Download File - CVEA Film Studies

Mr G Bell
GCSE Film Studies
Coursework
Handbook
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Mr G Bell
Checklist
Film exploration
(i) industry research
(ii) micro analysis
10 marks
20 marks
Page
3
3
Production
(i) pitch
(ii) pre-production
(iii) final production
(iv) evaluative analysis
10 marks
20 marks
30 marks
10 marks
5
7
9
11
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Mr G Bell
Film Exploration: Industry (10 marks)
Begin by exploring a film that you have particularly enjoyed and do some brief research into
how it was produced, distributed and exhibited. This initial work should then lead into a
more detailed consideration of the ways in which the ‘micro’ elements of film language
communicate meaning.
The work for this short analysis (350-750 words) is designed to consolidate knowledge and
understanding of the ways in which the ‘micro’ elements of film language create meaning
and response in an extract from a film chosen by the student.
This research should focus on the production of the film
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who made it and how?
The distribution of the film – who sold it and how?
And the exhibition of the film – why and where have audiences chosen to see it?
(i) Industry research (10)
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how films communicate meanings, evoke
personal responses and engage audiences.
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Description
Limited, little or no knowledge and understanding demonstrated about film industry.
Written communication uneven and limited with high proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic knowledge and understanding of film industry. Written communication basic
with some inaccuracies.
Adequate knowledge and understanding of film industry and how it engages
audiences. Written communication adequate. Appropriate specialist terminology
emerging.
Good knowledge and understanding of film industry and how it engages audiences.
Written communication good. More confident use of appropriate specialist
terminology.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of film industry and how it engages audiences.
Written communication excellent. Confident and well-integrated use of appropriate
specialist terminology.
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Mr G Bell
Industry Research
Film
Year of release:
Production details: include –
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Production company(s) / funding sources
Source material / property
Budget figures
Nationality
Main producer(s)
Director, cinematographer, editor, music
Screen writer(s)
Main cast members
Any other important production information (any issues with filming?)
Distribution details: include –
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Distribution company in UK & USA
Marketing budget]Test screening information
Release pattern
Examples of its marketing & promotion
What other media is it available on?
Any other important distribution information (difficulties getting a deal?)
Exhibition details: include –
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Types of cinema show in (independent? Mass market?)
How long was it on for
Box office figures
Classification
Who were its main audience
Success (compared to DVD)
Special exhibition types (Imax)
Any other important exhibition information (did any cinemas keep it on longer?
Why?
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Mr G Bell
Industry Research - Example
Film
The Wrestler
Year of release:
2008
Production details: include –
The film as produced by Protozoa Pictures, Wild Bunch and Saturn Films with an estimated
budget of 7 million dollars, financed by Winchester Capital Partners. It was filed between
January and March 2008 it is an American film and is a original screenplay written by Robert
Siegel. It was produced by Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin. Darren Aronofsky (The
Fountain) also directed it, Maryse Alberti did cinematography, Andrew Weisblum edited and
Clint Mansell (Pop Will Eat Itself) did the music. Its main stars are Mickey Rourke (Randy ‘The
Ram’ Robinson), Marissa Tomei (Cassidy) and Evan Rachel Wood (Stephanie Robinson).
Nicolas Cage was originally set to star in the movie. On February 9, 2008 filming took place in
the New Alhambra Arena for the upcoming movie which included man CZW (Combat Zone
Wrestling) alumni, along with the Necro Butcher, who will be playing a major part in the film
Reportedly, bother Bruce Springsteen and Mickey Rourke were paid no money for their
contributions towards the film. Due to the film’s modest budget, W. Axl Rose donated the
use of Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ free of charge for the final match.
Distribution details: include –
The UK distributor is Optimum Releasing and Fox Searchlight Pictures in the USA. I could not
find the details of its marketing budget, probably as it is still out and they are still spending
it. I did find out it cost Fox Searchlight $4m for the distribution rights when they saw it at the
Toronto film festival. I did not find any mention of test screenings other than film festivals. I
was released in the USA in December 2008 and nationwide release in the UK in mid January
2009. It has been promoted with posters, magazine articles and the cast and crew attending
premiers, festivals and interviews, although this has created a ‘buzz’ it is still ongoing and
there may be more activity if it wins an Oscar. The wrestler won the Golden Lion for best
picture at the Venice film festival. It also appeared at the New York film festival.
Exhibition details: include –
The Wrestler was shown in all three kinds of cinema (multiples, independent and art-house).
Its success in festivals/awards and subject matter gave it wide appeal. It has been on for
nearly a week and may last the Oscars on the 24th February.
So far its box office has been $2,822,41 in the US, UK figures are not available yet. It is
classified as a 15 in the UK. As already mentioned it seems to have a wide audience appeal
as it is a story about an underdog and is showing in all kinds of cinemas. I think it is a
successful film as it will probably cover its production and marketing costs and has won
many awards: 2 Golden Globes, 1 Golden Lion Award (Venice) and 5 critics awards. It has
been nominated for 2 Oscars which might keep it in cinemas a bit longer. The taglines on its
cinema posters were – ‘Never give up without a fight’ and ‘Love. Pain. Glory’.
