Introducing the Essay
Paragraph #1: Introduce the film and any interesting features
Include the director, producer, any significant technical workers, and cast members to introduce the existence of the film. Mention anything important to know—is it a biopic, is it based on a novel, is it part of a series? Did it win any awards?
Here are some examples tidbits found about these movies that could be used to hook you reader in in the first paragraph:
Gone With the Wind: The original director, George Cukor (Links to an external site.), was fired shortly after filming began and was replaced by Fleming, who in turn was briefly replaced by Sam Wood (Links to an external site.) while Fleming took some time off due to exhaustion (Links to an external site.).
The Wizard of Oz: The original tin man—Buddy Ebsen—was hospitalized because his aluminum powder makeup had coated his lungs. He had to convalesce in an iron lung. A replacement for the Tin Man had to be found.
Apocalypse Now: Looking to make the Vietnamese landscape as real as possible, director Francis Ford Coppola shot the movie in the Philippines. Filming was supposed to take five months and ended up taking over a year. Typhoon Olga destroyed the set and ruined one month’s worth of shooting. Martin Sheen also suffered a heart attack.
Jaws” : Spielberg’s three mechanical sharks—all named Bruce—consistently malfunctioned. It took 14 people to operate them. Pneumatic hoses filled with salt water, internal frames fractured from water pressure, the skin corroded, and the sharks got tangled in seaweed. To make life easier, Spielberg revised the script so the shark made as few appearances as possible. The decision made the film more suspenseful. “The shark not working was a godsend,” Spielberg later said.
Example:
Mario Puzo’s , the Godfther is an absorbing, dark thriller that fascinates, horrifies, and entertains. The first films Francis Ford Coppola adapted from the novel elevate the sordid story into operatic triumphs that some consider to be two of the best films ever made. Both films won Oscars for Best Picture (Part II being the first sequel to do so) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Paragraph #2: Summary
After presenting the main facts about the film, it’s time to summarize it.
The trick to making it more powerful is always to assume that your teacher hasn’t seen the movie (but NO SPOILERS!). In that way, you won’t leave out some important information.
The best way to make sure you’ve covered everything in your summary is to answer the five W’s:
- who
- what
- when
- where
- why
- and how
Likewise, you can discuss anything related to your opinion, structure or style. Just remember that you need to support anything you say with examples or quotes from the film itself. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a viable comment.
THESIS STATEMENT Help:
Potential format: In “________________________”(film name) when viewed through the __________________________(chosen critical perspective), the viewer can see that _________________________(associated universal idea) is ____________________________________________________________________________________________(attitude towards the universal idea).
Example: In Netflix’s “Enola Holms” when viewed through the Gender perspective we recognize the historical issue of women’s right to independence and self-efficacy as women fought against patrimonial structures.
Breakdown:
- “Enola Holms”= film name
- Gender perspective= chosen critical perspective
- Women’s right =universal idea
- Women fought against patrimonial structures= attitude towards the universal idea
