Exploring and appreciating the world of film.
There are many films and TV series which are exceptional examples of visual storytelling and the
Internet Movie Database IMDB is a comprehensive database, which is a useful reference for
exploring the world of Film and Television. The IMDB provides information such as a short film
synopsis, cast, crew, awards nominations and trivia for many thousands of films.
It also has a number of lists such as the Top 100 and 250 movies (as rated by IMDB users), as well
as guides to the top films in the major genres and suggestions for other films that you may like;
based on your browsing habits.
Activity 1: Use this link to visit the Internet Movie Database’s Top 250 Movies list: IMDB Top 250
From this list, select 10 films that you have not seen, but are interested in viewing. Be
adventurous; choose films from genres that you may not normally watch. Ensure that you select
films which are an appropriate age rating.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10
Star Wars (First Movie)
Saving Private Ryan
Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind
Inside Out
The Princess Bride
Hachi: A Dog’s Tale
The Martian
Rocky
The Imitation Game
Before Sunset
Activity 2: Select 2 of your favourite films and complete the following information about each one:
Information
Film 1
Title Dead Poet’s Society
Film 2
The Last Song
Genre/s Drama Film/Teen Film
Romance/Drama
Director Peter Weir
Julie Anne Robinson
Writer/s Tom Schulman
Nicholas Sparks & Jeff Van Wie
Cinematographer John Seale
Editor William M. Anderson
Lead actors Robin Williams
Other Information
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Made in 1989
8/10 on IMDB
6 Awards
John Lindley
Nancy Richardson
Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth and
Greg Kinnear
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Made in 2010
5.8/10 on IMDB
3 Awards
Activity 3: Select 3 of the following directors and list 4 films that they have directed:
James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Rob Marshall, Christopher Nolan,
Yimou Zhang, David Fincher
Complete in the Table below:
Director
1. Martin Scorsese
4 Film titles
 The Wolf of Wall Street
 Casino
 Hugo
 Goodfellas
2. Ang Lee
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Brokeback Mountain
Life of Pi
The Ice Storm
Taking Woodstock
3. Christopher Nolan
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The Dark Knight Rises
Insomnia
Inception
Doodlebug
Activity 4: From the list of genres below, select any 5 and complete the table.
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime and Gangster, Drama, Epic/Historical, Horror, Musical/Dance,
Science Fiction, War (Anti-War), Westerns.
Hint: To find films belonging to these genres look on the right side of the Top 250 Link
Genre
5 example films belonging to
this Genre
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Drama
Action
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Shawshank
Redemption
Titanic
12 Years a Slave
Casablanca
Gone Girl
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Die Hard
The Matrix
Star Wars
The Avengers
Taken
List some common elements used in these
genres; (consider elements of Mise-en-scene,
Cinematography, Sound (Effects and Music) and
Narrative Conventions i.e. typical scenarios or
characters).
 Usually involved some sort of uncertainty,
to keep the audience on the edge
 Over-exaggerated storyline
 Classical Music
 Usually focuses on a main character, so
that the audience gets to connect with
them in depth
 Tends to have a good outcome, even
considering all of the hardship throughout
the film.
 Violence
 Explosions and Crashes
 The protagonist usually is on a mission to
find someone or something.
 Weapons, such as guns and knives
Comedy
Horror
Science
Fiction
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Ghostbusters
Beverly Hills Cop
The Naked Gun
The Hangover
Dumb and Dumber
Scream
The Devil
The Conjuring
Saw
Psycho
Back To The Future
Jurassic Park
Robocop
Alien
E.T
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Setting is usually in a bright place with lots
of colour
The main character tends to be idiotic,
shown successfully in Dumb and Dumber
Camera Movement is natural, and
somewhat un-controlled, like in Modern
Family
Sarcasm
Dark colours are ofthen used, with the
exception of red, which can be used to
symbolize danger.
Low Lit scenes, to create suspense
Silhouettes of people, usually a dangerous
character
Death
Blood
Futuristic environments, like in Back To
The Future 2
Setting is usually in Space or an alternate
version of earth
Good and evil
Unusual costume