MOTION PICTURE ANALYSIS FIRST READING (VIEWING) Look at the motion picture: Describe the character, scene, setting, or element that had the biggest effect on you. Describe how your answer above made you feel. Based on your initial viewing, what seems to be the theme? Annotate the motion picture: On a separate sheet of paper, write questions you may have about the characters, settings, scenery, or plot structure. Using context clues, write-in answers to your questions. Summarize the purpose of the motion picture (What is the meaning?): SECOND READING (VIEWING) Explore any symbolism that may be present in the motion picture. People/things appearing in the motion picture: People Objects Colors Settings Significant Words What do they represent? Other Who is the director? Who is the intended audience? Is the message verbal, visual or both? State two examples from the motion picture and explain how they support the message.
Does the director use facts, opinions or both to shape the motion picture? Explain below. Facts: Opinions: Based on the facts and/or opinions, what is the director s point of view about the topic? Motion pictures can be a powerful tool to make the viewer think deeply about a given topic. Do you think the director was successful in creating a powerful motion picture? Why or why not? THIRD READING (VIEWING) Why was this motion picture saved? How does this motion picture connect to the topic/unit? Compare and contrast the treatment of this topic in this primary source with the information in your textbook/secondary source. What questions do you have about this motion picture? How can you learn the answers to your questions?
MOTION PICTURE ANALYSIS (CCSS and Close Reading) FIRST READING (VIEWING) First reading comprehension; key ideas and details Look at the motion picture: #1 Explicit & Implicit text & inferences Describe the character, scene, setting, or element that had the biggest effect on you. Describe how your answer above made you feel. Based on your initial viewing, what seems to be the theme? Annotate the motion picture: On a separate sheet of paper, write questions you may have about the characters, settings, scenery, or plot structure. Using context clues, write-in answers to your questions. #7 Visual Literacy use of diverse formats Summarize the purpose of the motion picture (What is the meaning?): #2 Main Idea central idea or theme SECOND READING (VIEWING) Second reading craft and structure Let s explore any symbolism that may be present in the motion picture. People/things appearing in the motion picture: What do they represent? People Objects Colors #1 Explicit/Implicit text & inferences #4 Vocabulary words & meanings and influence of choices #7 Visual Literacy use of diverse formats Settings Significant Words Other Who is the director? Who is the intended audience? #6 Author Purpose shapes content
Is the message verbal, visual or both? #8 Argue & Support fact, opinion, or judgment with evidence State two examples from the motion picture and explain how they support the message. Does the director use facts, opinions or both to shape the motion picture? Explain below. Facts: Opinions: Based on the facts and/or opinions, what is the director s point of view about the topic? Motion pictures can be a powerful tool to make the viewer think deeply about a given topic. Do you think the director was successful in creating a powerful motion picture? Why or why not? THIRD READING (VIEWING) Third reading connections, integration of knowledge and ideas Why was this motion picture saved? How does this motion picture connect to the topic/unit? Compare and contrast the treatment of this topic in this primary source with the information in your textbook/secondary source. What questions do you have about this motion picture? How can you learn the answers to your questions?
MOTION PICTURE ANALYSIS (narrative) The American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920 Part 1 of 3 Fights of nations / American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/varstg:@field(number+@band(varsmp+2412s3)) FIRST READING (VIEWING) Look at the motion picture: Describe the character, scene, setting, or element that had the biggest effect on you. By looking for details that are explicitly stated, students will describe the ones that affected them the most. Describe how your answer above made you feel. Answers will vary. Based on your initial viewing, what seems to be the theme? Students will infer different themes using context clues seen in the motion picture. Annotate the motion picture: On a separate sheet of paper, write questions you may have about the characters, settings, scenery, or plot structure. Using context clues, write-in answers to your questions. Students will respond to what is explicitly seen in the motion picture; however, the questions that they generate will be based on prior knowledge and other ideas that they infer. Summarize the purpose of the motion picture (What is the meaning?): Students summaries will be based on the prior notes that they made. Students should write a 2-3 sentence summary of the motion picture and be able to infer a reason for its purpose. SECOND READING (VIEWING) Explore any symbolism that may be present in the motion picture. Students should be able to explicitly state the nouns that appear in the motion picture. When discussing what each one represents, students will need to activate prior knowledge as to what they think each one symbolizes. A few students may have some knowledge of early American film. Some students may be able to make connections to current film practices, cinematography, or characters. People/things appearing in the motion picture: People Objects Colors Settings Significant Words What do theyrepresent? Other
Who is the director? The director is not stated in this film. Students should note how this film is different from modern-day films in that regard. Who is the intended audience? Using context clues, the cinematography, etc., students may be able to understand who the intended audience was. (It was a new, fascinating tool, so everyone was interested.) Is the message verbal, visual or both? The message for this film is only visual as it is a silent film. State two examples from the motion picture and explain how they support the message. Students need to analyze the film, depending only on what they have explicitly seen but also what they may infer from what they have seen. Does the director use facts, opinions or both to shape the motion picture? Explain below. Students will analyze the film to see that the creator developed his on story and while there may be some facts, they are quite exaggerated. Facts: Opinions: Based on the facts and/or opinions, what is the director s point of view about the topic? Students should analyze and synthesize the information gained from the first viewing in order to come up with their answer to this question. Motion pictures can be a powerful tool to make the viewer think deeply about a given topic. Do you think the director was successful in creating a powerful motion picture? Why or why not? Answers will vary according to students. They will need to think metacognitively (think about how they think) so that they can support their answer. THIRD READING (VIEWING) Why was this motion picture saved? Again, answers may vary from student to student, but all students should be thinking about the importance of what or who is being represented in the film. How does this motion picture connect to the topic/unit? Students need to analyze how this film is similar to what has been studied so far and be able to extricate specific details that support that connection. They also need to evaluate how the film helped them better understand the topic/unit Compare and contrast the treatment of this topic in this primary source with the information in your textbook/secondary source. Students should analyze, synthesize, and evaluate this topic in this primary source and then evaluate how the same topic is represented against other sources. What questions do you have about this motion picture? How can you learn the answers to your questions? Questions will vary. Students should think about other places or people who could answer their questions.