“Create a Sequel” Project
HUM 110: Introduction to American Film
North Seattle College

Overview: You (or you and a classmate or a small group of classmates) will be creating a sequel to a film (and then analyzing your sequel).

The Purpose: The reason for doing this assignment is to show me that by the end of the quarter you’ve learned how to “read” a film carefully, that you can analyze it to the point that you understand the directorial choices (the narrative, the characters, the mise-en-scene, the editing, the sound, the cinematography, the genre conventions, etc.), and that you can emulate (imitate!) them. And, of course, that you can articulate why exactly you chose to do what you did.

The Product: You have a choice in the form your sequel will take:

  1. You may write the detailed screenplay for the sequel (with annotations explaining how and why you've chosen to do what you have). There is free scriptwriting software at if you'd find it helpful. Very detailed information about how to write a screenplay is here: If you choose this option, your screenplay should be about 15+ pages long (not including your annotations).
  2. You may actually make a short film (accompanying it should be notes about why you chose to film the sequel the way you did). There’s a good overview of how to make a film using your iPhone here: you want to use a digital camera, the college has one we can check out to you. If you choose this option, your movie should be around 3-5 minutes long.

In either case, your sequel needs to imitate/copy the style/form/genre of the original film. The most important aspect isn’t the quality of the film you produce or the screenplay you write –the important part is the analysis and explanation of why you chose to do what you did.

The Analysis of your Product: You will be demonstrating your ability not only to analyze the original film you’ve chosen to imitate, but also you will be demonstrating that you can analyze your own work (the sequel you’ve made). Throughout, you will be using the technical language of film you’ve learned in class.The analysis and explanation is vastly more important than the quality of your product. If your dialogue isn’t perfect, that’s fine. If your actors aren’t very good, that’s fine. If you can’t explain why you chose to shoot the film in black-and-white, that’s not fine.

Every directorial choice you make needs to be explained, justified, and tied back to the original film. This analysis can take whatever form you find the most efficient, but you might choose footnotes on your screenplay or notes that you turn in with your film. Or, if you want, you can have a “director’s cut” of your film where you talk over your film and explain your choices as you go.

The Details:

  • You have to clear the project through me first, and you have to choose a film that doesn't already have a sequel.
  • If you work with a buddy or a group of buddies, everybody will earn the same grade and you can choose how to share the workload.
  • You won’t be given time in class to work on this, so if you choose to work with another person, make sure you are able to meet outside of class (that your schedules mesh).
  • The assignment is worth a total of 200 points and 35% of your final grade. You have a “Proposal and Rationale” due on Thursday, May 7thwhere you just need to propose your film (2+ pages) and explain what you plan to do (an outline of your project). The rough draft is due Tuesday, June 9th. The film/screenplay you create is due on Tuesday, June 16th.