Planning Notes

Synopsis- Brief overview of the film

Screenplay-5/10 pages of script
One scene OR pages of different scenes

Recce Report- take a photo of location,
Write about the locations, which one I have chosen,
Which ones I will not,
Where I found it,
Why it is relevant

Casting Considerations- pictures
Descriptions,
Why they will suit,
Why they will not

Treatment- worded storyboard of what is going to happen in the scene(s)
what shots, lighting, props etc.

Layout for key frames- for each frame
Location
Character behaviour
Camera angle/shot
Lighting
Mise-en-scene
Links to research
Rough shot; include photo or drawing

Essay Introduction

An anonymous user online posted "When synchronized sound was introduced in 1927, the musical immediately became one of the most popular film genres." To what extent was this true at this time and now? 

Introduction-

When reading through articles about the musical genre, I read that "When synchronized sound was introduced in 1927, the musical immediately became one of the most popular film genres."  Although this may of been true during this time through different genres, modern day musicals may of become less popular due to stereotyping different sexes and common narratives. My research will therefore explore to what extent the musical genre has changed and what it is that has caused its loss in popularity. 

Key Primary and Secondary texts-

I will research 6 primary texts, these films will vary in release dates. With these I will explore the popularity and how the plots are similar and different. The films I will be researching are, "The Jazz Singer", "Singin' in the rain", "Moulin Rouge", "Chicago", "Burlesque" and "Sweeney Todd". My Secondary texts, will be research from film reviews modern and old, about the films and the genre itself. Using reviews and websites like "IMBD" I can investigate the popularity of musical films compared to others.

Hypothesis-

Personally, I believe that sexism has become so apparent in the musical genre, they are mainly targeted at women as dance and music has become feminine. However I do not think this was the case when the genre first came about, and I also think that by challenging the typical conventions of the genre they could become more popular. In my research I shall be asking the following questions:

1.Has the musical genre always been targeted to women?

Or

2.Has the popularity of the genre differed because of the society we live in? 

http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Musicals-THE-RISE-OF-THE-FILM-MUSICAL.html

Essay Plan

Intro-

One: Where musicals developed from?

-The Jazz Singer
-Investigate the characteristics of the first musicals
-How genders are portrayed in the film?
-Target Audiences? and Popularity?
-Narrative

Two, Narrative theory
-Modern day texts
-Breaking or following musical narratives- Sweeney Todd, Burlesque
-Themes
-Genres effect on style (music and dance)
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yXPN0ZkkJuUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Musical+film+theories&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9hMgVKrzO7Kd7gaQ3IDICw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Musical%20film%20theories&f=false

Three, Sexism in the musical genre
-Character research- Satine, moulin rouge, strong women
-Challenging gender and sexual stereotypes
http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=g3ZvIZA3Jo0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Musical+films+male&ots=dcR-HA04jC&sig=ridG4mg5i8OsGyJy9ICGO69dfek#v=onepage&q=gay&f=false

Structure of essay

• Introduction explaining the focus of the candidates research (300)

Understanding of the ideas and theories 

Communicate accurately with few errors

Use the correct terminology

• Description of key texts, both primary and secondary (films and studies based on films) (200)

Good knowledge and investigation of the background context

Excellent analysis of your films

Use the correct terminology

• Aims of research- what I intend to find out, research questions (200)- can form your sub headings

Understand the ideas and theories of published critics and theorists

• Discussion of ideas, texts and secondary research (600-800 per sub heading)

Understanding of the ideas and theories

Excellent analysis of your films

Use the correct terminology

Communicate accurately with few errors
Good presentation skills

• Mini conclusion after each sub heading

Excellent conclusions

Evaluate findings

Use the correct terminology

• Full conclusion, all the research questions 

Excellent conclusions

Evaluate findings

Use he correct terminology

• Bibliography & Filmography

Reference well 

LEVEL 4 MARK SCHEME

• Excellent analysis of your films
• Good knowledge and investigation of the background context
• Understand the ideas and theories of published critics and theorists
• Good presentation skills- when presenting your research. Be creative in how you do this.
• Excellent conclusions
• Evaluate your findings
• Communicate accurately with few errors
• Reference well the materials you have used throughout, with publish information
• Use the correct terminology throughout, while being accurate and confident

Applying the critics, theorists and terminology to the films.
Creative- screenshots, quotes, font and s t r u c t u r e.
Reference: N.Surname, Book (year:Publisher)

Musical films through time

The Jazz singer(1927)



Singin' in the Rain(1952)
Follows a musical narrative, used a lot since this specific film.
 Singin' in the rain is a film which explores the difficulty of introducing "talking pictures".
Similarly to my case it shows the difference and development of technology.
http://limmelissa.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/singin-in-rain-analytical-paper.html


 

West Side Story(1961)



Chicago(2002)
The show is really all about sex – romance and sex, lust and sex, the exploitation of woman and sex, the manipulation of the justice system and sex and the media and sex.  Along with the strong hint of sex there are some social and political; messages threaded into the various stories making it more than just a superficial romp with nice tunes.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/chicago-musical-where-sex-and-success-are-everything-jd-148069
This is a true American art form and it was so sad to have it disappear. But over the past 20 years or so, there have been these animated musicals and that was acceptable. I find that you just have to know how to present them. You have to find a way for people to digest the music and have it be natural.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/12/11/rob_marshall_chicago_interview.shtml

Sweeney Todd(2007)

Tim Burton: ‘Most musicals are camp by their very nature
http://www.timeout.com/london/film/tim-burton-interview-2




Burlesque(2010)
So burlesque became this site full of possibility for the proliferation of body-positive, sex-positive feminism, but the more burlesque entered the mainstream the more this potential seemed to empty
http://msmagazine.com/blog/2011/06/24/feminist-burlesque-in-theory-and-practice/





The Artist(2011)
The Artist is, in many ways, a tribute to Singin'.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/04/singin-in-the-rain-60-years-later-an-example-of-film-nostalgia-done-right/255732/

Research

The influence of music/theatre on Baz Luhrmann's films
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=P4jYAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=baz+luhrmann+films&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Gg4OVNX3Ke7X7AattYCQDQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false


A psychoanalysis of Christopher Nolan's films
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NriMQlkIRwUC&pg=PA8&dq=christopher+nolan+psychoanalysis&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WA0OVNCQNe_X7AbQyICgCA&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=christopher%20nolan%20psychoanalysis&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aElTb0eCwFUC&pg=PA203&dq=christopher+nolan+psychoanalysis&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WA0OVNCQNe_X7AbQyICgCA&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=christopher%20nolan&f=false

Musical film through time
http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=W4WgP7F2MF8C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=musical+films&ots=oDxVhsvz3X&sig=qFNhcvYUwqa_ahmAHcSppFvrYs4#v=onepage&q=musical%20films&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Rg-UBJaPD-sC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=musicals+through+time&ots=MFe9IxyTHF&sig=rGE1MAM4f7CJziLdLCFe95jmfNk#v=onepage&q=musicals%20through%20time&f=false

Title suggestions