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Introduction
This guide has been written to help you study a feature film. It is specifically written for students in England and Wales, studying media for assessed work in English in Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum (GCSE). It may be of interest to students of film generally.
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Suggested title
How has Robert Zemeckis presented and adapted Forrest Gump for the cinema?
Starting your work
- Give a brief outline/summary of the film - do not go into detail (less than a page will do).
- Explain that the film is adapted from the novel by Winston Groom, with some changes.
- Briefly write about Robert Zemeckis as director.
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Social and media context of the film
Social context
- What is the film about - its subjects and themes? Comment on Forrest's mother's chocolate-box simile.
- Show how it presents important moments of modern American history.
- Explain how Forrest is an Everyman character - he has an unusually wide range of experiences.
Media context
- Explain how the narrative has been presented for cinema.
- Explain how Winston Groom's novel has been adapted for film.
- Note any significant changes.
Language
- Comment on interesting passages of dialogue - especially to show the characters of Forrest, his mother and others.
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Presentational devices
Comment on the following, as far as you are able:
- Structure (sequence) of narrative.
- Music and sound FX.
- Stunts and special effects (SFX) e.g. to show Forrest with famous historical people.
- Acting - comment on the performances of Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson, Michael Conner Humphreys and Hanna R. Hall.
- Direction - comment on Robert Zemeckis's directing of the film: look at structure, use of locations, the pacing and presentation of the narrative, use of voiceover and flashback.
Visual images
Comment on the following, as far as you are able:
- Cinematography (how shots are composed, use of colour and lighting and so on).
- look at the way the film presents (visually) people in peace and war, sport and politics.
- look at camera angles.
- look at the visual qualities of the set-up: weather, vehicles, landscapes and so on.
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Significant achievement in cinema
- Why is this (or is it not) a good film? To answer this, look in more detail at a range of scenes.
Making a judgement
Finish your response with a personal evaluation - what you liked about the film, and why.
In writing about Forrest Gump you may use reviews from magazines or Web sites. You are allowed to quote from these, but should show quotation with inverted commas. You may express agreement or disagreement with what you find in these reviews.
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GCSE criteria
Exam boards publish guidelines (descriptions, called criteria) for teachers, to help them award marks for speaking and listening, reading and writing. Oral coursework may be marked for speaking and listening, and for reading. Written coursework may be marked for reading and for writing.
Reading
For reading, your mark depends upon how well you do, but you must look at three things:
- The content of the films - what they are about, and their historic and media significance.
- Style, structure and appeal to audience.
- Language, presentational devices and visual images - how these create emotive and persuasive effects, and relate to other media.
Writing
For writing your mark depends upon how well you do in two respects:
- How you organize your ideas.
- How you choose a suitable (impersonal) style and control your writing.
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© Andrew Moore, 2000; Contact me
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- Use the search box on the left or the link below to go to Amazon.com for books, video tapes, DVDs and much more.
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- Purchase in the UK: use the search box on the left or the link below to go to Amazon.co.uk for books, video tapes, DVDs and much more.
- Go to Amazon.co.uk Home Page
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