Assignment Overview:
You will make an argument about the narrative, emotional, intellectual, and/or psychological effects created as a result of a motif within a film of your choice on the class screening list (i.e. any film that has been or will be screened in its entirety for SAC 236 this term). The nature of this assignment urges you to make your argument in a creative and potentially unconventional way, while still making an argument. Your audiovisual essay should be made according to following specifications:
Choose a motif that you argue effects the film in a significant way. Motifs can be understood broadly, anything repeated—from the use of long takes to a character raising her/his right hand. You will submit a sentence or two identifying your chosen motif and some indication of the role it plays in the film electronically or in writing to your GSI.
Peer Review of “Script”:
Given the short nature of this “script,” you should only focus on two questions: how might their thesis be stronger, more viable and/or more concise? How could you imagine this argument being made visually, with the way you edit and manipulate the clips together? Make concrete suggestions for examples from the film that the essay could include and audiovisual techniques that could support the analysis (such as graphics, text on screen, split screen, fast- and slow-motion, zoom, and so on.
In the digital video editor of your choice (e.g. iMovie or Adobe Premiere), collect clips of every example of your chosen motif in the film. Plan to use every example in your audiovisual essay of between 90 seconds and 3 minutes in length. State your argument concisely—preferably in one short sentence near the beginning of your finished audiovisual essay in the form of text or voice-over narration (arguments will often evolve as you examine the clips and create the audiovisual essay, but be sure to consult your GSI with any questions about viable theses. Be original and systematic: choose something you noticed, no matter how seemingly minor, and try to use each and every example of the motif in your essay. Clips can be used in any manner or combination you choose: played sequentially, using a split screen, etc. Organize the clips to strengthen your argument, and manipulate them through editing, cropping, freeze-frames, changes of speed, zooming, annotating, diagramming, etc. to support your argument.
After the initial statement of your argument, do not use any further voice-over narration, but you may use onscreen text as much as you wish to support your argument or annotate the images for emphasis and explanation. Each instance of text can be no longer than seven words, and, generally, the shorter the better. Try to avoid always placing the text at the bottom of the screen like a subtitle. Experiment with how the placement, timing, font, and frequency of text can support your argument.
Use music of your own choosing or repurposed sound from the film to establish a tone that helps your argument, but pay attention to volume. End your audiovisual essay with an epigraph from the film or from a course reading. The epigraph should support or thematically connect with your argument and the motif you chose.
Submit a draft audiovisual assignment #2 through Canvas in the form of a playable .mp4 video file between 90 seconds and 3 minutes in length. The file name should begin with your last name.
Peer-Review of Video Draft:
Students will be assigned peer reviews to complete through Canvas. Follow the peer-review prompts listed on the Canvas peer-review assignment. Full points will be allocated for providing timely and meaningful feedback on the work of other designated students in one’s section.
Submit the final audiovisual assignment #2 through Canvas in the form of a playable .mp4 video file between 90 seconds and 3 minutes in length. The file name should begin with your last name.
