Writing about Film

As with studying written texts, there are conventions (rules of thumb) for doing this. One simple way of finding out what these are is to look at published commentaries. Newspaper and maga ine reviews may be helpful, as may broadcast (radio and television) film review programs. !n your writing, what you should not do is simply retell narrative ("what happens#the story"). $elow are some things you must to include. !f you discuss your films in terms of all of these, and finish with a personal %udgment (did you like it, and why&) you will not go wrong.

Thriller/Horror Genre (Define the genre)

'efine this genre of film and explain how the film you selected to write about fits this genre.

Who is the Director? (Give a brief summary of the Director)

!n the case of a novel you can see from the cover who wrote it, and you probably know the names of authors such as (harles 'ickens, )nid $lyton, *onald 'ahl or +udy $lume. !n the case of a film the person who gets the credit is chiefly the director. ,his person has overall artistic control (or is supposed to). -ou should refer to the director. finding out who he or she is should be one of your first tasks. /ive a brief, informative summary of the director. !nclude important contributions to the film industry.

What is the film "about"? (Brief Summary of lot)

-ou should summari e story but not retell it in detail. more than 011 words is excessive2 if you find yourself writing "then" or "next" you are probably writing too much. ,he saying "more is less" applies here.

!haracters an" characteri#ation (Choose at least one character and go into detail)
,he (fictitious) people in the story are the characters, whom you should identify by their names in the film. 3hen you first mention them (but not again) you should give the name of the actor#actress who plays the part, in brackets, after the character4s name, in this way2 5rs. 'oubtfire (*obin 3illiams). -ou should write about the principal characters, commenting on such things as their circumstances and situation, their personality and anything else which engages our sympathy (liking) or disapproval. Characterization refers to what the actor#actress or writer does to establish what the character is like2 this means such things as physical actions or gestures, habits of speech or favorite sayings.

Setting (Describe the ma$or setting an" ho% it contribute" to the film&s sus ense)
As important as the human characters in many cases, and often more so, are places where the action occurs both as identifiable locations and for what they represent or the feelings associated with them. !n some kinds of film (the road movie, the 3estern) the setting is grand and panoramic while in others (like horror films) it may be narrow and claustrophobic. !n Alfred 6itchcock4s 7sycho the motel where the mad killer, Norman $ates, lives is almost a character. Other settings which are vital to the films in which they are found are *ick4s caf8 in (asablanca (originally to be titled )verybody (omes to *ick4s), or /otham (ity (,im $urton again) in $atman and $atman *eturns

Getting starte"
Now all you need to do is choose your film and discuss it in the ways listed above. -ou may wish to study two and compare their treatment of each of the elements above. 5ake sure you reread the opening paragraph to be sure you are including everything you need for this review. (0 page minimum, double9space if typed) OR you may complete this assignment www.edu.glogster.com :chool (ode2 ;A$';A.
CHOOSE between Psycho, The Birds, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, or Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte . Do not choose a film you have already written about.