Mr Earl's AS Media Blog: Research Techniques

Please find below some interesting/ helpful articles about how to develop your research skills. The articles are re-published below due to possible issues with the internet, with links to original sources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2138317_analyze-scene-film.html

HOW TO ANALYZE A MOVIE SCENE

Just like any form of art, film invites the study of its modes and techniques to provide a deeper understanding of the narrative and of the medium itself. A simple way to begin is to analyze a specific scene in a film, rather than to analyze an entire film as a whole. Doing so will enable you to gain a greater appreciation for the technical and artistic decisions in the film making process, and also give you a deeper insight into the rest of the film.

1 Watch the scene that you plan on analyzing at least once before you begin to make any formal observations.

2 Consider why the scene is important. Note the tone of the scene, and how the scene moves the narrative forward, if at all. Make sure you understand what happens in the scene with regards to the film's story and plot.

3 Focus on the dialogue in the scene. Perhaps there is no dialogue. If this is the case, ask yourself why this is so, considering whether other sounds fill in for dialogue and what the importance of sound effects in this scene might be. Think about all of this in relation to the plot.

4 Annotate the shot sequence in the scene. This is akin to taking notes in the margins of a book: note how the scene begins, how it continues and how it ends. Does it open with an establishing shot or an extreme close-up? Is there a dissolve from the previous scene, or a cut from black? Are there any dolly movements as the scene progresses? How long is each shot held?

5 Review the annotations that you made, and look for patterns and variations. Consider how the patterns -- or, in certain cases, the lack thereof -- might communicate a message. Consider whether they add tension or levity, and why. Think about why the director would have chosen to edit this sequence in such a way and how it affected you, as a viewer.

6 Observe how well the scene is lit. Is it dark, or very bright? If the film is in color, how vivid are the colors? Are there any unusual or unnatural colors? If the film is in black and white, how stark are the colors? Is the scene full of brighter greys and white lights, or darker greys and black shadows? How might all of this add to the mood of the scene?

7 Listen closely to the music in the scene. Consider how it contributes to everything else you have already observed, if it serves as background music, or if there are any cues that tie in with the events on screen? If the scene does not have any music, think about why this might be the case.

8 Investigate the film itself. Think about the film's history and its production, and research the work and legacy of the director. Awareness of when a film was made, and understanding the life and concerns of its director, can provide a glimpse into the meaning of the film, which, in turn, can help place the scene you are analyzing in the right context.

9 Read the opinions of scholars and critics. Many times, they will discuss the director's choices in scene construction and editing; they often analyze particular scenes as well. Their writing can assist you in understanding more about the director and the film, and help you fine tune your own analysis.

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http://www.ehow.com/how_2089470_analyze-movies.html

HOW TO ANALYZE MOVIES

A true movie critic must know how to explain why a movie works or doesn't work, looking beyond the obvious elements added to sell a movie to the audience. You've got to analyze the specific details that allow viewers to experience the story on many levels. Grab your notebook, head to the theater, and prepare to enter the world of the movie critic.

1. Find the theme of the movie. If you can't discern the message the movie is trying to convey, try describing the movie to someone else. You tend to talk about what struck you the strongest, usually the theme. Be aware that smaller themes can also be contained in a movie in support of the larger theme.

2. Look at the storyline. Analyze whether the plot flows easily from one scene to another. Note if the screenwriters followed a well-used formula from the hero cycle or added twists that make the plot more believable and draw the audience into the story.

3. Listen to the dialogue to analyze if it's believable or contrived. Forced explanations should not be sprinkled into the characters' conversations to explain the story to the audience.

4. Look at the set and scenery used for the movie. The atmosphere of the film is often enhanced with the use of lighting, special effects, costumes and backgrounds. These elements of the film should work together to bring the audience into the story but shouldn't overwhelm our senses and detract our attention.

5. Consider the roles of the main and supporting characters. It's not always the heroes that draw us into a story but the damsel in distress or villain who plays a role that makes the film memorable. Stereotypical characters are often the easiest to spot; however, their role is usually of little importance to the theme.

6. Watch for scenes that do not add to the story and should have been edited out. Editing a movie is an art, and needless pieces should be left on the cutting room floor. Also when analyzing editing, keep your eye out for the way the scenes move from one to another; the audience shouldn't lose track of the story because the movie jumped around from scene to scene.

