Movie Report: Tips On Film Viewing

Philippine Literature
1
Film
Movie Report
This lesson is designed to help you understand a piece of literature. It can be
in thinking. It is also useful in preparing for writing. Film viewing is an
effective way to increase comprehension. This lesson provides average
moviegoers like us with basic tool on how to stimulate thought about a given
film and help us to become cinematically-literate. It gives helpful hints on the
art of reading, analyzing, watching, critically viewing, and deconstructing a
film (to take apart the film's components and interpret how it was all
intentionally assembled together). Anyone can learn the language,
techniques, and structure of cinema of both the past and present.
Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Analyze a film as a literary genre;
2. Identify social problems; and
3. Give the social implication of the film.
Tips on Film Viewing

Here are some simple suggestions, as a first step, for viewing a film
intelligently:
For the beginners:
1. Choose an Appropriate Film to View

Choose a film from any of the wide selection of genre films available so that
you can experience the entire spectrum of different types of films.
2. Have a Second Viewing

Watch a deserving film more than once, and preferably with others so that
the experience may be discussed afterwards.
During the first viewing:
Familiarize yourself with the basic plot, main characters, important action,
etc. in other words, acquire a brief synopsis of its story including time and
place, the characters and their interactions, and the film's main themes
without taking notes
The second time around:
Pay more detailed attention to what is being projected
Take notes and make observations
Concentrate on the film's structure, acting, directing, the camera shots and
angles, etc.
Course Module
3. Turn on Dialogue Subtitles
Use the closed-caption feature with DVDs in order to better understand the
dialogue.
4. Watch Film Extras

Play the added special features of most DVDs, including audio commentary,
the original theatrical trailer or teaser, deleted scenes, and other related
material.
• Examine Title and Credits:
• Consider a film's main title and its opening credits:
• Why was the specific title chosen (were there any other alternatives
considered?), and how do the credits establish a tone or mood?
• What are the first sounds and images in the film?
• Can you find any motifs in the credits?
• Do the end credits have any unusual features (e.g., out-takes, gags,
additional footage, etc.).
[Note: Up until the 1950s, films had a very set format for the credits: (1)
credits at the start, (2) a "The End" title card following the film, and (3) a cast
list with character names. Recently, most films immediately begin with a plot
sequence, with 'opening' credits ("main title") super-imposed over them
after a few minutes, and extensive rolling 'full credits' ("end title"), usually
white text on a black background, after the film concludes.]
6. Use Freeze-Frames
Prepare to pause (the freeze technique allows one to 'see' how everything is
positioned in a frame) and to replay various scenes, shots, or sequences.
7. Listen Carefully to the Soundtrack

Prepare to listen carefully to the film's soundtrack and how the music, songs,
and score enhance the actions of the characters and the film's mood.
8. Know Original Screen size

Watch a film in a movie theater, if possible, where it was designed to be
projected, or purchase the film in a 'wide-screen' format or in its original
format.
[Note: Understand that films made before the late 1950s had a width-to-
height aspect ratio of 4:3 (or 1.33:1) called 'Academy Ratio,' similar to a
television screen, while more modern films have non-standard, wide-screen
ratios (that are often viewed in the pan-and-scan mode).]
9. Determine Choice of Film Stock

Consider why the film was made as either color or black/white (if a choice
was possible).
Watch how color (or black and white) is used?
10. Evaluate Production Values

Does the film have:
Philippine Literature
3
Film
• high-production values (with a glossy and expensive look)

• low-production values (it's a low-budget, amateurish, B-film)
11. Study Running Time and Timeline

Know the entire run time of the film and the locations of various segments
(or sequences) or turning points within that time frame.
Keep track of the timeline of the film's parts - with the digital counter of a
VCR or DVD player.
12. Maintain Objectivity

Maintain objectivity to what is being presented, without pre-judging 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.
13. 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.
Watch the movie Muro-Ami(1999 film) for the activity.
References
Arnold, S. (2001). The creative spirit: to theatre, 2nd ed. California: Mayfield
Publishing.
Brokan, R. (2000). Theater, 5th ed. California: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Filmanalysisform. Retrieved August 18, 2010 from
http://www.truman.edu/˜c worldcox/filmanalysisform.html
Guiyab, R.G. (2005). Philippine literature: beyond forgetting. Makati City:
Grandwater Publication.
How to write a movie critic. Retrieved July 20, 2010 from
http://www.ehow.com
Photo/video analysis worksheet. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from
www.gbcnv.edu/gbia/forms/photofilm_analysis.pdf
Film review guidelines (2009). Study Guyide. Org. Retrieved August 31, 2020
from www.studyguide.org/study.
Tips on film viewing. Retrieved August 30, 2010 from
http://www.filmsite.org/filmview.html
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Philippine Literature

Tips on Film Viewing

1. Choose an Appropriate Film to View

2. Have a Second Viewing

4. Watch Film Extras

7. Listen Carefully to the Soundtrack

8. Know Original Screen size

9. Determine Choice of Film Stock

10. Evaluate Production Values

• high-production values (with a glossy and expensive look)

11. Study Running Time and Timeline

12. Maintain Objectivity

13. Overall Quality

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