post pfa304 all unit assignments latest 2015 [ all 8 units and midterm paper ]
Just as a reminder, this assignment should be between 400 and 750 words long. It's due anytime before Sunday at 11:59pm, as is every assignment for each week of this course.
Watch the trailer for just one in a long line of Cohen brothers masterpieces, 2010's True Grit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUiCu-zuAgM
After reading the notes above, identify and describe 3 different camera angles and 3 different shots in this trailer. Be sure to identify the action of the scene of each shot and each angle so we can follow along- ideally use the time code to tell us the minute and second.
Also, read every word of the Course Information for this class carefully twice.
PS: As an aside, if you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend it. IMHO, Hailee Steinfeld gave the performance of a lifetime, which is saying she has a bright future considering she was just thirteen at the time of filming. How she didn't win Best Supporting Actress for this role is baffling.
unit 2
You have a choice for this week. Complete only one of the two options below. (If you complete Option 2, you will receive extra credit at the end of the course.)
Option1:
http://vimeo.com/4176485
Our textbook discusses this incredible scene in Stanly Kubrick's classic (Arthur C. Clarke-adapted) science fiction film 2001. The passage talks about metaphor. The metaphor at this moment in the film is about leaps in human intelligence, which is central to the story. (Note the Vimeo clip above doesn't include the crucial next 2 seconds, which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI3s5fA7Zhk&feature=fvwrel) For this assignment, tell us about one other metaphor from a film that you've seen. Tell us about the film as well as the context for where and when the metaphor was used. Use your own personal analysis. If you do bring in other ideas from critics and experts, be sure to cite them properly, though remember, the vast majority of the words and ideas expressed should be your own. Your paper should be no less than 400 words.
Option 2:
Use the "Basic Elements of a Movie Script," the rest of this week's lecture, and the ideas reiterated in our text book to write a two page scene for a movie. The story can be anything of your choice but it should be the opening scene and run for about 400 to 500 words. Because it's the opening scene for the characters, you'll have to introduce them. You'll also have to give a sense of what your story is fundamentally about- what is the focus and what is happening (or what is being built up to happen later)? For tips on style, use the example in the lecture as a guide. And be sure to conclude by giving me a sense of what will or might happen next in your movie if the story were to move forward. So your submission might be a two page script plus one or two move paragraphs explaining what happened after you the scene you wrote.
unit 7
Watch the following short film, "The Root of the Problem": https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/06/22/root-problem/
Write a short paper investigating the following elements:
Consider the effectiveness of storyline.
Look at the background and set pieces.
Discuss the performance of individual actors.
Any edits that you thought were note-worthy?
Special features--anything memorable?
This assignment should be between 300 and 500 words long. Any outside sources (web, books, etc.) used must be properly cited.
unit 8
Assignment 8
Assignments submitted through this link will be checked using SafeAssign by Blackboard. Your work will not be used for any purpose other than preventing plagiarism in the University. Ownership of the intellectual property contained in your written work will not be transferred to any third party. Please submit your paper as a Word Document. If you have the 2010 version of Word, please save your paper in a previous version (Word 97-2003 document) as Safe Assign may not accept the most recent version.
Watch one of these Alfred Hitchcock film from start to finish: Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, Psycho, or The Birds.
You may use your text for this final analysis and information from this week's lecture.
Complete a 800 to 1200 word analysis by addressing SIX of the following areas of movie analysis that we have studied. In other words, you paper should have at least SIX paragraphs plus an introduction and a conclusion.
- What is the Genre (type) of this film?
- Describe the opening scene and what it tells you about the movie.
- Describe all elements of the plot.
- Complete a character analysis.
- Describe the sound effects and how it supports the movie.
- Describe dialogue and what it tells you about the characters.
- Describe the main character and the elements that develop the character--dress, actions, point of view.
- What age group is this movie targeting?
- Define the editing techniques.
- Comment on the actors and their portrayal of their respective characters.
- Describe one "Mise en Scene."
- Critique of this film by today's standards.
Mid-Term Writing Assignment:
First, write a very simple, seven-sentence story on any topic or subject using the following format. Note, this is not a fairy tale that you're writing, but rather the universal story structure for all stories.
1. Once up on a time...
2. And everyday...
3. But one day...
4. Because of that....
5. However...
6. Until finally...
7. And ever since then...
Again, I don't want you write a seven-sentence fairy tale-- unless you love that genre and really want to write one! Your story can be about anything and any characters that interest you.
You're the director. You will create a storyboard for this simple story that's at least 14 frames in length. A storyboard is a VERY simple set of drawings that lays out what the frames of your film will look like. A full, proper, feature length movie storyboard might be thousands of drawings long.
There are many different styles of storyboard-- here's one:http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/graphics/stickfigures.jpg
For this assignment you will create a very abbreviated storyboard for your whole story brought to film. Instead of making perhaps 100 drawings for a key scene, your assignment is simple to create 7 pairs of frames, one for each part of the story as you wrote it (so one for "once upon a time," one for "and every day," and so on). Your job is to illustrate the moment when you would use 7 different film transitions. The purpose is to explore how inter-connected stories and editing transitions are. Where might you use a fade out? Where might you use a jump cut? Why?
For example, perhaps in part 7 of your story, you have a special ring that the main character sees on the ground. You would draw a wide shot of the ring on the ground in square 7A and then a close up of that same ring in drawing 7B-- that's an example of an inset editing transition-- from 7A to 7B. A second example might be when one of your characters says, in drawing 3A, "What's that?!" while pointing to the sky. In drawing 3B we see a meteor coming toward the city. That's an example of a motivated cut, or a cutaway.
Draw each pair and label which editing transition is taking place as A moves to B.
So write your story first. Imagine what kind of scene might go somewhere in each of the seven parts. Draw 7 pairs of frames-- 14 drawings in total. Your drawings should be 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches and all 14 drawings should fit on one page, which you will scan in and submit. Submit your story and your drawings with editing transition labels under them. Add any extra details that you feel are essential. I should be able to see your drawings and their labels clearly.
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Solution: post pfa304 all unit assignments latest 2015 [ all 8 units and midterm paper ]