Film Studies Summer Task 

What makes a film good? 

Macro elements: story, characters, plot and genre  

Micro elements:  
 

• cinematography – This refers to the ‘shot’. Filmmakers control the cinematographic qualities of a shot, including, how the shot is framed, how long the shot is held for and what it looks like in terms of colour. This control that the filmmaker has over what we as a spectator can see is a key element of how we understand and make sense of film and relates directly to both the film’s narrative development and the conveying of the film’s messages and values. 
   

• mise-en- scène -This refers to what is in the scene and it includes setting, costume, make-up and how characters are positioned within the scene.How a filmmaker chooses to use the principal components of mise-en-scène (setting, props, costume and make-up) can generate multiple connotations and suggest a range of possible interpretations. 
   
• editing – At its most basic editing is the placing of one shot next to another usually as a ‘cut’ however this does not cover the complexity or importance of editing which also covers the graphic relationship, the rhythmic relationship, the spatial and temporal relationships which are present in the majority of narrative filmmaking. How the shot-to-shot relationships of continuity editing can be used to create meaning and generate response for the spectator. 
   
• sound – Film sound is often considered both as a whole and broken down into its constituent parts.  

This includes: 

• diegetic sound – sound that the characters within the film world can hear and react to 

• non-diegetic sound – sound that is added afterwards and should generate a response 

within the audience. 

It will also include contrapuntal and parallel sound: 

• contrapuntal sound is sound which contrasts with the mood, image and even genre of the sequence 

• parallel sound fits the spectators expectations for the sequence in terms of mood, image and genre 

• performance –  This relates directly to the performance of the cast and how meanings and responses are generated through their individual and collective performance. It considers the staging of a scene, how the cast are positioned within a set up as well as the type of performance being given. This would include the use of acting approaches such as method acting or improvisation 

The balance and combination of all of the above creates a well-produced and highly rated film. 
 

Knowledgeable- You will need to have both theory and practical knowledge about film.

Risk-takers- You will need to take risks in film to achieve the best you can.

Balanced- You will learn a balance of theory and practical work in film.

Open-minded- When working in groups, you will need to be open minded to other students’ ideas.

Reflective- You will need to reflect back on your work to see what went well and what to improve upon.

Caring- You should be caring for other people’s opinions and if anyone asks for help you should help them.

Principled- You need to be respectful.

Communicators- You will need to communicate when working in teams to produce the best piece of work you can.

Inquirers- You will need to ask questions when curious about a certain subject of film and if you need help.

Thinkers- You need to be thinking on how to improve and what you need to do to be the best you can be.

test

What makes a film “good”?

I consider a film “good” if it leaves a lasting impression on me after watching, and I would watch it again. For this to happen the narrative of the film must be memorable, not just identical to other films of the same genre. For example, one of my favourite films, What We Do in the Shadows, is memorable due to it not presenting vampires how they usually are, seriously in the horror genre. Since it is a comedy, it shows vampires living somewhat normal lives with everyday problems such as the dishes not being washed, although the dishes are covered in blood. These sort of ridiculous scenarios occur throughout the film, such as when the police clearly miss the dead bodies in their house and are instead concerned about fire hazards. This also subverts your expectations of what will happen in the film, which is what I think makes a great comedy, as well as a film in any genre. This is one of the reasons why the film was memorable to me, and a reason for my interest in watching the TV show. The cinematography style fits in with the mockumentary genre, such as the shaky handheld camera making it feel like a real documentary. So I think cinematography is very important in making a good film, as even though the film is full of ridiculous scenarios, there has to be some realistic elements to get me absorbed in the narrative. I also think good characters are essential in making a good film. They should be memorable, unique and enjoyable to watch.

Hot Fuzz, my current favourite film, is another comedy which feels rewarding to watch. It does this by using small details that foreshadow and pay off at the end of the film. This makes the film incredibly rewatchable, as there are always foreshadowing moments you notice the next time. The use of action movie style cinematography enhances the comedy because the entire film is mocking the action genre. It does this by having very dramatic fight scenes previously called unrealistic earlier on in the film. Sound used effectively also makes a good film, for example in the fight scene, loud and dramatic action film music is played, as well as loud gunfire, adding to the whole action genre feel of the scene. I also think the editing adds to the comedy, such as a scene when a tv remote is pressed and immediately cuts off to a house exploding, as if that set off the explosion. Finally, I think realistic special effects help in making a film good. In Hot Fuzz, special effects are used for blood and gore to make shocking scenes. If the special effects were not as high quality, you would not be as immersed in the scene due to it being unrealistic.