Final Exam preview. Assigned 5/13, due 5/15 - Minor

Today we are going to start the video unit. We will be looking at Filminute, the international film festival for 1-minute films. These will be the basis for the video you will use your phone and some sort of editing program to make a short film as your final exam.

First, let's take a look at the festival and some of the recent winners.

Go here: https://filminute.com/festival/filminute-winners-2021/

On your Google Site today, please pick TWO of the filminute movies featured on the website above and answer the following question. I have given you some help below for each of these questions in the section titles Non-technical evaluations.

1. What is the name of the film?

2. What was the theme?

3. Summarize the story in two sentences (plot).

4. Are there any symbols in the film? How are they used?

5. Who characters are in the story and tell me a little about how they interact, if they do.

Non-technical evaluations

Theme - what is the central point the director is making sometimes evaluations are based on motifs, which are ideas or symbols that are repeated throughout the product, but are not the full theme.

Story - Analyzing the story is often easier than the theme. A story is presented in film through the plot (simple, complex, timeless, believable), the characters (appearance, dialogue or lack thereof, interplay between characters, actions, names), and symbolic elements.

Plot - is the easiest thing to describe, its the storyline. But critics often get more specific, things like how time is handled (linear, or non-linear) or how the climatic moments are handled (like the ending). Another concept is the believability of the plot; the idea of a universal truth, an internal truth about human nature, or a fantastic version of the truth.

Symbolism - how symbols are used, whether they reinforce the theme or add depth to the story. Are the symbols cliche is often a question one should ask when critiquing a piece.

Character - an essential element - appearance, dialogue, hair, clothing, mannerisms, accent and speech patterns are all used. "Good guys versus bad guys," underdogs,  sympathetic characters, etc are all examples. Relationships between characters are also important.

6. Use the technical evaluation information from below to analyze and evaluate the following technical aspects. Write a sentence or two about each of these for both films:     

a. Lighting

b. Sound, 

c. Editing, 

d. Cut-aways 

e. Transitions

Technical evaluations

Lighting - Is the lighting sufficient for the subject/plot?
Sound - Is the sound sufficient for viewers to hear and understand?
Editing - Is the editing done an appealing way to extend the story line and augment viewing?
Cut-aways and transitions - Are the transitions professional and smooth?

Now for each answer the following questions:

6. Did you like the piece?

7. Why did you pick this one to evaluate?

8. What was the director trying to tell in the story, in your opinion?

9. What suggestions would you make to the director to improve the piece?

10. What was your favorite moment?

11. Was there any part where you were confused or unsure of the plot? 

Next class we will start the planning process for making your own 1-minute film - you will storyboard and script. I will have another assignment on shooting with your phone and a final lesson on using iMovie to produce your film. You will then have at least 2 classes PLUS the day of the final to go out to shoot your film and get it processed. You will do that here at school, so as you are thinking ahead, know you will take video here. You can team up with others in class to work on this - it will also give you the chance to have some actors. You will use your cell phone and you can use ANY editing program you want from CapCut, to iMovie, or even After Effects for phones.