Film Clip Analysis guidelines

AS Internally assessed work – The Written Analysis

Students should ask questions of a film extract such as

- How does this sequence create suspense?

- How does the sequence move me emotionally?

- Why do I identify strongly with a particular character?

- Why do I find the message(s) contained in the extract so powerful?

In being encouraged to look for technical answers in the micro features of film form and their deployment by the film’s creators, students are also being asked to think about their role as spectators.

At the centre of the analysis is the interface between the formal systems at work within the film (which may be intended to produce ‘preferred readings’ and responses) and the student as spectator.

A question that arises from this is how universal are responses – even if it seems clear that the filmmakers’ deployment of micro features has been with the precise intention of triggering the same response in all members of the audience?

What is a "Written Analysis"?

For the purposes of this unit a written analysis is a detailed study of one or more micro aspects of a short extract of film. The questions to be asked focus on how the film communicates and the kinds of requirements it makes of the spectator.

The bottom line is that an analysis is more than a commentary. It is not enough to identify and describe in formal / technical terms how micro elements are deployed in an extract of 3-5 minutes or so. It is necessary to address the question of how the strategies used by the filmmakers impact on the spectator – with the possibility of a divergence between the effect intended by the filmmakers and its actual effect on the spectator.

Making a start.

It is suggested that students start work on an extract by asking themselves – what is happening to me as I watch this?

Then to ask why, and then to ask how far it is the use of one or more micro features that is responsible for my response?

It is in answering the second and third questions that a study of film form is undertaken.

A good answer finds a balance between generalising about the audience and identifying aspects of response that are particular to the individual. (Where there is a variation between what appears to be the intended audience response and the student’s actual response, this needs to be accounted for – and may be the very heart of the discussion.)

Micro elements and extract Analysis

It is worth noting that an entire written analysis may focus on just one of the elements of micro film form listed – see BLOG

Students are encouraged to use frame-grabs to reduce the amount of basic description

required and to increase the possibility of close referencing of visual features.

This means that within 1500 words a detailed approach is possible.

A degree of superficiality will become apparent in the work of weaker students who try to engage with more than one micro element. It is worth encouraging students to look to producing depth in exploring one micro element, rather than taking a broad approach encompassing several micro elements and finding the result fails to demonstrate their learning.

Word Length

For purposes of comparability all students must keep to the prescribed word limit – however frustrating this may be. If work does run over slightly, a tolerance of 10% is allowed but above this further writing will be disregarded.

Choosing a suitable extract?

A suitable extract is one that is not too long or too short for a student to feel intimidated in relation to the task set.

- The characteristic feature or features that are the focus for the analysis should be clearly recognisable.

- The extract should be of genuine interest to the student – the work should be motivated by a sense of personal enquiry.)

Ideally, the extract should be a self-contained sequence – or part of a sequence which in itself has a definable beginning and end point.

Giving your work a title

The title must name the feature or features that are the particular focus – e.g.

"An analysis of editing and sound in the shower sequence from Psycho

(1960)."

What makes for a good Written Analysis?

Candidates will be distinguished by an excellent knowledge and confident understanding of the micro features of the film they are concentrating on.

• This will be reflected both in their ability to refer in detail and with accuracy to their chosen film and in their analysis of how micro features produce meaning(s).

• Personal response will be characterised by a high level of analysis of the production of meaning(s) through the interaction of film and spectator.

• The interaction between film and spectator will be perceived as complex, subtle and resistant to simplistic assumptions.

Quality of written communication

• Excellently structured and accurate use of appropriate language to communicate clearly.