Hair Love Film Analysis

Final Draft Instructions:

The Final Draft is worth 10% of your overall course grade.

For the Final Draft, students will write a 1,000- word minimum, critical analysis of the selected short film. This is a Gordon Rule Paper and must be completed with a passing grade in order to pass this course.

By now, you have already submitted your First Draft and received the instructor’s feedback. You’ll apply this feedback to revise your first draft and add the final written sections to complete your final draft.

As with all written assignments, your Film Review must follow MLA formatting and citation guidelines.

See the associated Film Review Grading Rubric for grading criteria. Students will receive feedback using the grading rubric and any additional general comments with the assessment.

Final Draft Requirements:

Apply the instructor’s feedback along with additional edits and improvements to the Film Review First Draft you submitted in the previous module. Remember that your first draft included:

• Introduction – 1 Paragraph
• Plot Summary – 1 – 2 Paragraphs

Once you are satisfied with the revised first draft, you are ready to complete your Final Draft by writing the final required criteria:

Critical Analysis – 2 – 3 Paragraphs

Most importantly, the purpose of this assignment is to assess your understanding of some of the formal elements of film. I strongly suggest you read and reference the lessons that introduce the formal elements of film as you conduct your analysis and write this portion of your essay.

Strong evaluations will competently analyze at least three formal elements in the body of the paper. For example, you’ll analyze the film in terms of at least – but not limited to – three of the following:

• mise-en-scene
• editing cuts – jump cuts, cross-cutting, cutting on action, invisible cuts, smash cuts, etc.
• editing transitions – j-cuts, l-cuts, wipes, fades, dissolves, etc.
• montage
• camera shots, angles, and movement – long shots, wide shots, establishing shots, close-ups, zoom, pan and/or tilt
• lighting
• depth of focus
• sound editing – voiceover narration, musical score, etc.
• special effects and stunts

Evaluation and Conclusion – 2 or 3 Paragraphs

This is where your paper becomes more personal to you and your personal preferences. You can grab the attention of your readers by telling people about YOUR overall experience. Give your honest opinion and explain why you liked/didn’t like the film short. Did it meet your expectations? Tell your readers if the film is worth seeing or not. What made this film short stand out from others you’ve seen?

As you conclude and give your paper a sense of finality, be sure to include some critical thinking conclusion here – what social, political, or cultural values are reflected in this film? What is the moral or message of the film? Is the film relatable? What is the primary takeaway that audiences should contemplate/feel as a result of seeing this film? How was it enriching? Or not?

It is recommended that you think about the film in terms of its context (social/political/cultural climate) and its legacy. Will it endure the test of time and resonate with future generations?

To Summarize

• Final Draft is worth 10% of the final grade and is a required Gordon Rule Assignment
• Final Draft must be written according to college-level writing standards
• Final Draft must follow MLA guidelines for formatting and citation
• Final Draft should include the following criteria
  • Introduction – 1 paragraph
  • Plot Summary – 1 to 2 paragraphs
  • Critical Analysis including at least 3 formal elements – 2 to 3 paragraphs
  • Evaluation and Conclusion – 2 to 3 paragraphs