Go Behind the Scenes of Best Picture Oscar Nominees
In these videos, directors walked us through pivotal scenes from their Academy Award-nominated films.
This lesson plan is from The New York Times.
How do you go about crafting the perfect dream ballet? What is the most dynamic way to open your movie? How do you build a dance sequence centered around a character who has never danced before?
These were some of the questions that faced the directors of the 10 best picture nominees for the 2024 Academy Awards, which air on Sunday. Below, you’ll hear from first-time feature directors (Celine Song and Cord Jefferson), the most seasoned of veterans (Martin Scorsese) and many others about what it took to get a scene just right. Source The New York Times.
1. Watch one or more of the videos. While you watch, you might take notes using our Film Club Double-Entry Journal (PDF) to help you remember specific moments. You can choose close caption and you can also choose to read the text. And instead of watching the clip listening to to narrative, you can read the text while listening.
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What moments in this film stood out for you? Why?
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Were there any surprises? Anything that challenged what you know — or thought you knew?
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What messages, emotions or ideas will you take away from this film? Why?
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What questions do you still have?
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What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?
3. An additional challenge | Respond to the essential question at the top of this post: What does it take to make an Oscar Best Picture nominee?
- The Art of Direction: Discuss the role of a director in crafting an Oscar-worthy film, using examples from the “Anatomy of a Scene” series to illustrate how directors like Greta Gerwig and Martin Scorsese approach pivotal scenes in their nominated works.
- Cinematic Storytelling: Analyze how storytelling techniques in films like “Barbie” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” contribute to their nomination for Best Picture, focusing on elements such as character development, narrative structure, and thematic depth.