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Mr G Bell
Film Exploration: film analysis (20 marks)
The analysis should focus on a short sequence (approx. 5 minutes) from a film of your own
choice. In order to allow a deeper, more detailed analysis you should also be encouraged to
focus on one or two ‘micro’ elements e.g. Sound and editing.
The micro elements of film language are:
• mise-en-scène - setting, costume & props, lighting/colour, performance, gesture &
body language
• cinematography – framing, camera angles and movement, shot size, focus
• sound - diegetic and non-diegetic, parallel and contrapuntal, sound bridges, ambient
sound and sound effects
• editing – types of edits, pace of editing and special effects.
(ii) Micro analysis of a film sequence (20)
AO2: Explore, respond to and evaluate a range of films and topics, including their own
preproduction and production work, using key film concepts and appropriate terminology.
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Description
Limited, little or no ability to explore chosen film. Written communication uneven and
extremely limited with high proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic ability to explore the micro features of film. Written communication basic with
some inaccuracies.
Uneven ability to explore the micro features of film. Written communication more
generally accurate although still with some inaccuracies.
Adequate ability to explore the micro features of film. Key concepts and appropriate
specialist terminology emerging. Written communication adequate. Appropriate
specialist terminology emerging.
Good ability to explore the micro features of film. Key concepts and appropriate
specialist terminology used with more confidence. Written communication good.
More confident use of appropriate specialist terminology.
Excellent ability to explore the micro features of film. Key concepts and appropriate
specialist terminology confidently used and well-integrated. Written communication
excellent. Confident and well-integrated use of appropriate specialist terminology
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Mr G Bell
Selling an Idea – Pitch and Pre-production (30 marks)
These two linked pieces are designed to enable an understanding of the ways in which films
are created and sold. You will have already completed your initial research and analysis
focussing on a film that you have chosen, the following two elements of the coursework
gives you the chance to explore ideas for your own film. You should work on your own with
a specific target audience in mind.
Pitch (10 marks)
You need to be thinking about your own films and coming up with brief synopses.
The first task is to create a pitch for their film in order to attract potential backers who may
want to help fund and produce the film.
The sales pitch should be about 150 words long and should begin with a ‘log line’. You must
have an audience in mind for your film and have a clear idea of the places in which to show
it when it’s finished. The pitch needs to convey a lot of information in a short time. You
should also be aware that investors will need to be provided with a brief outline of the story
and an indication of its genre. You will also want to know what kind of audience it appeals
to, if it’s like any other films, and what stars may be best suited to the main roles.
Introduce to industry – you are screenwriters who want to have their screenplay made into
a film.
What is the first thing you should do?
Write the screenplay, or test the idea before wasting time and energy on writing something
that may not be produced. Time is money in any business context. They need funding in
order to develop their ideas. Screenwriter may have less than a minute to convince a
producer that their idea is bankable and worth pursuing. Building on successful commercial
enterprises; make reference to other successful film, specific stars as ‘shorthand’ to allow
producer to visualise film. Ideas about combining two successful films or stories eg.’Romeo
and Juliet’ meets ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’
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Mr G Bell
Pitch (10)
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how films communicate meanings, evoke
personal responses and engage audiences.
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Description
Limited, little or no knowledge and understanding of how to pitch a film. Written
communication uneven and limited with high proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic knowledge and understanding of how to pitch a film. Written communication
basic with some inaccuracies.
Adequate knowledge and understanding of how to pitch a film. Written
communication adequate. Appropriate specialist terminology emerging.
Good knowledge and understanding of how to pitch a film. Written communication
good. More confident use of appropriate specialist terminology.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of how to pitch a film. Written communication
excellent.
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Mr G Bell
Pre-production (20 marks)
Once you have completed your sales pitches you will complete the following pre-production
task on the film you have outlined in the pitch:
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Create a storyboard of approximately 20 frames for a key sequence for the film
Magazine – front page of a film magazine and the contents pages
Marketing Campaign – at least 4 items to assist in the release of your film, they could
be: teaser poster, screen saver, display items for the cinema, tie-in products and/or
film merchandise.
Here’s an example of how to tackle the storyboards for your pre-production:
Storyboard
You really need to look at films and list the shots used in a 20 shot sequence. This is useful
as you might assume you know how to construct a film storyboard sequence but do not
include the range or number of shots that a real film would. You may also make the mistake
of thinking every shot has to be massively different from the last, rather than the more
subtle shot changes that real films include.
You should be aiming to cover as many different shot types as possible in your 20 frames as
the task is ultimately about showing your knowledge of film storytelling (not artistic ability).
This works best when you focus on a pivotal scene rather than a conversation between two
characters which relies heavily on shot-reverse-shot.
