmatic actress worth analysing. This is England would be a good film to use. Have a look at her here in this very short film The Stairwell shot on a mobile phone by Shane Meadows.
Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Mark Ruffalo in this, or Zodiac.

Robert Downey Junior in Tropic Thunder.
Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Carey Mulligan in An Education
Whoever you select, remember to ANALYSE the performance, don't just describe it, examine what is so effective about it. Think about the main areas we have discussed in class.

A2 Film: How To Start My Research Project

Copy of Planning a research investigation on Prezi

Introducing A2 Small Scale Film Research Project

Introducing the A2 FIlm Studies Research Project on Prezi

Introducing A2 Film Studies 2010

Up until the summer holidays Film Studies lessons will act as a "whistle-stop" tour of cinematic movements and moments in order to build up your knowledge and appreciation of cinematic styles.
We will be looking at auteurs and genre developments with the focus on David Lynch

and his postmodern, artfully styled films.
We will examine German Expressionism and Film Noir before looking at how these styles are still used in cinema today.


Finally we will aim to dip into realism in cinema and consider the techniques used in the film The Hurtlocker.  Lots to get through - but should be interesting!

A2 Film Research Areas

It's about time to start deciding what to pick for your research project at A2.

You have to select a critical approach from one of the following:
. star/performer
• genre
• auteur (in its broadest sense)
• social, political and cultural studies
• gender issues
• ethnicity
• institution
• technology

You then pick one film as your focus film to base your study on.

Finally you need to select at least 2 other films to relate it to.

You then devise a title that you will then investigate by conducting your own research.

You will produce a presentation script and powerpoint slides based on what you have found out.

You will also produce a catalogue of all the sources you have used with descriptions of their usefulness and relevance and include a few sources which you looked at but chose not to use with reasons.

So, what can you study?

Interesting past titles:
GENRE Romance for Men: using Knocked Up, Sin City, In Search of a Midnight Kiss this investigation studied how the romance genre is traditionally intended for female audiences. The investigation examined how many films for males have romantic narratives but cover them by creating hybrid films.


GENRE Vampires New Prey: using The Lost Boys, Twilight, Near Dark, Let the Right One In this investigation looked at how the vampire sub-genre manages to reinvent itself to maintain popularity and seek to find new audiences.

AUTEUR John Hughes Babyboomer Ideals in 80s Teen Comedies: using Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club this investigation looked at what recognisable elements were used in Hughes' films to suggest he s an auteur.

ETHNICITY Tackling racism in US cinema: using American History X, Do the Right Thing and Crash this investigation looked at issues of racism and whether cinema tackles or incites racism.

GENDER ISSUES: Breaking through the Glass Ceiling: using The Hurtlocker, American Psycho and Lost in Translation this investigation involved looking at gender inequalities in mainstream cinema and explored female directors who have surprised and succeeded in a male dominated industry.

Spike Jonze I'm Here

I'm here Made in association with Absolut Vodka, Jonze has directed a beautifully moving 30 minute love story.  The film documents the relationship between 2 robots and features gigs, loss of limbs and altruism.  The whole website experience is one to enjoy and shows how the Internet can be an excellent venue for film viewing.  You can enter the cinema, sit back and enjoy as the curtains open and the film begins. As expected with Jonze the soundtrack is superb. If you want a bigger experience you can use social networking sites to spread the word and  encourage all of your friends to watch it with you. You are required to be over 18 when entering the site, purely because of the alcohol association.  All that is required is a date of birth. Enjoy the trailer.

Congratulations Kathryn Bigelow!

Great news for Bigelow - to be awarded best director at the 2010 Oscars. Female directors are still under represented in Hollywood (and mainstream cinema) so it truly is an achievement and it's great to be able to celebrate and promote the great works of females in cinema.
Strange Days is an early film directed by Bigelow and is well worth watching.

The Hurt Locker is an excellent piece of cinema. A tense war film with a difference as the focus is on the threat of roadside bombs. The performances of the 3 main characters are all superb.

Other female directors worth a mention: Ondi Timoner, Catherine Hardwicke, Sofia Coppola, Jane Campion, Lynne Ramsay, Andrea Arnold.

Short Film Fun

Visit Empire magazine Jameson Awards 2010. Reproducing a famous film in 60 seconds. Donnie Darko and Goodfellas are personal favourites.
www.empireonline.com/awards2010/donein60seconds/

Also, have a look on youtube for Spike Jonze's classic How They Get There - A great short film which sets out to answer how shoes end up in the gutter starring skater and artist Mark Gonzales. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2hTt2FxIYw

Films for a Rainy Day

Below are a few trailers of films that are worth seeing. All are available on DVD.
Other recommendations include:
La Haine (Kassovitz 1995)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spottless Mind and The Science of Sleep (Gondry)
Lost in Translation
Moon
The Return

In Search of a Midnight Kiss (Holdridge, 2007)

Loud Quiet Loud - A Film About The Pixies (2004 Cantor & Galkin)

Dig! (Timoner, 2004)

Happiness of the Katakuris (Miike 2001)

Mesrine (Parts 1 & 2) Richet, 2009 DVD