Activities

1 Look at the internet trailers for 'Cold Mountain' (see 'Links'). What sort of camera framing/movement and editing is used and what effect do these have? What do they reveal about the characters, costumes, music, settings and situation?

Either:
construct a storyboard for one or more of the film trailers
or:
adopt the role of the movie's editor or director to explain and defend your editorial decisions for the trailer during an interview by the rest of your class
or:
with a partner, devise an alternative soundtrack to one of the internet trailers. Storyboard your script taking into account the importance of music, mise-en-scène, screen transitions, lighting and location as well as dialogue
or:
re-edit a 2-3 minute movie trailer for potential use as a 30-second television trailer.

2 Storyboard a story in four or five images captured with a digital stills camera.

3 Note what you learn about the 'Cold Mountain' movie from its publicity poster's still image, graphic style (eg size and style of lettering, layout), the copy (writing) including any quotations from reviews, and the stars featured.

4 Study 'Cold Mountain' movie posters and, in pairs, work out what expectations the film distributors wanted to create in the audience's mind.

5 Create a poster for 'Cold Mountain' (or a movie of your own choice), choosing images and text carefully.

6 Choose a short sequence from 'Cold Mountain' or any other film and compare what happens on screen shot-by-shot with what would happen in real life. What gets omitted and why? What effects are used to suggest the passing of time? Identify any other devices used.

7 As war genre, compare or contrast Minghella's depiction of the civil war battle with any other film's representation of warfare.

8 Using two contrasting magazines/newspapers, compare the content of advance publicity about any one movie. What evidence may be found that potential cinema audiences are targeted through the magazine/paper they read?

9 If you are familiar with the characters in 'Cold Mountain', write the diary (or record the video diary) that Ada or Inman or Ruby might have kept, showing insight into their personality and motivations.

10 The aim of the following quite major activity is to familiarise you in a practical way with the key elements and creative roles involved in the film production process.

11 Choose a simple story that can be told in about two or three minutes.

12 In performing each and all of the major roles listed below, it will probably be necessary for you to invite others to assist as camera operators/sound assistants but you will need to advise and co-ordinate your team.

Your roles and responsibilities
Writer – write a synopsis and script for your proposed production
Director – create a Storyboard and Shot List showing how the work should be recorded; during recording, you call the shots (literally!) and direct the cast
Production Manager – identify location(s) for the shoot and make any necessary booking arrangements; provide all necessary equipment, props and materials for the shoot
Director of Photography – check picture composition, framing, lighting
Costumier – identify clothing requirements for cast members
Editor – edit your recorded material