Preparing for Exam
Clip Analysis
The best way to prepare them for this is to familiarise them with the elements of film language then practise with the Clip Analysis exercise detailed below.
Prior to beginning teaching, you will need to familiarise yourself with these elements of Film Language.
- Genre
- Narrative
- Narration
- Mise-en-Scene
Setting & Props
Costume, Hair & Make-up
Movement, Positioning & Performance
Lighting & Cinematography
Camera Framing
Camera Movement - Editing
- Sound
- Characters & Performances
These topics should be studied using the lesson plans from this site during the first term. When your students are familiar with most of them, they will be ready for a Clip Analysis.
Begin by giving each student a Blank Self-Assessment Worksheet.
Now, watch the clip through once (see below for sourcing clips), students then respond by circling the relevant genre, aspect of mise-en-scene and element of Film Language, which they feel the director is exploiting. Next, students individually make notes in the blank area as to why/how the director is doing this and what the effect is on the audience.
Next, repeat the process (in the exam, they should watch the clips three times) and give them a chance to record any further observations. Finally, discuss your own analysis and allow the students to respond aloud. Play the clip once more to illustrate and allow students to mark themselves and score.
You may wish to begin this process early in the year by deconstructing Still Images. You can use movie stills or photography (Phaidon’s ‘The Photo Book’ offers a rich source of pictures worthy of discussion). The step to deconstructing moving images should then be a seamless one.