STORY ELEMENTS: CCC SSS OP
Story Elements
What are the story elements and can you describe and analyse scenes from both films that show all these elements?
Cause & effect Opening, development and Closure
Character Point of View
Structuring of Time
Setting
Storylines
Reception Context
What is reception context? What factors can effect an audience’s ‘reception’ of a text? What specifically would be affected if (for example) you viewed Pan's Labyrinth on a small screen on a plane?
Genre
What genre are the two films we studied?
Pan's Labyrinth
Little Miss Sunshine -
What would an audience expect to see in these genres? How are the element used in these different genres? example - a political thriller’s main setting would involve government structure in the capital “halls of power”. An audience would expect to see government officials, abuse of power, people trying to uncover the truth, people battling oppressive government rules etc
For both films describe what 1 production element and 1 story element have been used that an audience would expect from this genre.
Themes, Issues and/or Motifs
What are some of the themes/issues explored in the films?). What motifs do you see in the films? (money and mirrors in Slumdog, roses in V for Vendetta) Where do you see them and what effect do they have on the audience?
Audience engagement – pick a scene from each text. What production and story elements have been used to engage the audience.
Comparing the texts
Practice comparing the use of production and story elements in the films. Example - how is sound used in the opening sequence of both films? What are the main differences and are there any similarities?
Answering the questions
Look at the PowerPoint (on Student Resources and emailed to you) and try (when possible) to use the following structure when answering questions -
• Name the element
• Describe how it’s been used
• Explain why it’s been used
• Describe the effect on the audience (in relation to what the question is asking)
Try and answer as many exam questions as possible and look at some example answers (the VCE Media section of the VCAA website has old exams and their reports that contain examples of answers - http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/media/exams.html)
Look at www.vcemedia.weebly.com and www.lessonbucket.com as part of your revision – you will find revision material on these websites.
Before the SAC (and exam at the end of the year), re watch the films and pick out scenes that you will use to discuss the various elements.