Exam2

=Midterm Exam 2= Tuesday, 11/1/2011 Bring paper

Format of the Exam
The format of the exam will be the same as it was for the first exam, as follows:
 * Analyze stills and short clips from movies we have screened in class (applying concepts, analyzing details)
 * multiple choice (film terms)
 * short answer (definitions)
 * short answer (provide examples to illustrate film concepts)

What You Should Know

 * From the textbook**, review the "Learning Objectives" at the beginning of Chapters 6 ("Cinematography"), 8 ("Editing"), and 9 ("Sound"). For Chapter 3 ("Types of Movies"), review the objectives related to narrative and documentary movies. Since the textbook contains only a brief introduction to documentary, I've listed learning objectives for documentary below.

With regard to documentary film, you should be able to
 * understand that documentaries are as carefully constructed as fiction films
 * recognize the persuasiveness of documentaries
 * explain how the formal elements we have studied (especially editing) function in documentary film
 * discuss the ethical issues raised by documentary


 * From the DVD**, you should be familiar with all of the videos for Chapters 6 and 8. From the videos on cinematography (Ch. 6), we did not discuss zoom vs. moving camera or focal length in class, so __these topics will not__ be on the exam. But you should know the material from the videos on lighting, shot types, camera angles, point of view, and moving camera. The videos for Ch. 8 all expand on topics covered in the textbook and in class, so you should be familiar with these.


 * FYI**, the //[|Looking at Movies]// textbook website has online quizzes, a glossary, and flashcards for each chapter and for the DVD (starting with Ch. 5). You may find these helpful for studying.

Things You Should Be Able To Do

 * Describe a shot in terms of implied proximity, camera angle, camera movement, and duration and explain the significance of these variables
 * Distinguish between continuity and discontinuity editing and describe the elements that contribute to each.
 * Discuss the function or effect of particular cuts in a scene.
 * Distinguish between different types and sources of sound. Discuss the function of sound in a scene

Cinematography

 * shot vs. setup vs. take
 * high-key lighting
 * low-key lighting
 * three-point lighting
 * implied proximity (all the shot types)
 * establishing shot
 * deep space composition
 * deep focus cinematography
 * camera angles (high, low, dutch/tilt, aerial/bird's eye)
 * camera movement (pan, tilt, dolly)
 * long take

Editing

 * cutting
 * Kuleshov effect
 * flashback, flash-forward
 * continuity editing
 * discontinuity editing
 * montage (the kind in Citizen Kane)
 * Soviet montage
 * 180-degree rule
 * shot/reverse shot
 * match cut
 * parallel editing
 * point-of-view editing
 * jump cut
 * freeze frame

Sound

 * sources of sound:
 * diegetic vs. nondiegetic
 * onscreen vs. offscreen
 * internal vs. external
 * types of sound (dialogue, environmental, music, silence)
 * Foley sounds

Documentary

 * observational documentary
 * self-reflexive documentary
 * voiceover

How to Answer an Essay Question

 * 1) Answer all parts of the question
 * 2) Show that you understand the question and the concepts/terms it addresses
 * 3) Use topic sentences
 * 4) Support your point with evidence
 * 5) Explain the significance of details

For example, here is a sample question. "Analyze the mise-en-scene in this shot in terms of both design and content."

Applying the tips above:
 * 1) Your answer must address both design and content, not just one or the other.
 * 2) You must demonstrate that you understand what mise-en-scene means and how design and content contribute to it. Use these terms in your answer.
 * 3) Don't just jump in with a bunch of detail. Think of a one or two sentence answer to the question, and then support your answer with detail.
 * 4) Make sure you include details that relate to and support your topic sentence.
 * 5) Explain the meaning of what you notice. For example, if you say the image has dark tones and a blue color scheme, then explain why this is important. Does the color help create character, establish mood, etc.?