Micro-Analysis Coursework

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Micro-Analysis Essay Advice

Film Studies:  AS Level Coursework Essay Advice

Brief:  Write an analysis of how two micro-features create effect and meaning in a 3-5 minute extract from a movie of your choice.

Word count:  1500 – In order to stand any chance of writing the appropriate amount of detail you MUST meet the word count.  1500 words.  No less.

General Advice

Structure:  Make sure that you follow a plan.  There is a sample plan on the other side of this handout.  Use it.

Analysis:  You are not re-telling the story or simply saying what happens.  You must ANALYSE the micro-elements to really ‘get under the skin’ of the movie.

Depth and detail:   Always try to go deeper in your analysis.  Look beyond the surface layer.

Proof reading:  Spelling and grammar mistakes lose you A LOT of marks.  There is no need to make them.  Use a spell check and proof read your essay.

Images –It is an essential part of the assessment to include images from the film.  These should back up or illustrate major points from your essay.

Meanings:  You MUST explain what meaning is created in DETAIL.

What emotions and feelings are created by the sequence?

Think about as many different words which describe the meaning as possible -  Drama, tension, fear, horror, revulsion, suspense, tension, anger, sadness, love, lust, terror, wonder, awe, excitement, envy, pity, loathing.

Genre – How is the genre shown in the sequence? Are there any genre conventions you can talk about?

Character – What information are we told about the characters? Are they strong, weak? Happy? Sad? Angry? Calm? Powerful? Powerless?

Narrative – Do the micro-elements tell us anything about the story? Any clues as to what may happen or insights into what has happened already?

Mark Scheme

The exam board issues a set of criteria which the highest achieving essays will meet.  You should all be aiming for the very highest level and as such would benefit from examining the mark scheme very carefully. 

Make sure that your essay meets the following standards:

Level 4: 24-30 Marks

•            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.

Basic Essay Plan

INTRODUCTION:  Introduce what film you are analysing and which micro-elements you are focusing on.  Briefly explain the main storyline, genre and any relevant background info. No more than 150 words.

PARAGRAPH 1:  State which sequence you are analysing. Briefly explain what happens in the sequence. Explain what overall meaning is created in the sequence.

PARAGRAPH 2: Begin at the start of the sequence and start explaining how the micro-elements create meaning.  Analyse both elements at the same time.  Use a new paragraph for each major point.

PARAGRAPH 3 +: Continue through the sequence making your points.

CONCLUSION:  Sum up your main points and state the main meaning created in the sequence.  Do not evaluate how well the director has done his job.

Representation - Richard Dyer

Introduction to Representation - Richard Dyer

Representation Theory - David Chandler

Representation David Chandler

Conventions of Television Crime Drama

The genre of television crime drama is extremely large.  There are many different examples of the genre   with many different styles, formats and sub-genres.  Not all conventions will apply to all texts.  This is merely a list of typical characteristics of crime dramas.  It is unlikely that any one text will exhibit them all but many of them will be present in many examples of the genre.




Examples of Crime Drama

A Touch of Frost
The Wire
Miss Marple
Midsummer Murders
Dexter
Luther
Cracker
Lewis
Monk
Diagnosis Murder
Ironside
Columbo
Kojak
CSI
Scott and Bailey
Poirot
Boardwalk Empire
The Sopranos
Sherlock
Life on Mars
Ashes to Ashes
Starsky and Hutch

As you can see, many crime dramas are named after their lead character.  This is a strong convention of the genre.  The lead character is integral to the show and it is usually very much 'their' story.


Characters
The lead character will often be a detective or some sort of police investigator.  They will usually be a white male - 40 years old plus.  The lead character will have some sort of major personality defect or flaw such as a failed marriage, alcoholism, gambling addiction etc, sometimes there may be a physical one as well eg Ironside is confined to a wheelchair whilst Columbo has a glass eye..

There will often be a sidekick character - a younger and more inexperienced individual.  This is sometimes a woman though women are usually in scientific advisor roles.  If there is a woman there will usually be some sort of sexual tension between the two.

There will often be a group of support characters or 'gang' who help the lead character in their investigation.

There will often be a superior officer or 'police chief' who the lead character must report to and will often be in trouble with.

