Doubling an introduction to film study and a practical writing guide, this brief text introduces students to film terms and the major film theories, enabling them to write more critically. Examples from newer movies provide a fresh list of references for students introduced to film study and writing films. The author presents several approaches to film analysis and writing about film–auteurs, genres, ideology, kinds of formalism, and national cinemas, and… More >>
A Short Guide to Writing about Film
I am currently a film major who is being forced to read this book. Let me say that so far I am only to chapter three and have suffered through every page of it. It is filled with basic, common sense, (i.e., the best way to write about film is to take notes during the screening. and if you can, it’s good to see the movie more than once), which is explained in several pages. Give me a break. Not only does he present basic knowlnedge but he repeats himself in so many words. The truth is, the only way to successfully analize film is to develop an eye for symbolism. No book, I don’t care who writes it, can teach you that. It is something that must be personally developed. Why someone would waste their time writing a book trying to teach people how to do that blows my mind. I give it one star, cause after all, everyone deserves a little comething for at least trying.
Rating: 1 / 5
I received the book I had ordered in less than a week. It was in great condition. I was very pleased. It was an easy read and was very helpful to me for the film class I was taking on American Westerns, in which I had to write three research papers.
Rating: 5 / 5
One thing I can say is I enjoy a good film. O.K. if it moves I’ll watch it. But until I read this book I really was just looking with out seeing.
It is nice to have this guide confirm what one knows as common sense. Probably because the guide is designed to take you from ground zero to a level of appreciation and allow you to convey your opinion intelligently.
If you have an earlier edition you will still get the essence of the book. Newer editions add different resources and research information.
Some of the highlights are:
* A shot-by shot analysis of a sequence from the film “Potemkin”
* Suggestions on using the Internet
* Sample student writing
Some contents:
Writing about the Movies
Preparing to Watch and Preparing to Write
Film Terms and Topics
Six Approaches to writing about Film
Style and Structure in Writing
Researching the Movies
Manuscript Form
This guide is an eye opener.
Rating: 5 / 5
The book turned out to be fine. It came as it was described and overall I am completely satisfied with it’s condition. If you are unsure about ordering from this person, I recommend that you do so and I have confidence you will be satisfied.
Rating: 4 / 5
This book fills a niche–a short and essential guide in a course in which the numbers of other texts simply don’t leave room for one of the more comprehensive, ambitious introductory texts to film studies. But it’s hard to justify a price above $10 for this slim volume. The text just isn’t that informative or helpful. Moreover, the previous edition contained egregious errors–ranging from misspellings to identifying the protagonist of “Apocalypse Now” as Marlowe rather than Willard.
Rating: 3 / 5