Action-Adventure/Crime: Blue Velvet, Pulp Fiction Horror: The Shining Romance/Relationship: Magnolia Sports: Raging Bull War: Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter Write about an independent film from above list. Analyze both content and style/technique (e.g., lighting, camera angles, narration, special effects, etc.) of the film. A good paper will be guided by a complex thesis which interprets the meaning and significance of the film, using secondary sources to help develop your claims and support your points. Furthermore, a good paper will explain how the film’s techniques (e.g., zoom shots, low-angle shots, etc.) help contribute to the meaning and significance of the film. Your paper can also explain how the film challenges mainstream ideas or conventions, as well as conventions for film genres (e.g., Action/Adventure, Romance, etc.). Use at least five sources, at least three of which should be a journal/newspaper article (preferably peer reviewed), or book. I do not want you to use only film reviews, although you may use one or two. To find film reviews, you may go to www.imdb.com under External Reviews and choose reputable sources such as New York Time, or www.rottentomatoes.com, or to another site of your choosing. If you do use film reviews, make sure that they don’t end up doing the interpretation for you. Respond to and/or build on their claims so that your interpretation takes center stage. 1. Direction and Cinematography (Most Important-Everyone should address this to some degree in the paper) – Using the handout and your lecture notes, examine the film’s techniques and how they contribute to the film. For instance, does the director frequently use close-up or distant shots? Are there ever long, uncomfortable pauses that don’t seem to make any sense? Are there still-shots or split-screens or fantasy/dream sequences? Does the director use specific angle shots at crucial moments? Is the film told chronologically? Is it narrated? How do any of these techniques contribute to the meaning and effect of the film? 2. Setting- Where is the film’s set? How large of a role does the setting play in the film? Could the film take place anywhere in America or in the world, or does it have to take place in a specific city or region of the country? 3. Realism or Fiction? -- Consider the characters in your film. In what ways are the characters real, and in what ways do they seem to be stereotypes or caricatures? Do the characters have real emotions -- and a full range of emotions? Are their emotions predictable? Do they look like real people, or like models/pin-ups? Does their hair ever get messed up? Do they get dirty? Does anyone ever use the bathroom? Do they ever get sick? If so, then why? What is the filmmaker trying to accomplish by portraying the characters in this fashion? 4. Predictability -- To what degree is the movie predictable? Do you know what will happen at the end of the movie, after the first few minutes? What predictable or non-predictable things happen in the movie and how do they contribute to the meaning and overall effect of the film? 5. Music/Sound/Special Effects -- What roles do music and special effects play in the movie? How does the movie’s soundtrack contribute to the movie’s themes/messages? How does the soundtrack add or detract from the movie in significant ways? 6. Family/Personal Relationships -- Are relationships an important facet of the film? How are the family and romantic relationships portrayed in the film? Are relationships more supportive and nurturing or destructive and damaging? What is the filmmaker’s view of relationships and/or love and sex? Do people begin and maintain relationships with great poise and security or with confusion and fear? If so, what do you think that shows? 7. Violence -- How and when does violence occur and how is it portrayed? If people are injured or killed, do they scream in pain and realistically bleed? Is the violence masked under music and special effects? Is there a clear reason for violence? Do the violent characters enjoy hurting other people? What is the filmmaker trying to show about violence? 8. Humor - How or why is the movie funny? Is it sometimes difficult to determine whether an episode or comment is meant to be funny? What subject or subjects does the humor tend to revolve around? How does it contribute to the overall meaning and themes of the film?