Blog- Writing About Film

1) What are the 5 kinds of film writing described in the article and what are the key details of each.

The first type of film writing is Formal Analysis which is  when a viewer breaks the film own into different sections or components and discusses how those individual areas relate or connect to the film as a whole. An example that could help the audience better understand this type of film is when people make puzzles. All the puzzle pieces are laid out and as the audience/viewer you must look at each piece, exam it, then try and connect the pieces to each other to have a whole product.  Another example that was used within this article was looking at Formal Analysis as a tractor on a field; the pieces are laid out and you have to understand the function/ purpose of each in order to put it back together. The second type of writing is Film History which is the history behind the film. All films "reflect history, influence history, have history." Each film is connected to history in some way, for example in the article they state that the film Gone With the Wind not only tells a story about the South during the Civil War but it also "reflects the values and ideas of the culture that produced it." The director wants the audience to see the movie as a historical document. The third type is Ideological Papers, which is when a film is made to promote some type of belief. For example, Mary Poppins "argues the idea that fathers need to take a more active interest in their families." Film is a way directors can voice their own beliefs. The next type is Cultural Studies/ National Cinemas which is when film reflects our nation's culture. Some directors have a certain type of culture and way of film making. For example, a French film might be funny and though that isn't usual, that is the way the director wants his film, that's his culture within film. Lastly, Discussion of the Auteur is a certain type of film, it is usually the directors film. For example Spielberg is a very famous director and because of his certain techniques he has now created his own name. When a person watches one of his movies they can know that it is a "Spielberg" film.

2) What does “Annotating a Film Sequence” involve and what are it’s benefits?

"Annotating a Film Sequence" is when each shot is labeled. This helps the editor keep track of the complex sequence of shots. Within the annotating of the sequences there is usually a pattern with each shot. 

3) What does the author imply when she says to “Think Beyond the Frame?”

When the author says "Think Beyond the Frame" he simply means look at the film in a deeper and more textual type of way. There are many important components when thinking beyond the frame. An example of this is questions like "Who made the film, What is the production history of the film, and what do critics ans scholars say?" These questions help guide us to think beyond the frame. Seeing what others have to say about the film is important because it helps focus your observations. Also, figuring out who made the film is important so that you can understand the conditions the film was made and the background of the actors, director and other members.