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)