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Things We Wouldn’t Know Without the Movies
1. During all police investigations, it will be necessary to visit a strip club at least once.
2. All beds have special L-shaped sheets which reach a woman’s armpit, but only waist level on the man beside her.
3. The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. No one will ever think to look for you there and
you can travel anywhere without difficulty.
4. Television news bulletins usually contain a story that affects you personally at that precise moment.
5. A single match will be sufficient to light up a room the size of Wrigley Field.
6. A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty.
7. It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts, your enemies will wait patiently
to attack you one by one by dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their
predecessors.
8. They will also wait while you change into your super-hero costume.
9. An electric fence powerful enough to kill a dinosaur will cause no lasting damage to an eight-year-old child.
10. If staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noise in their most revealing underwear.
11. It is not necessary to say hello or goodbye when beginning or ending a phone conversation.
12. Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it is not necessary to speak the language, a German accent
will do.
13. Even when driving down a straight road it is necessary to turn the wheel vigorously every few moments.
14. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window in Paris.
15. You’re very likely to survive any battle in any war—unless you make the mistake of showing someone a picture of
your sweetheart back home.
16. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating, but will wince when a woman tries to clean his
wounds.
17. If being chased through town, you can usually take cover in a passing St. Patrick’s Day parade—at any time of the
year.
Cinema in the Classroom
The Film Research Unit
Objective
• You will research and review a specific genre
of films or a particular director.
• Your group will present its research in a 45-
minute presentation, presentations begin
May 21st.
• No more than five groups per class period are
possible due to time restrictions.
• Genres may not be repeated unless significant
differences exist between thesis
statements/films studied. Teacher approval is
required.
– Ex: Animated films: Toy Story and Finding Nemo vs.
Akira and Appleseed
Progress Reports
• Progress Reports will be used to
measure your group’s progress
throughout the project.
• They will be due periodically, per the
calendar and the class wiki.
• Please review them BEFORE they are
due as all of them require planning and
preparation and cannot be completed
during the class period they are due.
Final Result
• The culmination of this project will be a 45-
minute presentation of your findings by your
group. You are expected to rehearse on your
own time as well as during a two-day period
allotted for rehearsal immediately following
the AP exam.
• Failure to make use of your allotted
presentation time will significantly lower your
grade.
• You will be graded according to three rubrics:
– Teacher Evaluation (100 major grade)
– Student Evaluation of Group Members (2x daily
grade)
• Will affect your final grade: if your group members say you
only contributed 50%, that’s all you get of the final grade.
• Ex: Group Score: 90 x Your contribution: 75% = 68
– Student Evaluation of presentation: daily grade
Schedule
4/9: Defining Your Project
4/16: Précis/ Criticism Due
4/23: Progress Report 1 Due
4/30: Progress Report 2 Due
5/7: Progress Report 3 Due
5/13-5/20: Rehearsal Days (class time)
5/18: Binder Due
5/21: Presentations begin
* Any extra time we have in class will be yours to
work on the FRU, but do not count on having
whole class days.
Genres
• Anarchic/Zany Comedy • Animated Films
• Auteur Film (director study) • Dark Comedy
• Biography • Buddy Film
• Coming-of-age Films • Caper Film
• Fantasy (Live action)
• Political Thriller
• Gangster Film
• Epic
• Homage Films
• Film A Clef • Mystery/Thriller
• Horror/Monster Film • Parody/Spoof Films
• Martial Arts/Kung Fu Films • Special Effects
• Nostalgia/American Films • War Film
• Social Consciousness/Expose Films • Westerns
• Weepie/Tearjerker • Foreign Films
• Film Noir • Musicals
Research:
aka « The Binder »
The Binder
Each group must have a one inch (or larger)
binder. All FRU assignments are to be placed
in the binder before turning it in to your
teacher.
The cover of the binder should list the following:
– Genre/Director researched
– AP English 3, Period ____
– Names of Group Members
Defining Your Project
Due: April 9th
1. Read Approaches to Film Analysis
2. Draft a formal definition of your genre, including:
a) A brief history of the genre: This should be written in paragraph form, and
should include at least two appropriately cited outside sources.
b) A description of the approach your group intends to use in analyzing the
films*
a) You are expected to do Formalist Analysis, but should also consider using one of
the additional types to focus your presentation.
3. List A: Group Members
4. List B: 10 movie titles (from your genre) from 1980-2009
5. List C: 5 movie titles (from your genre) released before 1980.
6. *Working* Works Cited: beginning with the sources used for your
formal definition, and for the information about your movies.
a) This will change by the end of the project. Do not forget to update it as you
go along.
The Formalist Approach
to Film Analysis
• Formalist Analysis goes much deeper than plot and acting
• Assumes the merits of a film lie in its structure. What do we get out of a movie that
we might not from a book, or just hearing someone tell us the story?
• Asks the question: How well are the film’s goals achieved by the overall look and
feel of the film?
• Examines the technical aspects of the film:
• Camera Angles: yes, these affect your ‘view of the film.’ EX: A director can restrict the shot so
that the audience is unable to see what the character is looking at; he can film from a high
angle to give the audience a sense of ‘watching over’ a depressed character
• Special Effects: not just whether or not they are used, but were the “Ka-Booms!” in the right
place? Was the lighting used to create a sense of impending doom, or tranquil reflection? Did
the makeup show every wrinkle on the old woman’s face, making her seem world-weary, or
did it give the impression that she was covering up her wrinkles, trying to mask her advanced
age?