Narrative and Theme

The narrative will usually be centred around a detective trying to solve a crime - often a murder.  There will be an investigation taking place which involves clues and red herrings.  The killer's identity will often be revealed at the end of the episode.

There will often be chase scenes present.  There may also be an interrogation scene.  There will usually be a teaser or 'hook' sequence at the start which shows the crime being committed or maybe the body being discovered.  Its purpose is to draw the viewer into the narrative.

The theme of justice and good vs evil will be prevalent in the narrative.

Format:  Episodic but usually with stand alone episodes.

Iconography

 Police cars, blue flashing lights, crime scenes, police tape (do not cross), murders, dark lighting, guns and weapons.  Flashlights in dark places.

Sound

Serious and dramatic non-diegetic music.  Often this is very sombre and brooding during dark moments and fast-paced and bombastic as action sequences occur.

Settings

 Interview rooms, urban settings, police stations, crime scenes, forensics labs, morgues, the killer's lair - often dark, ominous and threatening.

Case Studies

Luther:  Series 1, episode 1.

Conventions Conformed to:

The show is named after the protagonist.
Luther is a detective with personal problems - he has a failed marriage and is emotionally unstable, perhaps even suicidal.
He has a younger, more inexperienced sidekick who looks up to him.
He has a group of allies who help him.

What other conventions does this crime drama conform to?  Think about the examples stated above.

Conventions Subverted:

John Luther is not a white man though he is in all other ways a fairly conventional crime drama protagonist.

Are there any other ways that you think Luther subverts or challenges the generic conventions?

A Touch of Cloth

Conventions Conformed to:

This is an example of a parody of the genre and as such it uses the conventions to create comedy.  How many genre conventions can you identify in the first episode of A Touch of Cloth?

Conventions Subverted:

All of the conventions seen in this example are actually subverting the genre at the same time as they are conforming to it as they are parodying the genre.

Year 13 Film Studies - Practical Coursework

What do you have to do?

(i) aims and context

A clarification of the aims and context of the product to be completed on the appropriate cover sheet.

Please note: the 'Aims and Context' must be completed on the appropriate cover sheet, otherwise the Creative Project and accompanying Reflective Analysis cannot be adequately assessed.

(ii) creative product (45 marks)

A complete short film (3-5 minutes in length).

Group work is permitted for this option (maximum 3) but members of the group must be responsible for a clearly defined role on which they are assessed.

(iii) reflective analysis - approximately 1000 words or equivalent

(15 marks, including aims and context)

The reflective analysis should select key features of the creative product and reflect critically on both the creative process and the product. Candidates working in a group should focus on the construction and impact of their role.
How will you be marked?


Product

• Product fulfils its aims highly creatively and effectively

• An excellent understanding of the form and conventions of the chosen medium

• An excellent, highly creative and confident use of the relevant medium with a strong sense of reaching its intended audience.

Quality of written communication (where relevant)

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

Reflective analysis

• A detailed and perceptive account of the creative process and production

• Excellent, perceptive consideration of the relative success of the product in relation to its aims, audience and context

• An excellent sense of how far it has been possible to work creatively within the conventions of the chosen product’s medium.

Quality of (written) communication

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

What is the short film format?

Are short films important?

Examples of Short Film

In order to have a better idea of what is possible for your own project it is a good idea to watch examples of the form.
You should also construct an informed opinion about these films.
Do they work? Are they good? Do they tell a good story? Do they tell it well? Is the sound effective? Are the visuals striking? Are the performances engaging? Is it a genre film? Is it enjoyable?

Still Life - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La6T8Bq6CsU

Bubbling Under - http://vimeo.com/24232786

The Room at the Top of the Stairs

There’s a Lot of ‘em About

Luvstruck Run Free - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyx_xa3Us_M

Dead End - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-ykmGAa1k

The Halloween Kid

Erica Wexler is Online

A Heap of Trouble - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE_wbO45FYE

The Sandman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjgHbRrnjhU

The Process

1.  Idea Generation

2. Building the Idea

3.  Writing a logline

4.  Story Beats

5.  Writing a synopsis

6.  Writing the script

7.  Re-writing the script

8.  Writing a Shot List

9.  Planning the shoot

10.  Shooting the film