Assignment: Film Conversation

ELA 10-A (H) (Tri 2)
2022-03-14T23:11:51Z

Due: Mar 17, 2022 by 11:59pm

Final Film Unit Assignment

25 points

Due Thursday March 17

We have spent the last couple of weeks practicing how to “read” a film by looking at various elements of mise-en-scene and the choices filmmakers make to create meaning and other effects. For your final project, let’s put it all together! Here are the step-by-step directions:

Step 1: Choose a film from our list of options:

Film Title (and link) | Summary | Rating and Run Time

Whale Rider

(Watch the trailer here)

A Maori girl learns the traditions of her community, breaking gender norms. It’s really good; she rides a whale :)

1hr 45m

PG-13

The Fall

(Watch the trailer here)

In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastic story of five mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality blurs as the tale advances.

1hr 57m

R (for violence, also content warning for suicide discussion and attempt)

Parasite (must download file to view subtitles)

(Watch the trailer here)

When the struggling Kim family cons their way into jobs at the Park residence, things start to go terribly wrong… (DUN DUN DUN).

2 hr 12 m

R (for violence and some sexuality)

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

(Watch the trailer here)

In 19th century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover to deliver to safe keeping, but it is stolen, and the chase is on to find it. The search leads to the House of Yu where the story takes on a whole different level.(There’s a cool sword! They fly in the trees!)

2 hr

PG-13

Rafiki

(Watch the trailer here)

Kena works in her father's shop and awaits the start of nursing school, while Ziki passes the days hanging out with her friends and making up dance routines. Their paths cross when their fathers run against each other for seats in the County Assembly, and they find themselves drawn to each other. Soon their interest grows to affection and the girls find ways to love each other despite the ever-watching gaze of the neighborhood.

1 hr 23 m

Not rated (but I would say PG-13)

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

(Watch the trailer here)

A boy and his foster father become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded in the New Zealand wilderness. It’s hilarious!

1 hr 41 min

PG-13

Spirited Away

(Watch the trailer here)

A girl stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. She learns that the park is a resort for supernatural beings, and that she must work there to escape.

2 hr 5 min

PG

Persepolis

(Watch the trailer here)

Based on a graphic novel, the film traces a girl’s growth from child to rebellious, punk-loving teenager in Iran. In the background are the growing tensions of the political climate in Iran in the 70s and 80s, with members of her liberal-leaning family detained and then executed, and the background of the disastrous Iran/Iraq war.

1 hr 36 m

PG-13

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

(Watch the trailer here)

The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.It’s a four-hour long Bollywood musical about cricket but it is charming as hell.

3 hr 45 min

PG

Step 2: Choose a buddy (classmate, friend, family member, pet, imaginary friend) to watch the film with.

Step 3: Record your conversation about the film. You can do this by creating a voice recording or video of the two of you talking, in person or over Zoom. If using your phone, be sure to put it close to the computer speakers so I can hear you both clearly. You might want to do a test run to make sure, before you get into the conversation.

A good time to aim for with your conversation is about 7-10 minutes. Your discussion should touch on the following (but you can talk about other stuff too!):

1. (5 POINTS) What was this film about? I don’t mean the plot; I mean, what did the filmmakers want you to understand or think about? What makes you say so?

2. (15 POINTS) Consider the mise-en-scene elements we studied this trimester (camera angles, framing, shot types, sound design, color, lighting, etc). What were THREE things that stood out to you? What effect did they have on the overall film?

3. (5 POINTS) Did you like the film? Why or why not? What did you like or dislike? What changes would you make, if you were in charge? Who would you recommend it to?

Final Film Unit Assignment

25 points

Due Thursday March 17

We have spent the last couple of weeks practicing how to “read” a film by looking at various elements of mise-en-scene and the choices filmmakers make to create meaning and other effects. For your final project, let’s put it all together! Here are the step-by-step directions:

Step 1: Choose a film from our list of options:

Film Title (and link) | Summary | Rating and Run Time

Whale Rider

(Watch the trailer here)

A Maori girl learns the traditions of her community, breaking gender norms. It’s really good; she rides a whale :)

1hr 45m

PG-13

The Fall

(Watch the trailer here)

In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastic story of five mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality blurs as the tale advances.

1hr 57m

R (for violence, also content warning for suicide discussion and attempt)

Parasite (must download file to view subtitles)

(Watch the trailer here)

When the struggling Kim family cons their way into jobs at the Park residence, things start to go terribly wrong… (DUN DUN DUN).

2 hr 12 m

R (for violence and some sexuality)

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

(Watch the trailer here)

In 19th century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover to deliver to safe keeping, but it is stolen, and the chase is on to find it. The search leads to the House of Yu where the story takes on a whole different level.(There’s a cool sword! They fly in the trees!)

2 hr

PG-13

Rafiki

(Watch the trailer here)

Kena works in her father's shop and awaits the start of nursing school, while Ziki passes the days hanging out with her friends and making up dance routines. Their paths cross when their fathers run against each other for seats in the County Assembly, and they find themselves drawn to each other. Soon their interest grows to affection and the girls find ways to love each other despite the ever-watching gaze of the neighborhood.

1 hr 23 m

Not rated (but I would say PG-13)

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

(Watch the trailer here)

A boy and his foster father become the subjects of a manhunt after they get stranded in the New Zealand wilderness. It’s hilarious!

1 hr 41 min

PG-13

Spirited Away

(Watch the trailer here)

A girl stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. She learns that the park is a resort for supernatural beings, and that she must work there to escape.

2 hr 5 min

PG

Persepolis

(Watch the trailer here)

Based on a graphic novel, the film traces a girl’s growth from child to rebellious, punk-loving teenager in Iran. In the background are the growing tensions of the political climate in Iran in the 70s and 80s, with members of her liberal-leaning family detained and then executed, and the background of the disastrous Iran/Iraq war.

1 hr 36 m

PG-13

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

(Watch the trailer here)

The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.It’s a four-hour long Bollywood musical about cricket but it is charming as hell.

3 hr 45 min

PG

Step 2: Choose a buddy (classmate, friend, family member, pet, imaginary friend) to watch the film with.

Step 3: Record your conversation about the film. You can do this by creating a voice recording or video of the two of you talking, in person or over Zoom. If using your phone, be sure to put it close to the computer speakers so I can hear you both clearly. You might want to do a test run to make sure, before you get into the conversation.

A good time to aim for with your conversation is about 7-10 minutes. Your discussion should touch on the following (but you can talk about other stuff too!):

1. (5 POINTS) What was this film about? I don’t mean the plot; I mean, what did the filmmakers want you to understand or think about? What makes you say so?

2. (15 POINTS) Consider the mise-en-scene elements we studied this trimester (camera angles, framing, shot types, sound design, color, lighting, etc). What were THREE things that stood out to you? What effect did they have on the overall film?

3. (5 POINTS) Did you like the film? Why or why not? What did you like or dislike? What changes would you make, if you were in charge? Who would you recommend it to?