Introduction to Film Study: Analyzing Films for Meaning
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Description
This zip folder contains 4 things all pertaining to analyzing film to make meaning of the visual text. This works well for any movie or television episode, although I use them during a mini-unit on The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street for The Twilight Zone. The general focus is to pay attention to different film techniques, such as distance, angles, movement, editing, and lighting in order to understand how filmmakers tell a story.
1) Film Booklet: This one page front and back handout can be folded in half and distributed to students. Using images and definitions of 14 different terms, this guide makes for an excellent reference tool that students enjoy using. Terms include establishing shot, long shot, medium shot, close-up, high angle, eye level, low angle, point-of-view, zoom, pan, tilt, cut, soft lighting, and hard lighting.
2) Personal Favorite Graphic Organizer: This one page graphic organizer asks students to find a clip from one of their own favorite television shows on YouTube to analyze the piece. This is a high interest activity that gets students excited to use their new skill of analyzing film techniques with a show familiar to them. I like to start out the unit with this activity. If there is time, I like to have students share their clip and analyze it with the class to give students some extra examples.
3) Film Organizer: This one page front and back graphic organizer is to help students while viewing a film of your choosing. It asks students to identify the film term, describe the details of the scene, and analyze what extra meaning is attached to the scene because of the director's choices.
4) Storyboard: This one page front and back graphic organizer asks students to imagine, illustrate, and label for film techniques their own interpretation of a classic fairy tale. This helps students become the filmmaker by analyzing how to tell a story through different images. It also asks students to write a reflection of their piece explaining their choices.
Other Products: If you're looking for a quick front and back worksheet on directorial choices in films, please see my other product:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Engaging-in-Film-Criticism-Analyzing-Movies-for-Directorial-Choices-3591124
