How Films Communicate
Kate Kondas HUM/150
June 25, 2013
Eric Carlson
University of Phoenix Material

How Films Communicate

Complete Part I in your first week of class. In Week Two, complete Parts II and III after viewing a film of your own selection from the How Films Communicate Film List located under your Week One materials. Submit Parts I, II, and III in Week Two.

Part I: Beginning to Analyze Film

To compete Part I, choose a movie you have viewed in the past (this does not have to be from the How Films Communicate Film List ). In the following table, enter the title of your movie and complete the entries for time and place, costume, and set design, writing in complete sentences. For the final entry describe the atmosphere created by the combination of film elements discussed in Ch. 1 of Film: An Introduction and how they contributed to your liking or disliking of the movie. Submit Part I, along with Parts II and III in Week 2.

Movie |Time and Place |Costume |Set Design |Describe the atmosphere created by the combination of film elements and how they contributed to your liking or disliking of the movie. | |Example Movie

Alien, 1979

|Example Entry

The movie is set in the far-off future. The movie takes place in space on board a spaceship and some action occurs on the surface of a planet. |Example Entry

The characters often appear in grubby, casual clothing and what appear to be worn-out uniforms. Also, they appear in space suits when they journey to the planet. |Example Entry

The sets looks very high-tech and run-down at the same time. In some areas there are very streamlined and modern-looking set pieces, and in other areas pipes or tubing can be seen running along the walls. |Example Entry

The overall atmosphere is gritty and realistic creating the sense that this is a lived-in world. The atmosphere of the planet they visit is creepy because the shapes of the set seems alive. The characters are all acting realistically, especially the character of Lambert who is terrified. The characters fit into this world well, looking sweaty and with no visible make-up. The elements combined contributed to my enjoyment by making the action feel like it was really happening. Also the alien design was nightmarish. | |World War Z, 2013 |The movie is set in the present with the beginning scene starting on the busy streets of Philadelphia. The main character travels to several countries in search of a cure for the unknown outbreak that has plagued the world. |As the movie begins on a normal day without cause for concern, the main characters are dressed in casual clothes that many of them remain in throughout the movie. As the main character travels throughout the world, he is armed with clothing that is suitable for combat. The costumes vary throughout the scenes as the setting moves through several countries. In some of the poorer countries, the cast is seen wearing grubby, ill-fitting clothing. There are also several scenes that show the cast in full military gear. |The initial set is in the streets of downtown Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. The set changes frequently from a city in utter chaos, to an aircraft carrier off the Atlantic coast, to a military base in Southern Korea and several other countries. There is also a scene in an elaborate laboratory with very high-tech equipment and security. |The atmosphere of this film creates a sense of uneasiness throughout each scene. The cast is unaware of what is attacking Earth. This unknown element and the realistic city setting keep the audience at the edge of their seats for an hour and forty-five minutes. The cast does a remarkable job with their acting roles allowing the audience to identify and sympathize with their fears. The main characters are a family of four that leads a typical life in the city of Philadelphia. The commonality of the family makes the audience envision this happening in real life and gives the film an additional edge not found in some movies. | |