1. How to Analyze a Film
IB Film

2. Cinematography
How does the photography contribute to achieving the filmmaker intentions? How does it affect the viewer’s perception of a scene?
Color, Image composition, Exposure, Framing, Focus, Camera Movement, Shot Type, Aspect Ratio, Lighting, etc

3. Mis-en-scène “Within the frame”
Acting/performance, blocking, art direction, set decoration, costumes, makeup, use of space

4. Editing How is editing used to convey filmmaker intentions?
Continuity, Transitions, Montage editing, pace, etc
Parallel Action / Cross Cutting

5. Sound
How does sound play a role in communicating with the audience and fulfilling the filmmakers’ intentions?
Dialogue / Music / Sound Effects / Foley
Diegetic vs Non-Diegetic sound

6. Filmmaker Intentions Why message/theme is the film trying to convey?
Influences from other works of art (books, visual art, films, etc?)
What vision did the director have when he/she made the film?
Auteur theory? Motifs, symbols, themes

7. Genre What genre(s) does the film fit into? How do you know?
What characteristics define it as part of that genre?
Conventions?
Does it fall into any notable movements (Expressionism, Auteur Theory, Marxist film theory, etc)

8. Impact How was the film received, $$$-wise and critically?
Did it have an impact on other films?

9. Cultural Context
Economic - issues explored in the film, as well as what context the film was made in
Geographical – Where was the film made? What cultural influences might be present because of where it was made?
Historical – what time period was it made in? What was happening in the world at the time?
Institutional – production, distribution, exhibition factors (ex: independent film vs. studio film)
Political – does contain political messages? Did it affect politics in the world?

10. Cultural Context
Social – communities, identities, or issues represented in the film
Technological – tools, products, methods used to create the film (or what it says about technology in our world)

11. Synthesis
How do all of these different elements come together to create a work of communication art?