JCTV Critiques, and Film Reviews

Let's get writing.

First up:  Section 3, I want you to write a critique of your newscast.  What did you do well?  What needs improvement?  Comment on your own performance in particular.  Make suggestions for future newscasts.  Post the critique to your blog.  You should also embed the video to your blog, just as I did below.  I'll show you how to do that in class.  This written assignment is due Sunday, Sept. 28, and is worth 20 points.

Section 1, when you have posted a newscast, you will also be writing and posting a critique.



Next:

Over the course of this semester, you are going to write four film reviews.  The first one is due on Sunday, October 5.  You will receive more specific instructions in class, but here are the basics.

Pick a film.  You may choose a movie that you really enjoyed, or one you have seen recently, or one that made a big impression on you.  In order to ensure that we are watching and reviewing quality movies, you will choose films based on this criteria:

• at least one film from the Internet Movie Database Top 250 (list found here)
• at least one film that is over 50 years old
• at least one black-and-white film
• at least one film in a foreign language

Watch the film.  Focus on more than the actors and the lines they are saying.  Take note of visuals, production values, music, characterization, pacing, editing, etc.  It can be helpful to go back and look at a particular segment a second or third time, to help you analyze a really effective scene.

Check out some good review writing.  In my Links section, I've posted a few sites (Rogert Ebert, Rotten Tomatoes, etc.) that can provide guidance on how effective reviews are constructed.  Inspiring stuff.

Write your review.   Write it, edit it, then post it to your blog.  It's due on Sunday, October 5, and it's worth 100 points.