Love, Tragedy, Family, Marriage, and Disaster Preparedness as Themes in the Film 'Titanic'

Essay Instructions:

Instructions
For the second paper, you will select a film any film made after 1960s that contain special effects - due by the end of week 6.
Here are some examples (Please note that your Response Paper 2 film must be different than your final essay CAP films.):
Inception (2010) by Christoper Nolan; Apollo 13 (1995) by Ron Howard; Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) by James Gunn; The Matrix Revolutions (2003) by the Wachowski siblings; Saving Private Ryan (1998) by Steven Spielberg; Black Panther (2018) by Ryan Coogler; Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) by Gore Verbinski; Independence Day (1996) by Roland Emmerich; Fast & Furious 6 (2013) by Justin Lin; Gladiator (2000) by Ridley Scott; The Mask (1994) by Chuck Russell; The Terminator (1984) by James Cameron; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) by David Fincher; Titanic (1997) by James Cameron; Total Recall (1990) by Paul Verhoeven
After watching the film, choose at least 4 scenes to focus on and write about. Use those 4 scenes to elaborate on the following cinematic elements which the course content will have covered thus far (please note the addition of special effects as well as additional aspects of cinematography and sound to consider).
1. Cinematography (camerawork, lighting, mise-en-scene, color tones) in 4 separate scenes
2. Editing (how the different plots, actions, scenes, and shots are brought together) 4 separate scenes
3. Sound (diegetic and non-diegetic sounds: sound effects, ambient noise/environment, music/score) 4 separate scenes
4. Directing (character portrayal, unfolding of the story, the film's message) overall
5. Special effects throughout. (Please feel free to research the methods of special effects used in the film and discuss this in your essay. Oftentimes, there are 'behind the scenes' videos discussing the special effects for a film.)
6. Why the film was an 'effective' or 'ineffective' film overall.
7. Please make sure to use the terminology from the course content. For example, when discussing cinematography you should discuss camera angles such as a close-up (first used by D.W. Griffith); or in editing, discuss whether the film used continuity editing, cross-cutting, a montage sequence (or all of the above). For editing, it will be helpful to return to the course content and review the Soviet's theory of montage to understand editing further.
8. Additionally, in order to support your observations, please ensure that each assertion contains the following:
A) Describe the scene
B) Cinematic technique used
C) Describe the impact on the audience
Covering these three aspects will ensure that you receive the highest grade possible.
9. Please ensure that at least 4 separate scenes were analyzed, and each scene contained an analysis of cinematography, editing and sound.
10. Formatting: 3-5 pages; 12 pt. font; default margins; double-spaced (no additional spacing between paragraphs)
11. Bibliography: MLA or APA
-------------Helpful links for terminology for your essays:
• Cinematography: Camera angles Examples: Master Shot, Point of View Shot, Extreme Close Up
• Cinematography: Camera movement Examples: Pan, Tilt, Dolly, Zoom, Rack Focus
• Cinematography: Lighting Examples: Lighting: Natural lighting, low-key lighting
• Editing: Editing terminology Examples: continuity editing, cross-cutting, montage, dissolve, jump cuts
• Sound: diegetic and non-diegetic examples and additional examples in film
Grading criteria checklist:
Formatting requirements:
• The essay must be 3-5 pages in length. Remember that the paper must be minimally 3 full pages; not 2.5.
• No greater than 12-point font.
• Double spaced, with no additional spacing between paragraphs.
• Normal (default) margins.
• A bibliography is necessary (APA or MLA). 5
80% of paper focuses on the analysis rather than background information. 5
Analysis of Cinematography (camera work, lighting, mise-en-scene) for 4 separate scenes 10
Analysis of Editing (montage sequence, intercutting/cross-cutting, fade in/fade out, juxtaposition, continuity editing) for 4 separate scenes 10
Analysis of Sound (diegetic and non-diegetic sound) for 4 separate scenes 10
Analysis of Directing (how the story unfolds; character portrayal; the message of the film) overall 10
Analysis of Special Effects (provide some research on what effects were used and how that came together) throughout 5
Is the proper cinematic terminology used for each example? 5
Does each example provide a description from a specific scene in the film?
5
Does each example describe the impact on the audience? 5
Bibliography provided 5
Each assertion provides an analysis of at least 4 scenes 10
Effective/ineffective elements discussed throughout 5
Overall organization, structure, research, and coherence of the paper. 10

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Response Paper Two
Films with Special Effects
Student's Name
Institution
Course
Professor's Name
Date
Film: Titanic (1997)
Titanic is an American disaster and epic romance film written, directed, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron in 1997. The film is based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic ship and incorporates historical and fictional stories. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose. Rose hails from a high-class family whose father died, leaving it with debts that would shame the family status if not repaid. On the other hand, Jack is a low-class boy who won a third-class ticket to sail on the ship. The two fall in love leading to Rose's fiancé Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) becoming jealous and punishing Jack. The ship hits an iceberg causing it to sink, and Jack sacrifices his life to save Rose. The plot is told through a flashback in a session between 100 years old Rose and Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton). The four most significant scenes in the film are the opening when Brock searches for the diamond treasure in the Titanic shipwreck, Cal and Rose meet, and he accuses her of cheating, the scene when the ship hits the iceberg, and towards the end when Rose is saved and decides to hide from Cal. Cameron uses various cinematic techniques, sound, editing, and directing expertise to develop the story in these scenes.
Scene 1 (Cameron, 1997, 00:01:05-00:12:55) comes at the opening of the film. Brock is underwater with his team, seemingly searching for a treasure since he is a treasure hunter. He finds a box that he believes the prize is stored and takes it out to a comfortable place in the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh ship. He does not see the treasure but finds nude pictures belonging to a woman who claims to be Rose. They bring her in, and she explains the events on that fateful day.
Cameron employs more close-up and medium close-up shots in this scene when Brock and his team are keenly searching for the diamond treasure as the audience learns that soon the team opens up the box. A close-up shot shows Brock's curious and happy facial expression, revealing his excitement for seeing signs of finding a treasure he has been searching for sometimes (McClennen, 2018). He is initially curious navigating with Lewis, who controls the robot, towards the treasure box in the shipwreck.
The scene also employs camera movements, including a pan. The camera pans vertically and horizontally when following the controlled robot to get the box from the Titanic shipwreck. This plan helps to guide the audience towards the treasure box. It shows the distance to the treasure and the effort Brock had to invest in getting it. These pans are applied in medium close-up shots to reveal the details of mis end scenes, mainly the water around and the shipwreck, which has substances covering it. The image shows the pieces of the wreckage and the box as having stayed underwater for long until they have implications growing on the wreck and mud covering the box's content.
The scene uses artificial light attached to the water vessels to show that the background is dark. It also symbolizes diminishing hope as the treasure has stayed in the water for so long and may have been destroyed. The sound perfectly sync...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Love, Tragedy, Family, Marriage, and Disaster Preparedness as Themes in the Film 'Titanic'

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