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How to Analyze a Scene in a Film
Last Updated: October 6, 2023 Approved
This article was co-authored by Gavin Anstey and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Gavin Anstey is the COO at Cinebody. Cinebody is User-Directed Content software that empowers brands to create instant, authentic, and engaging video content with anyone on earth. Gavin studied Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder, before launching a career in video production and software. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 11 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 343,723 times.
While you can analyze an entire film , you can also choose a scene from the movie and break it down even further. Before you choose a scene you want to analyze, watch the entire film first so you can understand what’s happening. Go over the scene you want to analyze multiple times so you can pick out the details and take notes on it. Once you have your notes, you can write a formal analysis essay about the scene.
Choosing and Watching the Scene
- For example, if you choose to watch the movie To Kill a Mockingbird , you may say the overlying theme is the balance of good and evil or how prejudice can affect a town.
Tip: The film may have multiple themes, so choose one that interests you to focus on and use it to apply to the scene you choose later.
- For example, if you want to analyze Jaws , you may choose the opening scene to see how music and cinematography affect the mood.
- Analyzing scenes that are just conversations between characters can be just as fun as focusing on a big action scene. With quieter scenes, you can discuss how the camera angles and dialog affect how someone interprets the conversations.
- Avoid taking any notes the first couple times you watch the scene so you can absorb as much of it as you can. After 2-3 viewings, you can start pausing the scene or writing down things you notice.
Analyzing Elements within the Scene
- For example, the events of the opening scene in Jaws are teenagers partying on a beach, two of the people leaving the group, one of them swimming in the water, and then getting grabbed by the shark.
Gavin Anstey
What are the main elements of a scene? Gavin Anstey, a video producer, tells us: "Lighting is always an important element. Is it natural lighting, or artificial? Lighting sets the mood of the scene. Next is the talent if they are in the scene. How good is the talent? The majority of communication isn't verbal language, it's body language . How does the talent evoke a feeling or emotion without saying anything? Finally, does the talent sound real and authentic ? Or do they sound cheesy ?"
- For example, the opening scene in Jaws introduces the shark to the viewer and shows that it’s a threat to humans in the water. Throughout the film, this sets up conflict since it takes place in a beach town.
- For example, in the shark attack scene from Jaws , you may notice the kids in the water having fun, but Chief Brody is tense and worried about everyone’s safety.
Tip: Pay attention to the characters’ costumes since they could give hints about the character’s intentions. For example, if the character is wearing dark clothes, they may be evil or they could be planning something sinister.
- For example, in the final scene of Inception , the spinning top is a symbol of uncertainty since the viewer isn’t sure whether the ending is real or a dream.
- Another example is the letter “X” or an X-shape in a scene of the film The Departed , which represents death.
- Even characters can be symbols. For example, the Joker in The Dark Knight can be a symbol of chaos or uncertainty.
- Not every scene will have specific symbols that relate to the rest of the film, so don’t worry about if you can’t find any.
- For example, if a character is standing and looking down at another character that’s sitting down, it could mean the standing character is more important or powerful than the other.
- If you’re watching the film on a computer, take screenshots from the scene so you can analyze the still frames.
- Look at how the scene’s lit and how the highlights and shadows affect the mood. Shots that are framed dark can make the scene mysterious but well let scenes may seem like a comfortable or exposed location. [7] X Research source
- For example, action scenes usually have a lot of movement and have multiple angles to keep the viewer excited. Conversely, horror scenes may have no camera movement and close-up shots to make a viewer feel tense while they’re watching it.
- Make note of when shots shift focus from an object or character to another.
- For example, if you have a shot of a desert followed by a shot of a glass of water, it may make you think about being thirsty.
- In another example, the editing in the opening scene of Jaws makes the viewer tense since they know the shark is getting closer but the woman in water doesn’t know about the danger.
- For example, the music at the beginning of Jaws helps to build tension since it keeps getting faster until the shark attacks.
- Wear headphones and play the scene if you’re able so you’re able to catch all of the discrete noises you may not have been able to hear otherwise.
- Make note of silences in the scene as well since they can be just as important as loud sounds.
Writing a Scene Analysis
- For example, a thesis for the opening scene in Jaws may be, “The opening shark attack from Jaws uses accelerating music, quick editing, and point of view shots to create tension.”
- Keep your introduction about 3-4 sentences long.
- Keep the summary paragraph about 4-5 sentences long before moving on.
- For example, if you’re talking about the opening scene in Jaws , your body paragraphs may discuss the music, the editing, and the point of view of the camera angles.
- Don’t use all of your notes you took from the scene since they won’t all fit with the thesis for your paper.
- For example, you may end an analysis on the opening scene of Jaws by discussing how the opening scene of the film influenced the horror genre.
Community Q&A
- Research what was happening in the world when the film was released to see if you can apply the events to the scene or theme of the movie. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
- Once you analyze the scene you picked, look up the scene or film online to see what others were able to discuss about it. You may be able to notice things that you hadn’t considered before. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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- ↑ https://penandthepad.com/write-scene-analysis-8560037.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zogJ6isyK1k?t=189
- ↑ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED096715.pdf
- ↑ http://filmanalysis.yale.edu/cinematography/#framing
- ↑ http://filmanalysis.yale.edu/mise-en-scene/#lighting
- ↑ http://filmanalysis.yale.edu/cinematography/#quality
- ↑ http://filmanalysis.yale.edu/editing/#devices
- ↑ http://filmanalysis.yale.edu/sound/
- ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/film-analysis/
- ↑ https://www.raindance.org/tell-me-everything-about-it-how-to-write-a-film-analysis-essay-correctly/
About This Article
To analyze a scene in a film, begin by watching the scene several times while taking notes on the director’s choices, from camera angles to character casting. Next, form a hypothesis about the scene based on your notes, like how the director’s choice of camera angles affects the point of view. Once you have a strong argument formulated, incorporate it into an introductory paragraph that includes the movie title, director, and the date it was released. Follow it with at least 3 paragraphs supporting your hypothesis, then tie it all together in your conclusion paragraph. For more examples of scene elements to include in your analysis, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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