Sample work English K–10 Stage 5: Activity 6 – Film review

Description of activity

Students will select and view a recent popular film. Students will write their own review of this chosen film for a magazine for teenagers.

Context

Students have completed a close study of film and learnt how film techniques are used to shape meaning. Students have engaged in discussion of popular culture and how films relate to the students’ own experiences. They have discussed why they enjoyed certain films and not others. They have examined a wide range of promotional material and reviews for films in different media and technologies.

Outcomes

Criteria for assessing learning

(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their ability to:

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• compose a sophisticated and sustained text in the form of a film review through:
  • descriptive of the context and background information on the film
  • outline of the storyline and characters of the film
  • personal judgements based on a holistic analysis of the film
• make choices consistently and appropriately about language forms and features and content applied to demonstrate an analysis of, and a personal response to, the film for:
  • audience
  • context
  • the register of  a film review
• demonstrate an understanding of the processes of composition used to shape meaning in films, and to engage and entertain viewers, through:
  • identification of the film techniques used, including camera angles, transition shots and camera moves etc.
  • explanation of the ways the techniques shape meaning and engage the viewer.