7. Watch for symbolism, used to represent some topic or idea from the theme. This could be a repeated object that the camera focuses on throughout many scenes, or a word or phrase that is repeated. Be careful not to find symbolism everywhere, an easy thing to do if you're looking to make meaning where none is intended by the director.

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http://www.slideshare.net/jodiebutcher/film-opening-analysis

film opening analysis

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http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oaD5ml16AwEC&pg=PT45&lpg=PT45&dq=analysing+title+sequences&source=bl&ots=rxyCzXe6zm&sig=FuC-CuFTboD57K4waMhGfYFiLow&hl=en&ei=v6fQTuKAOYHY8AOc7pwH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CFUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=analysing%20title%20sequences&f=false

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http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/19/30-unforgettable-movie-title-sequences/
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30 Unforgettable Title Sequences

Lord of War
The visually pleasing “life of a bullet” sequence is a perfect opening for a film about an arms dealer. 720p HD version.

Catch Me If You Can
The retro animated intro to Catch Me If You Can perfectly sets the scene and time period.

Se7en
A wonderfully creepy title sequence that perfectly sets the mood for the film you’re about to watch.

Superbad
It’s amazing how much personality can be expressed in a simple silhouette.

Charade
There were a lot of animated opening title sequences in the 60′s – this one is my personal favorite.

Casino Royale (2006)
In an effort to re-invent the franchise the infamous James Bond title sequence was overhauled. The result was a visually pleasing intro that still pays its respects to the original.

Sweeney Todd
A lot of Tim Burton’s films sport fantastic title sequences but Sweeney Todd’s is especially great. The creepy atmosphere and music combined with the dark imagery sets the tone very nicely. 720p HD version,

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Vibrant colors, great animation and an amazing score. This title sequence has it all.

Fight Club
One amazing sequence starts at a microscopic level and continues to expand outward until we are looking down the barrel of a gun. Unfortunately, the embedding of the opening sequence in this post was disabled by request. You need to watch the video on YouTube.

The Pink Panther (1963)
We would be remiss not to include the original Pink Panther in this list. Definitely a favorite.

Thank You For Smoking
A very clever title sequence with the credits written on vintage cigarette packaging.

Fahrenheit 451
In a world where the simple act of reading has been outlawed it only makes sense to have the titles read to you.

Delicatessen
Just beautiful in all respects. A wonderful use of practical effects – they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Alien
A very slow paced, minimalist title sequence. The result is nothing but haunting.

Bunny Lake Is Missing
The concept is fairly simple but it’s so well done and the final result works beautifully.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Another great example of a contemporary film featuring an old school animated introduction.

Vertigo
Vertigo features a masterfully crafted and almost hypnotic title sequence. A perfect opening to the film.

Panic Room
This is the third David Fincher movie to make this list, it seems the man can appreciate a great title sequence. This is a very basic concept yet it’s brilliantly executed.

Dr. Strangelove
Wonderful imagery combined with the hand written text makes for a very unique and memorably title sequence.

Eurotrip
Say what you will about the movie, this is one creative and well-executed title sequence.

Pi
This is a great example of an amazing and original title sequence done on a shoe string budget.

North By Northwest
A series of intersecting lines form into a skyscraper. Very cool effect, especially for the time.

American Splendor
It only makes sense for a film about a comic book creator to have the credits in a comic book fashion.

Reservoir Dogs
To this day every time I walk down the street in a suit and sunglasses “little green bag” inevitably pops into my head.

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
A very funny animated sequence to kick off this comedy classic.

Halloween
A very simple yet ominous title sequence.

Live and Let Die
The James Bond franchise really understood the beauty of a great title sequence. Though we only included one classic in this list, the rest are here in spirit.

American Psycho
The credits for American Psycho play as many mind games on you as the film itself. Great attention to typography.Warning: Course Language!

Psycho (1960)
This brilliantly crafted title sequence has a lot of fun with typography and presentation.

Spiderman 2
An amazing title sequence that pays its respects to the original source; the comic book.

Honorable Mentions

There were so many titles we wanted to include in this list but didn’t quite make the cut for one reason or another — in most cases because we just couldn’t find a video sequence in the Web or because the quality of the video was not good enough.