When we watch films for entertainment we do not usually pay attention to how the narratives are put together. We simply suspend our disbelief, convince ourselves that what we are watching is real and are then allow ourselves to be swept along by the illusion. Though this is a very pleasant experience, we can gain much more from examining these rich narratives more closely.
Film appreciation exercises are about watching again, understanding and talking about how screen narratives are put together and what they mean. The good thing about this process of learning to ‘read’ and discuss a film is that there is no right and wrong answer, but rather a discussion of what is seen and heard and what seems to work and why.
Once you have learned how to really ‘read’ a film, you gain twice the enjoyment from the narrative. The first time when you simply watch the film as you have always done, and the second time when you analyse how it works - and why you were moved, or not, as the case may be.
Factual film and narrative construction
Since most of the films in this collection are factual films i.e. documentaries, public information films or advertisements, here are a few key questions to discuss after you have watched each film:
- Who was the film made for and why?
- How is the narrative ordered and structured? Often in factual films this is built around a simple rhetorical question, e.g. what is it like to be a shepherd? O’er Hill and Dale; or ‘how were the first oil rigs set up?’ The Wells of Montrose.
- Alternatively, does the narrative unfold through the desires and actions of characters as in the short films Exercise Movie, the biographical documentary She Blazed a Trail or Travelpass - It’s Just the Ticket ?
- Are there different sequences to the narrative? How are these structured and organised?
- What are the main surprises in the narrative? You may want to list these as you watch the film. Then discuss them afterwards as a class to analyse how the narrative unfolded and turned to reveal new meanings.
- Are there any specific patterns to the way the film is constructed? These could be repeating sounds, shapes, visual or audio symbols, actions, gestures, contrasts, colours, locations, camera angles and movements, the use of music and sound FX, or a particular style of narrations - as well as the way all these elements and layers interact.
- How do these patterns help unify the film and reveal its themes?
- Were there any areas left unexplained or that puzzled you afterwards? If so, discuss these in class.
- Were there any areas of the subject matter that you would have liked to know more about?
- Is there a reason the filmmakers decided to leave this information out?
- Could anything have been filmed or produced better? If so discuss how would you have done this.
Talking about all these areas will help your analyse and understand what they have watched (without it seeming like hard work). It will also help them learn how to design effective films of their own.
And remember there are no 'right' and 'wrong' answers, just observations supported by textual evidence.
Since you are free to download these films, you can also re-edit the footage, as well as creating your own moving image essays or documentaries which can then be uploaded to the Scotland on Screen National Glow Group.
