This course is not available this semester. It will be available semester 2 of the '08-'09 school year. Below is the information for the last offering of this course.
Meet the MOO-vie Cow!
Course Focus --- Film and its relationship to society, how the medium of film communicates with its audience, and the history of the film industry are the main focuses of this class. Other topics and ideas will be explored as deemed necessary. ------
Students will use computers for this class. Access to web sites and the ability to search online are an important part of the course of study.
The concepts and terms outlined below for each film are intended to be cumulative.
Valuable information, term definitions, and film summaries can be found at www.filmsite.org
Mid-term Exam encompasses silent film, Action/Adventure film, and Western film. March 26/27
The Films and Focus
Documentaries
Brief exploration of the documentary and its elements.
Actualities, Archival materials, re-enactments, direct cinema, narration, point of view, propaganda, structure, theme, Objective and subjective documentary style
Silent Film
Buster Keaton's The General
Long shot, Close up, Continuity, Establishing shot, Low angle shot, High angle shot, Cinematography
PLUS the structure of a film
TEST On film and terms - 1/31/08
Action and Adventure Films
Terence Young's Dr. No
Aerial shot, Back projection, Deep focus shot, Money shot, Fade
PLUS Effective use of Soundtracks in film, Social and Political influence on film, Creation of a film series and Icon character. Read Action film background.
Steven Spielberg's Jaws
Back story, Cameo, Cross cutting, F/X, Synchronous sound, Tracking shot, Overlap, Overlapping dialogue, Pivotal character. Read Adventure film background.
PLUS Storyboards, plot development, use of soundtrack, structure of film, components of a horror film
***Creation of Storyboards - 4-shot "Opening Moments of Class" and/or 4-shot "Shark Attack"
Terms QUIZ - 50 points - 2/11/08
George Lucas' Star Wars: A New Hope
Miniatures and models, Matte shot, Transition, Bridging shot, Dubbing, Leitmotif, Opticals, Archetype characters. Read Jimmy Akin review.
PLUS innovations is film technology, "the hero's journey," and characteristics of a classic hero
Joseph Campbell's Journey of the Hero PowerPoint CLICK HERE
***Complete this journey and turn in your answers on Wednesday, 2/20***
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' Raider's of the Lost Ark
The Ultimate action adventure film; changes the way action/adventure films are made; based on 1930s serials. Use all terms/concepts studied so far. Application, application, application!!!!
Read James Berardinelli review.
TEST on films and terms - 155 points - 2/25/08
Western Films
Fred Zinnemann's High Noon
Static shot, Theme song, Real time, Chiaroscuro, Irony
PLUS use of allegory, development of tension, character study, the "mythic code of the West," and use of the traditional hero. Read Western film genre background, AND review highlights.
40 points - High Noon questions
Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Spaghetti western, Prequel, Panorama shot, Introductory shot, Juxtaposition, Anti-hero, One liners, Montage, Auteur theory. Read review highlights. Create a 10 shot story board of the graveyard scene incorporating at least 4 elements of Leone's style. 100 points.
PLUS use of soundtrack, development of tension, irony, director's signature style
George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Revisionist film, Buddy film, Freeze-frame, Sepia Tone, Slapstick, Title role. Read review highlights.
PLUS the use of music in film, special effects, irony in film
Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven
A look at the modern incarnation of the Western film. Read review highlights.
TEST on films and Terms - 110 points - March 17
Film Noir
Mildred Pierce - Michael Curtiz directs Joan Crawford in her Academy Award winning performance in the title role. Terms: Femme Fatale, chiaroscuro, subtext, double entendre, first-person POV, bridging shot. Hays Code as applied to films of the 30s and 40s. Elements of typical film noir. Read Film Noir handout and Read research highlights.
The Postman Always Rings Twice - Analyze as a film noir. Apply Hays Code. A quintessential film noir plot. Create an Inspiration Web: Read handouts on women in film noir and the male protagonist and apply to the characters of Frank and Cora. 100 points.
Sunset Boulevard - Billy Wilder classic about corruption in Hollywood. Terms: satire, black comedy, symbolism. Elements of typical film noir.
Check this out! View Double Indemnity - A look at this Billy Wilder "perfect" film noir. A noir by which other noirs are judged.
Activity - DUE April 14 - Choose one of the films viewed. Create a web (Inspiration) using at least 5 elements of film noir and 2 examples of each element from the chosen film.
TEST on films and terms - April 14
Crime/Gangster
On the Waterfront - morality tale, naturalism, symbolism, metaphor, method acting. Director - Elia Kazan. Starring Marlon Brando in what is considered by many to be the best ever recorded on film.
Rebel Without a Cause - melodrama, editing, mise en scene, CinemaScope, classic tragedy. A look at the auteur style of Nicholas Ray. Starring James Dean.
The French Connection - Cinema Verite, Induced Documentary, Nouvelle Vague (New Wave), Jump Cutting, Ellipsis (editing).
TEST on films and terms - May 1
Horror
A look back at "from whence it came."
Dracula (1931) Activity - Web showing the elements of a horror film used in Dracula.
Frankenstein (1931) James Whale's classic "monster" movie
King Kong (1933) Film Journal Notes handout. Extensive information of F/X techniques used in the making of King Kong! Be sure to get the notes!
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) "Psycho Assignments"
TEST on films and terms
War/Anti-War
Gone With the Wind - (Civil War) Title sequence, stereotypes, character development, character foils
Casablanca - (World War I) Title sequence, flashback, theme
Manchurian Candidate - (Korean/Cold War) flashback, multiple genres, social and historical influence, irony, symbolism
We Were Soldiers - (Vietnam Conflict) Writing of a film critique. plot analysis, use of F/X
Science Fiction
The Day the Earth Stood Still - C/C to treatment of Cold War in The Manchurian Candidate, allegory, symbolism, theme, irony, soundtrack, social and political influence
Final EXAM date TBA
New area of study in the works :
"Trendsetters and Social Influence Films 1950-1989"
Have we really changed all that much? Do we still find the same issues and ideas important?
Where are these trendsetting styles now?
The Genre of Comedy: What makes people laugh?
