1. What aspects of films make them outstanding, better than average or just bad?

2.  View the following clip from the film Titanic and write down elements of the clip that do or do not qualify it as a “great” film.  Start with a T-Chart that identifies “Good” elements of the film and “Bad” elements of the film.  As you start to accumulate items in the columns, start identifying the elements by category as best as you can (Are some of them technical aspects? Plot elements? Acting? Try to narrow your categories down to between 4 and 5. EXAMPLE ONE: Titanic

3.  Now that you have watched the clip and made your list, come to the board one at a time when asked and write down aspects that make the film “good” or bad, specifying as many categories as you can. Example for “Good”: Believable characters (Acting) Example for “Bad”: Inappropriately unrealistic characters (Acting)  Once a complete list is on the board, we will try to limit it to 4-5 broad criteria that determine if a film is “good” or “bad”… What Criteria Make a Film “Good”?

4. 1) Stand the "Test of Time" (why do people still watch Charlie Chaplin Movies, Gone With the Wind or The Wizard of Oz?) 2) Quality in all aspects of filmmaking – technically (directing, lighting, editing, etc.) and acting (Best Picture winners, generally) 3) Story - a compelling story that says something about humanity or explains the human condition (why was Titanic such a success? - everyone could put themselves on the boat as a viewer, consider how would we respond in our humanity.) 4) Sets a "standard" for other films in its genre, or filmmaking technique, or ground-breaking ideas, etc. ( 2001: A Space Odyssey - changed the way space looked for all future films, Toy Story - 1st computer animated film, Gone With the Wind - defined "epic" film making) What Are Some Broad Criteria That Tell the Viewer If a Film Is “Good” or “Bad”?

5. AFI Top 25 #MOVIEYEAR 1CITIZEN KANE1941 2THE GODFATHER1972 3CASABLANCA1942 4RAGING BULL1980 5SINGIN' IN THE RAIN1952 6GONE WITH THE WIND1939 7LAWRENCE OF ARABIA1962 8SCHINDLER'S LIST1993 9VERTIGO1958 10THE WIZARD OF OZ1939 11CITY LIGHTS1931 12THE SEARCHERS1956 13STAR WARS1977 14PSYCHO1960 152001: A SPACE ODYSSEY1968 16SUNSET BLVD.1950 17THE GRADUATE1967 18THE GENERAL1927 19ON THE WATERFRONT1954 20IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE1946 21CHINATOWN1974 22SOME LIKE IT HOT1959 23THE GRAPES OF WRATH1940 24E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL1982 25TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD1962 What do Film Makers and CriticsThink Are Great Films?

6. AMC Film Site: 1.Casablanca 2.Star Wars 3.The Godfather (I and II) 4.The Shawshank Redemption What Does the Public Think Makes a Great Film?

7. http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice.htmlhttp://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice.html (I encourage you to look at the lists on line to see how factors such as inflation and WORLD-WIDE acceptance can impact the financial success of a film. For example, using an international standard, Harry Potter films are making a considerable amount of money!). 1.Gone with the Wind 2.Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (The Original Star Wars) 3.The Sound of Music 4.E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 5.The Ten Commandments What Does the Film Industry Think Is a Great Film (based on $ earned)?

8. Create an 8 ½ x11 Poster that lists one film of your choosing (with visual image from the film such a the movie poster or key scene) This poster is due MONDAY and must include four specific (3-5 sentence) paragraphs indicating how the film addresses the four criteria mentioned previously. You will present these posters briefly on Monday, so know what you are talking about and BE SPECIFIC in your analysis! (No words like “cool” and “good things” please!) Homework