Star Wars Film Study: Teagan

Star Wars Film Study

L.I. - To know commonly used shot types and identify their use in film

To know the common elements of the science fiction / fantasy genre

To know the structure of a narrative as applied to film

To use Propp’s theory of narrative structure in a close viewing of film

Shot Types

Here is a table listing the commonly used shot types.  You need to go here and find a description of each type of shot.  Then after watching the opening sequence of Star Wars add the screen captures to the appropriate box.

SHOT TYPE	DESCRIPTION	SCREEN CAPTURE FROM STAR WARS
Close up	A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.	*
Medium shot	Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject. From head to toe	*
Long shot	The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible. Showing the whole body	*
High angle shot	The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. High up from you.	*
Low angle shot	This shows the subject from below, giving them the impression of being more powerful or dominant. It is when it is up high or down low	*
Eye-level shot	This is the most common view, being the real-world angle that we are all used to. It shows subjects as we would expect to see them in real life. It is a fairly neutral shot.	*
Reverse angle shot	Looking from behind a person at the subject.	*
Panning	A pan is a horizontal camera movement in which the camera moves left and right about a central axis. This is a swiveling movement, i.e. mounted in a fixed location on a tripod or shoulder, rather than a dolly-like movement in which the entire mounting system moves. Left and Right.	*
Dollying / Tracking	A dolly is a cart which travels along tracks. The camera is mounted on the dolly and records the shot as it moves. Dolly shots have a number. It is a big dolly  of applications and can provide very dramatic footage.	*
Tilting	A tilt is a vertical camera movement in which the camera points up or down from a stationary location. For example, if you mount a camera on your shoulder and nod it up and down, you are tilting the camera. Up Down	*

Screen captures - This table should be empty when you have completed the activity.

Character Introductions

To save time in a film filmmakers tell us what to think about a character the first time we meet them.  How true is this in the Star Wars film?

Fill in the table below after each character is introduced.

Name	Role	Costume	Music	Action	Shot type
Luke	Hero	All white	Theme song	He is with his auntie and uncle buying droids.	Low angle shot
Leia	Princess	all white	Sweet and charming	Shoots a star trooper	low angle shot.
Obi-Wan	Mentor	Over hood	magic	He’s wearing a hood and when he pulls his mood back he is nice	Eye level shot
Han Solo	Helper	Black	Jazz	He’s Boasting about his ship	High level shot
Chewbacca	Helper	Alien	Jazz	Being interview	over the shoulder shot
Darth Vader	Villain	Black	Builds up	Talking command of the space ship	Low angle too seem powerful
C3PO & R2D2	comedians	robots	Classic	crossing the passageway

What do you notice about the difference between the way the protagonist and the antagonist are introduced.

Character Development

According to Propp characters are one of 7 main types.  As you watch the film try and identify one of these character types (some are easier than others).  Fill in the table below with a photo from the movie.

Character type	Description	Photo
The hero	Reacts to the donor (mentor, teacher), weds the princess	*
The villain	Struggles against the hero	*
The donor (mentor, teacher)	Prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object	*
The helper	Helps the hero in the quest	*
The princess	Person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative	*
The false hero	Perceived as good character in beginning but emerges as evil
The dispatcher	Character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off	*

Narrative Theory

According to Propp these things always happen in a narrative.  

Preparation Complication Transference Struggle 1 Struggle 2 Struggle 3 Return Recognition

Add the descriptions to the table below and find an example of this in the film.

Propp says	Description	In Star Wars
Preparation	The villain harms a member of the community, kingdom or family	Darth Vader orders for Lukes aunt and uncle to be killed because he is looking for the drones.
Complication	The hero is tested or attacked	Obi-won is being attacked by Darth Vader and they are fighting to the death.
Transference	A member of the community, kingdom or family leaves home	Lukes leaves his community to avenge his aunt and uncle.
Struggle 1	The hero is branded or hurt	Luke is hurt by Obi-won dieing.
Struggle 2	The villain is overcome	Darth Vader is overcome by Luke.
Struggle 3	There is a struggle between the hero and the villain  (Obi - one VS Darth Vader)	Obi-won and Darth Vader are fighting then Obi-won sees  Luke and purposely gets hit by Darth Vader lightsaber causing Obi-wonto die. Obi-won knew that Luke would avenge him.
Return	The hero escapes	Luke and Hansolo escape after blowing up Darth Vaders world.
Recognition	The hero gets the reward	Luke and Hansolo get medals for blowing up the Darth Vaders world.