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FILM1000 Introduction to Film Studies
Sequence Analysis Midterm Paper Prompt
Deadline: April 25 midnight via the assignment submission portal on Canvas.
Format: typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, with correct margins (1 in), Word file
(PDF, Pages, or Google Doc link will not be accepted).
The assignment has two parts, a descriptive one and an analytic one. Please submit them as one file.
Part I. Description
Pick one of the following clips. Then, isolate what you take to be one cohesive and meaningful
sequence within:
1. Billy Elliot
https://vimeo.com/1065735291?share=copy (password: midterm1)
2. Daisies
https://vimeo.com/1068729753?share=copy (password: midterm2)
3. Floating Life
https://vimeo.com/1068732671?share=copy (password: midterm3)
4. Soy Cuba
https://vimeo.com/1070273044?share=copy (password: midterm4)
As you watch (and repeatedly re-watch) your chosen segment, take note of as much information
as you can about its formal elements, including elements of the mise-en-scene (i.e., sets, costumes
and make-up, lighting, performance and staging); elements of the cinematography (i.e., photographic
qualities including tonality, speed of motion, varieties of perspective, framing including aspect ratio
and all aspects of camera placement, mobile framing, on/off-screen spaces, shot duration/long
take); devices of editing; elements of music/sound.
Use the attached shot-by-shot analysis form (available on Canvas too) to succinctly document
your observation. There is no page limit for this part of the essay. The length of your form depends
on your segmentation and the thoroughness of your engagement with the chosen sequence.
Part II. Analysis
After you have finished the descriptive part of the assignment, write an essay of 1900 words (+/- 10% acceptable, reference included) that proposes a reading of how one or two stylistic elements
function in your chosen sequence. Identify your chosen sequence by describing its beginning and
end rather than listing the time code (which is meaningless as the time codes of the same sequence
in different prints, DVDs, Blu-rays, and streams of the film might not be identical).
Discuss how your chosen stylistic elements are deployed 1) to engage the viewers’ attention and to
shape their understanding of the immediate action; and 2) to engage the film’s larger thematic,
ideological, socio-political, and/or philosophical concerns. Your analysis should aim to propose an
original reading of the film; it should marshal your segment’s formal features as evidence to support
your interpretation. Put another way: you are asked to mobilize your formal analysis to say
something illuminating about your chosen sequence and the film as a whole.
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As you make your argument, you should include a discussion of at least one assigned reading
(either required or recommended) on the syllabus. You are welcome to use additional materials
sourced from your own research but only in addition to the assigned reading. The reference to the
text should explicitly help you make sense of the significance of the formal experimentations on
display in your chosen sequence (i.e., its relevance to your argument should be clearly
demonstrated).
Your footnotes and bibliographic entries should be formatted according to the Chicago Manual of
Style. Adopt the notes and bibliography system:
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html
Don’t forget to title your essay.
Grading Criteria (see the marking rubrics on Canvas or the syllabus for details)
• 85 and above: Outstanding research that exceeds the course expectation.
• 75-84: Excellent audiovisual analysis supported by accurate descriptive language; well- grounded argument with high stakes and refreshing insights.
• 65-74: Very good audiovisual analysis with no or a few mistakes in descriptive language;
valuable argument with sufficient stakes.
• 50-64: Good audiovisual analysis with some mistakes in descriptive language; sufficient
argument but with low stakes.
• 49 and below: Inaccurate audiovisual analysis with several mistakes in descriptive language;
insufficient or no argument; lacking in originality; failure to meet the basic requirements
(such as failing to write on one of the designated films, failing to fulfill the citation
requirement, and failing to focus on a film sequence).
Late Submission:
According to university policies, work not submitted on or before the due date is subject to a
penalty of 5% of the total grade (i.e., 5 points) per calendar day late; if work is submitted more
than 10 days after the due date, the mark will be zero.
Citation:
Ostensible failure to adhere to the standards of the Chicago Style (such as improper formatting of
the title of a film or an article/chapter or a book; inaccurate citation of the references; incorrect use
of footnotes; incomplete bibliography) will result in a deduction of up to 10 points from the final
grade of your paper.
*Under no circumstance will plagiarism and contract cheating be tolerated. AI generated content is
also forbidden. All suspected violations of academic honesty will be reported to the university for
further investigation.
** Typo, grammatical error, punctuation error, among other writing mistakes will hurt your grade.
Please proofread.
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Shot-by-shot Analysis Form
Name & Student ID:
Film:
Shot
#
Scale
(ECU –ELS)
Camera
angle (HA,
LA) and
placement
Camera
Movement
Duration Character( s), action,
dialogue
Editing Mise-en-scene
Sound,
music
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