Group Presentation Guidelines

For this assignment each group will choose a film (documentary or dramatic) that depicts any aspect of the global environmental crisis. Each group is responsible for analyzing the film by presenting brief clips followed by a detailed discussion of what decisions the filmmaker has made in order to produce an intentioned reaction.
The film will be treated and analyzed as a literary text, using all of the critical tools we will develop throughout the course.

Your presentation will contain:

1. A very brief background on the film including historical and artistic information.
2. Why you chose this particular film and how it pertains to the themes of the course.
3. A clear thesis statement that is proven and supported, using filmic and textual evidence, throughout your presentation. Students are encouraged to search for ANY sources, written or otherwise, that will aid in their discussion.
4. Clear links made to texts we have read in the course at the time of the presentation.
5. Brief and insightful clips from the film.
6. Questions posed to the class to promote discussion.
7. A report submitted to me a week after the presentation. This report is simply a textual record or a compilation of all that was said during your presentation.

*Each group MUST see me a week before your presentation to discuss your ideas and structure.

Questions you may want to ask yourself while watching the film:

1. What is the main point of this film? What is the filmmaker, the writers, the director, trying to tell me?
2. Do I agree with that message? Why or why not?
3. From what perspective is this film made? A western perspective? How does this perspective change the impact of the film’s message?
4. Do I believe in the characters? Is their a hero and a villain? If so, why and how am I made to feel when watching these characters?
5. Does anything make me uncomfortable about the film? Why or why not? Do you think this discomfort is intentional? If so, why?
6. What about the camera angle or the point of view? How does the way the film is shot contribute to your reaction?
7. What about the writing? Are there moments of dialogue that strike you? When are the moments of silence? Why do you think there is silence in the film?
8. Who do you imagine the audience for this film is? Do you think this film plays into what this audience already believes or is this film surprising them in some way?
9. What about the imagery? How does the filmmaker use imagery to convey his or her opinion?
10. What filmic device (camera angle, writing, music, setting, etc..) is featured most prominently throughout the film? What do you think this is so? How do these decisions impact your reception of the film?
11. From what you can tell, does the filmmaker have an opinion? How does the filmmaker convince you of this opinion? Are YOU convinced when the film is over? Why or why not?