You’ve studied the ways that filmmakers use storytelling tools to inject new meaning into existing works through the power of interpretation. Now, you will show your understanding by connecting the decisions of a filmmaker directly to the meaning created by his or her various choices. In this assignment, you will compose an essay that answers the following question:
Turn it in!
What new meanings are suggested by the decisions of Doane Hoag and Jules Dassin, who wrote and directed the 1941 film version of “The Tell-Tale Heart”?
Be sure that your essay includes the following:
| 1. an introduction that identifies Dassin and Hoag’s meaning and/or themes |
| 2. three distinct examples of the filmmakers’ decisions that helped create that meaning or those themes |
| 3. a conclusion that both summarizes your points and explains why this new meaning matters |
When building your essay, make sure to keep each of your three body paragraphs focused on a distinct element (or category of elements). If need some additional help figuring out what to say, click each of the categories below to reveal some questions that may spark your thinking.
How was dialogue used to show who the characters were?
How were the characters’ relationships changed in this interpretation? How did the filmmakers make the audience aware of those changes?
Which events were new or different in this interpretation, and how? Were there major changes to the beginning, middle, or end of the story, and how did those changes effect the audience’s impression of the resolution?
How did the actors use their voices and bodies to convey their emotions and personalities?
How did the characters’ costumes and environment communicate information about their personalities or mental states? Was any makeup used to this effect?
How did the director use music to create specific moods at specific times? What were the most prominent sound effects, and how were they used?
How did the director show vital information with the angle and motion of the camera lens? Which shots were most meaningful or memorable, and why?
Your essay will be evaluated using the following rubric.
| Category | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction and Conclusion | 1 | Your introduction identifies the topic of the essay as well as notes some of Dassin and Hoag’s meaning and/or themes. |
| 1 | Your conclusion both summarizes your points and speculates as to why the new meaning provided by Dassin and Hoag’s interpretation matters. | |
| Interpreted Details (Body Paragraphs) | 2 | Each selected detail is accurately described and categorized using language appropriate to the film genre. |
| 2 | Each selected detail is thoroughly analyzed for its contribution to the author’s interpretation. | |
| 2 | Each identified interpretation is further analyzed in an attempt to explain the author’s intended meaning or theme. | |
| Mechanics | 1 | Your paragraphs generally begin with clear topic sentences and consist of full, mostly correct grammar and spelling. |
When you have checked your work against the rubric, make sure to save your work in a file titled Featured in Film.
