AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

• Give your essay a proper title, eg. “How Martin Scorsese uses Editing and Sound in the opening 5 minutes of Gangs of New York (2002) to construct meaning and provoke a response”.

• Use stills and other illustrative material in support of your comments.

• Don’t make generalisations or statements. You have to discuss your points; you have to apply knowledge and a theoretical approach to your comments.

• You have to justify your comments by adding some critical commentary.Prove that what you are stating is actually the case.

• Don’t use words like ‘might’, or ‘could’. You are meant to be an informed specialist, confident in your understanding. So write like one.

 

AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

• Don’t use words like “relaxed”, e.g., “…..the sun is shining, this gives us a more relaxed response’. It doesn’t make sense.

• Or “mellow’. These words are not appropriate for describing the impact of a micro element.

• Apply the theory; rule of thirds, semiotics, narrative, genre etc.It is not enough to make simple statements. E.g. …..”The man is wearing dark clothes which show the sadness in his life and also the fact that he himself is not a good character”. This is just a statement and is not supported with any evidence of understanding of film theory.

• Stay focussed on your specific micro features. If you are analysing camera and mise-en-scene then don’t start discussing the use of sound.

• A key part of the essay is how these micro elements “provoke a response”. Almost entirely ignored.

AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

• It is not enough to simply describe the micro features and then add a brief explanation/analysis or even no explanation/analysis of how these micro elements are used or what they ‘might/could;’ mean.

TASK:1.Define the term ‘analysis’ in your own words.

The ‘Oxford Dictionary’ definition reads as follows;“detailed examination of elements or structure”.

At the highest level (4) the mark scheme requires you to demonstrate;• “ an excellent knowledge and confident understanding of the micro features

of the film• “ ability to refer in detail and with accuracy… how micro features produce

meaning(s)• “high levels of analysis of the production of meaning(s) through the

interaction of film and spectator• that this “interaction between film and spectator will be perceived as

complex, subtle and resistant to simplistic assumptions”.

AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

TASK

2. Read the following point and commentary about an example from Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York”, (2002) and identify why it is not a complete analysis. Using your knowledge of the scene re-write the point adding greater detail and in depth analysis that applies film theory, uses subject specific terminology and demonstrates an excellent knowledge and confident understanding of the micro features under analysis.

“The editing starts off slowly as the fight spreads throughout the gangs and is accompanied by slower music. As the intensity of the fight increases so does the pace of the editing and the music. This makes it more dramatic for the audience and we understand that these are brutal times.”.

This is too vague, too simplistic. It should read like this.

AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

TASK:

3. Now read through the exemplar essay you have been given. Pay particular attention to how constant reference to the interaction

between film and audience is made.Using different colours highlight the parts in the essay that

• EXPLAINS how meaning is being constructed and

• applies KNOWLEDGE of film theory and ANALYSES how this provokes a response in the AUDIENCE

Now look closely at the mark scheme. Read through the level descriptors and identify the reasons why this essay received the marks it did.

AS FILM STUDIES – FM1 MICRO ANALYSIS - FEEDBACK

TASK:4. Re-draft your essay, paying particular attention to the advice and learning objectives that we have covered. Be sure to make your comments

detailed and analytical and include visual images to illustrate your points. Remember you must discuss how the audience respond to the use of the chosen micro features.

Once you have completed your second draft, using different colours highlight the parts in the essay that• EXPLAINS how meaning is being constructed and

• applies KNOWLEDGE of film theory and ANALYSES how this provokes a response in the AUDIENCE

This will help you to see just how efficient, knowledgeable and analytical your essay is.

Finally, using the mark scheme, give your essay a level and a mark. Try to be as accurate as you can.