The most important features of a storyboard for showing your knowledge of film storytelling
are the technical directions and instructions on how the storyboard would translate to the
screen. Storyboards should include the following:
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Shot Duration (make sure this is realistic)
Camera Distance (is this an accurate description of the shot?)
Camera Angle (is this correctly labeled?)
Dialogue
Sound Effects (has this been carefully considered? – Films are very rarely completely
silent!)
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Mr G Bell
Preproduction (20)
A03: Demonstrate planning, research and presentational skills.
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Description
Limited, little or no ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational
skills. Written communication uneven and limited with high
proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational skills. Written
communication basic with some inaccuracies.
Uneven ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational skills. Written
communication more generally accurate although still with some inaccuracies.
Adequate ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational skills.
Written communication adequate. Appropriate specialist terminology emerging.
Good ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational skills. Written
communication good. More confident use of appropriate specialist terminology.
Excellent ability to demonstrate planning, research and/or presentational skills.
Written communication excellent. Confident and well-integrated use of appropriate
specialist terminology.
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Mr G Bell
Production (35 marks)
This piece of coursework allows you to create a polished film- based product which uses an
appropriate format and demonstrates an understanding codes and conventions. You will be
producing:
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Produce a homepage and at least one linked page for a website which promotes a
new film
Magazine Feature (you cannot do this if you have a magazine front cover as part of
pre-production) minimum of 2 pages including interviews, an article, biographies and
at least 2 original captioned images from your film production.
Poster Campaign (you cannot do this if you have a marketing campaign as part of
pre-production) at least 3 different posters for your new film
Here’s an example of how to tackle the web page for your production:
Web Page
The task is designed to show your knowledge of the design and content of promotional
websites rather than your ability to construct a fully operational site.
You should aim to produce 1-2 web pages. Links to pages must be made clear (and you may
well include links to pages that they have not produced. Research into a range of official film
websites will provide plenty of ideas, common features include:
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Synopsis
Gallery (Images/posters)
Production diaries
Information on characters
Information on stars
Games
The web page can be hand drawn (using 1 A4 side per page). If you do choose to draw your
site by hand you should still attempt to show typical website conventions (blue underlining
of hyperlinks, frames etc.)
PowerPoint could also be used by using 1 slide to represent 1 page. One advantage of this is
that it allows you to create active links and buttons that can be clicked on to navigate
around the ‘website’.
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Mr G Bell
(iii) Final production (30)
A04: Use creative and technical skills to construct film products.
Mark
1-8
9-12
13-17
18-20
21-23
24-30
Description
Limited, little or no ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film
products. Where relevant: written communication uneven and limited with high
proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film products. Where
relevant: written communication basic with some inaccuracies.
Uneven ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film products. Where
relevant: written communication more generally accurate although still with some
inaccuracies.
Adequate ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film products. Where
relevant: written communication adequate. Appropriate specialist terminology
emerging.
Good ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film products. Where
relevant: written communication good. More confident use of appropriate specialist
terminology.
Excellent ability to use creative and technical skills to construct film products. Where
relevant: written communication excellent. Confident and well integrated use of
appropriate specialist terminology
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Mr G Bell
Evaluative Analysis (10 marks)
When researching and creating your pre-production and production pieces it was advisable
you kept a working notebook in which to note down the processes and stages involved in
the creation of your production piece.
You should describe what you have done, how ideas changed and adapted as work
developed and what you have learnt creatively and practically. This notebook will then be
used to inform the final analysis which requires you to reflect on what you have learnt
about the main study areas (film language, film organisations and film audiences) through
your coursework.
iv) Evaluative analysis (10)
AO2: Explore, respond to and evaluate a range of films and topics, including their own and
production work, using key film concepts and appropriate terminology.
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Description
Limited, little or no ability to evaluate what film and production used technical skills
and genre conventions and demonstrates on understanding of film study areas (film
language, organisations and audiences). Written communication limited with high
proportion of inaccuracies.
Basic ability to evaluate how the final production uses technical skills and genre
conventions and demonstrates an understanding of film study areas (film language,
organisations and audiences). Written communication basic with some inaccuracies.
Uneven ability to evaluate how the final production uses technical skills and genre
conventions and demonstrates an understanding of film study areas (film language,
organisations and audiences). Written communication more generally accurate
although still with some inaccuracies.
Adequate ability to evaluate how the final production uses technical skills and genre
conventions and demonstrates an understanding of film study areas (film language,
organisations and audiences). Written communication adequate. The use of key film
concepts and appropriate specialist terminology emerging.
Good ability to evaluate how the final production uses technical skills and genre
conventions and demonstrates an understanding of film study areas (film language,
organisations and audiences). Written communication good. The use of key film
concepts and appropriate specialist terminology will be confident and well-integrated.
Excellent ability to evaluate what and production reveal about film study areas.
Written communication excellent. The use of key film concepts and appropriate
specialist terminology will be confident and well-integrated.
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