Plan – Film Studies Essay task

 Analysis Task (600 word essay)

◦ Write about Romeo and Juliet – Gas Station Sequence
◦ Focus on one of 4 Cinematic techniques
▪ Mise En Scene
▪ Performances
▪ Cinematography
▪ Editing/Sound
◦ Identify and comment critically on usage
◦ I will focus on Mise En Scene and Editing
◦ For Mise en Scene, I will look at:
▪ Colour
 Use of colour to distinguish capulets/montagues
◦ Yellow/Blue cars
◦ Yellow and blue in gas station
◦ Colour in costume
 Symbolic meaning
▪ Lighting
▪ Props/Prop placement
▪ Character placement
▪ Character actions
▪ Wardrobe
 Use of religious imagery in wardrobe
◦ “Sin” grill (Abra)
◦ Christ waistcoat (Tybalt)
◦ Crucifix gun charm (Benvolio)
◦ Summer shirts vs. suits
◦ I will explain why I think the filmmakers chose to use these techniques, and the effect
on the audience
▪ Infer greater meaning
▪ Tie in with broader concepts
▪ Reference the themes of the entire story
▪ Include Screenshots
◦ I will include screenshots from the scene to back up my written statements
 Genre essay (400 word essay)
◦ Essay on the opening for Scream
◦ Focusing on the use of genre codes and conventions
▪ How they create expectation and meaning for the audience
◦ Include at least one quote from the selection
▪ Harvard referencing
 What codes and conventions create meaning
◦ Technical Codes
▪ Use of Camera
 How it hides certain elements
▪ Use of Editing
▪ Use of sound
 Soundtrack is ominous/creepy
 Builds up as scene grows in tension
▪ Use of Visual effects
◦ Symbolic codes
▪ Character actions
▪ Mise en Scene
▪ Setting
 Safety of home
 Intrusion upon setting
 False security
 Familiar to protagonist
▪ Colour
