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Film App Director s Essay

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Unit Assignment:  Director Study 

 

 

 

      

 

Your job is to write about a director’s craft, and about the trademarks that make a particular director unique. 

 

During this three-week unit we have viewed three films by director Terry Gilliam:

ü  The Fisher King

ü  12 Monkeys

ü  The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

 

Some examples of Gilliam trademarks are:

ü  Inclusion of religious or mythological imagery and historical/literary allusions

ü  Claustrophobic framing; extreme close-ups

ü  Very-wide-angle state-of-mind shots

ü  High-, Low-, and Oblique Angle shots

ü  Subtle and seemingly unrelated background props or images that are heavily symbolic or enhance the mood of the scene

 

 

You will discuss at least three trademark characteristics of the director’s work, and point to specific examples of those characteristics, drawn from the three films. The suggested outline is as follows:

 

  1. Introduction providing an overview of the director’s work and trademarks

Providing brief biographical and career information is optional but would make for a better essay      

Be sure to cite any research sources that you might consult!  AVOID PLAGIARISM!!!

  1. Body paragraphs that provide specific examples of the trademark characteristics in the films
  2. Conclusion offering commentary on the director.  Please try to avoid 1st person references!  You needn’t say “I feel...” or “In my opinion...”  Your name is on the essay, so that would be redundant.  Unless the commentary or information is cited, I can safely assume it came from you.

 

So you’re not too keen on Terry Gilliam?  Don’t fret! You certainly are welcome to write about your favorite director.  Some top directors are: Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, the Coen Brothers, and the list goes on....

Bottom line: you must discuss at least three trademarks and at least three films. You do not have a response due this week; use the time to mull over the Gilliam films, or to hit the video store or Netflix to find films made by your favorite director.  Since this essay covers three films, its weight is double that of other write-ups; BE SURE TO ELABORATE AND USE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES!!!

 

Film Appreciation essay rubric:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Score:

<60

70

80

90

100

 Criteria:

 

 

 

 

 

Meaning: Extent to which essay exhibits understanding of film and task

Incomplete;  Vague;          Confused

Weak or superficial analysis

Good grasp of film and task

Excellent grasp of film and task

Insightful analysis; creative thought

Development: Extent to which support is explained through detail and example

Few details discussed

Vague or irrelevant details addressed

Sufficient relevant details discussed

Thorough exploration of film

Addresses subtle nuances

Organization: Extent to which essay shows a logical ordering of ideas

Unorganized

Organizational flaws lead to confusion

Logical organization, but weak transitions or clinchers

Smooth transitions and effective clinchers

Elaborate

Language: Extent to which essay uses sentence structure and vocabulary

Well below grade level

Simple

Fluent

Well-written

Sophisticated

Mechanics: Extent to which the essay conforms to the rules of written English

Errors hinder readability

Frequent errors

Some errors

Few errors

Errors only when using sophisticated language

 

The average score of all five criteria will be the overall score