A Cinematic Exploration of Mortality:

PowerPoint #1 on Your Choice for a “Must See’ Feature Film Depicting a Person Who is Dying
And How They and Their Friends and Family Respond.

Worth up to 50 points.  Due by Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Watch the movie trailers/read reviews for these feature films about someone with a terminal diagnosis:
Marvin’s Room (1996) The Savages (2007), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015, and Paddleton (2019)
These films offer diverse perspectives on end-of-life experiences. Exploring these narratives can provide insight into the complex emotions and relationships involved.

Title Slide: Create an original title that hints at the evaluation you made. Write the title slide last. Also include your name, the class name, and the date. Have an image that takes up at least 25% of the slide. 3
Consider a title that captures the essence of your chosen film and its themes. Visual elements should complement the title and create an engaging first impression.

Have 2 slides for each of the 4 assigned films.  One slide should introduce the characters and the actors depicting them.  The other slide should summarize the plot.  Include a direct quote from a movie review for each of the four films and provide a link to that review. 12
Character introductions should highlight key relationships and motivations. Plot summaries should be concise and avoid spoilers, focusing on the central conflict and themes.

Have 1 slide that presents your choice if you were going to watch one of these films without an elaborate explanation because your explanation will be on the next 3 slides.  However, include a quote from a film review (a different quote than on an earlier slide maybe even from a different film review) that helps explain the overall value of the film. Include a link to that review.

This slide should serve as a teaser for your detailed analysis. The chosen quote should encapsulate the film’s impact and significance.

NOTE: You are NOT required at this time to watch the film that you are judging to be the best.  However, you would be smart to read several reviews and watch clips on YouTube of the film you are choosing. You can also read the Wikipedia entry about it. You can read the IMDB page about it. You can read the Rotten Tomatoes entry on it as well as the Metacritic page on it.

Thorough research is crucial for a well-informed analysis. Exploring various sources will provide a deeper understanding of the film’s critical reception and thematic elements.

The more information you have about the film, the better the next 3 slides will be.  If you have time, WATCH THE FILM.  But, again, it will be later that you will be required to watch a film or documentary and write about it.  So, if you do watch it, take notes about plot, character, dialogue, and themes related to the class for use in the later paper. 5
Watching the film, if possible, will enrich your analysis with firsthand observations. Note-taking during viewing will facilitate a more detailed and nuanced discussion.

Have 3 slides that explain at least 3 criteria for selecting this film. Include one quote from the textbook for each of your three reasons. Use quotation marks around the direct quote and provide a page number so that I can look at the quote in the textbook.

Justify your selection with clear and compelling arguments. Textbook quotes should support your criteria and demonstrate your understanding of relevant concepts.

You can use information from chapters that we have not yet read. Skim through the table of contents and the index to see if there are topics related to the film you selected as the “Must See” film. 15
Exploring future chapters can provide a broader theoretical framework for your analysis. Connecting the film to course themes will strengthen your arguments.

Effective use of images and slide design. Do not be too busy or too plain. Choose a color scheme 5
Visual elements should enhance the presentation without overwhelming the content. A consistent color scheme will create a professional and cohesive look.

Technical Control. Spelling, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and format (tabs, font, spacing, margins) I strongly suggest that you have a tutor, a friend, or a family member help you look for consistency in format (capitalization, spelling, tabs on bullet lists are often not consistent. Proofread for this!) 10
Careful proofreading is essential for a polished and professional presentation. Attention to detail in formatting and mechanics will enhance readability and clarity.

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 50

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