Give the name of the shot sequence at the top of the grid. (The grid contains space for 50 shots. The shots per scene range from 14 to 134. Depending on the scene that you choose, you may have to print out more sheets or you may not use all or most of the grid.)

Assignment Question

The shot by shot is a tool used to look at cinematography and editing. It is a written description/notation of a sequence of shots, or a scene comprised of a number of shots. The shot by shot breaks down each shot according to the cinematography (shot length and distance, camera movement, lighting, mise-en-scene, etc.) and editing.

Shot by Shot Instructions:

Part I: Chose a scene clip from the six clips (See below for scene clip details). First, watch the film to make note of filmstock, lighting, sound, camera movement, subject movement, shot distance, and shot duration. Second, watch the scene clip with a particular sequence of shots in mind; at this time students should note (on the grid provided) all the formal aspects of their chosen shot sequence, identifying the shots, camera movement, shot juxtaposition, sound, lighting, framing, shot distance, and shot duration. Give the name of the shot sequence at the top of the grid. (The grid contains space for 50 shots. The shots per scene range from 14 to 134. Depending on the scene that you choose, you may have to print out more sheets or you may not use all or most of the grid.) After you have watched your chosen scene and made your formal notations,Watch the scene a third time to double check yourselves and to determine the use and meaning of the formal aspects noted for the final part.

Part II: For the final part of the shot by shot, using space at the bottom of the grid, students write a brief explanation of the sequence. Referring to your notations, the formal aspects identified and used, and the juxtaposition of shots in the sequence, provide a brief explanation of how the sequence makes meaning and how the horror of the scene is created by referring to the formal aspects of the scene noted on the grid. For example, if the close-up is frequently used in your sequence, you should explain the use of the close-up in the scene or it may help you explain what the scene and its sequence of shots means in the larger edit of the shots in the sequence or when the scene is placed next to another scene or sequence of shots for another scene (the precedes or follows the scene that you have chosen). For the former, the close-up is used to show emotion (fear) based on the facial expression of the character or that the character is planning or thinking about something, or that the character has interiority, or interior psychology is revealed. For the latter set up of shot juxtapositions or sequence of shots following the close-up sequence, the use of close up may indicate that the character is confused by what is going to happen (which would be in the next sequence of shots) or the close-up may suggest familiarity or lack of familiarity with the place where he is (which is seen in the sequence of shots following the sequence of close-ups).

Assignment Submission

Submit everything, grid and the explanation, in one file or one document. Your submission is incomplete without both parts. Please submit the final version of the assignment in .pdf format. There are two versions of the assignment available, one in .docx and one in .pdf. I suggest that you print the .docx version and use it when you do the exercise. Then insert your data and the final summation/explanation to the .pdf and submit the ,pdf as the final version. Insert your name on the first page at the top of the grid. Scene Selection: Choose from one of the following: 28 Days Later – Jim’s Rampage: 9:00 minutes; approximately134 shots White Zombie – Zombie Slaves at the Factory: 2:31 minutes; 17 shots I Walked with a Zombie – Besty takes Jessica to Hounfour: 1:45 minutes; 14 shots Blacula – Intro Scene: 6:36 minutes (the total for the clip is 8:58 mind. Including the opening credits); 8 shots The Skeleton Key – Chased by Conjurers: 2:18; approximately 58 shots Bram Stoker’s Dracula – A close shave: 4:05 minutes; 34 shots