FILM

VIEWING
TIPS
Viewing a film critically
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Interpreting the internal content
of the film
.
Interpreting the internal
construction of the frame.
Recognizing the potential
impact of film form and content
BASIC ELEMENTS WHEN
CRITACALLY VIEWING A
FILM
DIRECTION When watching a film, think about the
choices that the director has made

Why is a close-up shot used here?

Why does a certain color
dominate a scene?
Why is this angle being used
here?
SCREENPLAY

All movies start out on It should effectively

paper. The screenplay is communicate the story
an essential element of through dramatic
film. action and dialogue.

Every scene should make

sense and should have
importance
to the story.
CINEMATOGRAPHY

Movies are primarily visual experiences. Great

cinematographers, the people behind the cameras,
understand the relationship between the camera and the
human eye. Maybe more importantly, they realize the
camera is an extension of the human eye. So, viewers
should watch for cinematography where the camera
transforms itself into the eyes of the viewer.
EDITING

Good directors shoot much more film than they

can possibly use. Editing involves looking at all of
the available film and putting together the best
shots, the best scenes. The best directors are
intimately involved in the editing process to
ensure the smooth flow of the film and to ensure
that their film creates a seamless whole.
ACTING

What we know about many exceptional performers is

that they do not “act." They return to us film after film,
completely submerged in their characterizations. This
intensity allows the best actors to hide themselves in
their characters. Watch and identify the elements that
constitute a great Performance.
 LIGHTING
AND SETS

The entire mood of a film can be determined by

lighting, the way shadows fall, the type of sets
used, or the actual location where the film is shot.
The amount and style of lighting depends on the
type of film being made.
 SOUNDTRACK/
SCORE
Sometimes the best soundtrack is none at all. At
other times, the right musical accent in a scene
elevates the film and allows the viewer to relate
to the characters or story on a deeper level.
While a good soundtrack should never be
overwhelming, many classic films would be far
less memorable without their scores.
 MAINTAIN
OBJECTIVITY
Maintain objectivity to what is being presented,
without prejudging the film based on what
you've heard about it (from critics or friends),
your preconceptions about the actors in it, the
reputation of the director, etc.
 OVERALL
QUALITY

View the film as a whole, realizing that it is

composed of the sum of all of its parts. Some
individual parts may be 'great' but the film must hold
together, and be cohesive and meaningful in its
entirety.
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!