• Cinematography: how does the style of filming (sweeping vistas, intense close-ups) reflect the
style of the director? How does it enhance the telling of the story? (think about your appeals
here!)
• Music: this is an intense and vital part of a film. Do NOT leave out a discussion of the
director’s use of music to enhance or control the mood of the film. It acts on the audience’s
perception and plays with their emotions (EX: building tension with the pace or pitch of music,
adding to a sense of calm or fear with a total absence of music).
Criticism and Precis
Due: April 16th
1. READ Precis Instructions
2. Film Criticism: Each member of the group must locate,
print out, and annotate a substantive article of film
criticism related to your chosen genre/director.
– These articles should be scholarly. Random internet
resources are not considered credible or scholarly.
– Simple, brief movie reviews will receive a failing grade.
– You will need to use at least three in your presentation.
– Articles from books of film criticism are preferable to
internet sources.
• Check the library here and Barbara Bush library at
Cypresswood and Stuebner!
• Gale Database: go to
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/carlwuns
– From school: school
– From home: home
• EBSCO: go to http://search.ebscohost.com
– User/Pass: wunsche/wunsche
Criticism and Precis
Due: April 16th
3. Précis: Each member must write a bibliographic entry for
the assigned film(s) and a précis for his/her chosen
article, including a citation for the film review used.
4. Assignment pieces (see instructions) are to be placed in
alphabetical order, according to the bibliographic entry,
in the binder.
Progress Report #1
Due: April 23
Answer all of the following questions as they apply to your
group. Then insert the report in the front pocket of
your folder.
1. What is the narrowed focus of your presentation? In
other words, what will your group illustrate and prove?
2. List all of the titles of movies some or all of your group
members have previewed so far. Which of these films
was made before 1980?
3. List the titles of any additional film criticism you have
found. Be sure to place an annotated copy of and
bibliography of this criticism in the brads preceding the
original criticism.
4. List the scheduled times your group will meet before
Progress report #2 is due.
5. Tell me—in writing—of any concerns which have arisen
within your group. Remember everyone should be a
contributing member of the group. If not, an
individually written research paper will be assigned for
a non-contributing group member.
Progress Report #2
Due: April 30
Answer all of the following questions as they apply to your group. Then insert the
report in the front pocket of your folder.
Thesis: (See Sample Thesis Document)
1. (a) Describe at least two scenes from different films which illustrate your preliminary
thesis idea.
(b) Comment on how each scene illustrates your thesis idea.
Movie 1: a)
b)
Movie 2: a)
b)
Movie 3: a)
b)
2. Write 2 direct quotations from your critical articles which relate specifically to your
thesis idea.
a)
b)
3. Explain the sequence of your presentation. Who is explaining each part? In what
order? How many minutes is each part?
4. Tell me the time, date, and place of your next 2 group meetings:
a)
b)
5. What else do you need to tell me about your group’s progress?
Progress Report #3
Due: May 7
Make sure all of the items are included in
your report. Then insert the report in the
front pocket of your folder.
1. Final Thesis
2. Topic Sentence Outline
3. Work’s Cited Page with film titles
Remember, you must incorporate a
minimum of three sources of film criticism
in your outline/presentation.
Filmography and Outline
Due: May 18 (with Binder)
• Filmography: Now that you have
selected your final film lineup, you
need to create a filmography for each
of your chosen films.
– Filmographies are synopses of film
information including:
• Summary of the plot
• Credits (actors, directors, composers, editors)
• Awards
• Outline: You must create a detailed
outline of your presentation and
include it in your binder. I should be
able to use it to follow your
presentation!
Rubrics
Print out:
– One Teacher Rubric- in the back pocket of your
binder (hint: you can use this as a checklist)
– One Group Member Evaluation per group
member- fill out and turn in on the day of your
presentation
Presentation:
aka « The Show »
Presentation Guidelines:
General Info
• PRACTICE!!!
• All group members should have a meaningful part in the
presentation
• All group members should have a FULL COPY of the
presentation the day your group presents. If Joe doesn’t show,
you still have to go!
• Show some enthusiasm! Get dressed up! Do a Dance!
• Make sure we can hear you. If your group members can’t
understand or hear you in rehearsal, speak up!
• Make Eye Contact!
• Get your audience involved! (Required, by the way)
Presentation Guidelines:
Film Clips
– 20 minutes maximum
– Clips must be directly relevant to your discussion
– Must show at least one film prior to 1980
– Quality:
• Must not be a movie preview (see discussion about
formalist analysis)
• Must be stored on your computer. If you are using
YouTube, convert and save the clip before the
presentation;
• Must WORK the day of your presentation (practice!)
Presentation Guidelines:
Content/Discussion
• Your thesis should reflect your creativity and
research!
• Commentary is instructive and well informed
• Discussion does not feel disconnected from
film clips
• Evidence of researched formal criticism
– Quotations that add depth to the presentation
• Purposeful conclusion that relates directly to
thesis
• The number one, most obvious mistake
students make year after year is not
practicing.
• If you rehearse, you:
– Know when you’re supposed to talk
– Know if your clips aren’t working
– Know when something just doesn’t make sense
– Know if you are anywhere near the time
requirements
Helpful Websites
www.filmsite.org
www.imdb.com
www.library.yale.edu/humanities/film/genres.html
www.oscars.com
www.ravecentral.com
www.filmjournal.com
www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html
www.nottingham.ac.uk/film/journal/contents.htm
www.sensesofcinema.com
www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/index.html
www.wmm.com (women make movies)
www.mrqe.com (movie review query engine)
www.afi.com (American Film Institute)
