Dear Film Students,
The quiz on the western genre will be on Monday, no exceptions. The quiz will cover the Western genre as a whole, My Darling Clementine, and Once Upon A Time in the West. Your viewing guides for the two films will be due on Monday, no exceptions.
If you've been absent, you have the weekend to rent, download, or puchase the films to prepare for the quiz on Monday. No exceptions.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Journal 3 due next Tuesday
For Journals 2 and 3, you must choose a film from either of the following lists, and at least one of them must be either from before 1960 or a non-American film (and they can’t be from our class list): www.time.com/time/100movies/ (then click on “see the complete list”) or www.rogerebert.com/greatmovies.
We often appreciate a movie more when we know how it was made. What went into its creation behind the scenes? How, for example, did the art director design the sets for Citizen Kane? How did the photographer achieve those striking cameral movements and lighting effects? Where did the ideas for the screenplay come from, and what did each writer contribute to the script?
This assignment is an opportunity to look behind the scenes at a particular aspect of filmmaking that interests you.
First, select a film you would like to learn more about from one of the previously mentioned lists.
Then, choose one of the following topics and write on what you learn through research. (Note: choosing one topic is preferable, but if you need to write about more than one to fulfill the 500-word requirement, that’s OK).
You must turn in at least one page of notes of your film with your journal. Whenever you introduce an idea that comes from your research, make sure to mention the source (use signal phrases like “According to Steven Spielberg’s commentary track,” or “According to an article by A.O. Scott in the New York Times.” If any of your sources are online, please link to them in your post and don’t be afraid to quote from them). Hint: DVD commentary tracks and other extra features make excellent sources for this assignment.
A. Script Writing. Who was responsible for the film script? Where did the main idea originate? If the film is based on literature, consult the original text and compare it to the final film.
B. Photography. Who was the film’s chief cinematographer? What is he or she most noted for? Are there any technical innovations in camera work or lighting? How were they achieved?
C. Set design. Who was involved in selecting and creating the film’s sets? Were any special problems encountered in making the sets? How were they solved? How important are the sets in the final film?
D. Music. Does the film use familiar music or an original score? What musical decisions were made by the composer? What effects was the composer striving for? Are different melodies used for different characters or scenes? How do they contribute to the total film experience?
E. Direction. Some directors have a stronger hand than others in the making of a film. Directors may be interested in different elements of filmmaking. What role did the director have in producing the film you chose? What are the director’s hallmarks in this and other films?
F. Acting. Select two or three actors in the film and find out more about them. Why do you think they were chosen for the film? What other roles have they played? Are they versatile or stereotyped? What can you learn about their behavior on or off the set during the film’s production?
G. Reception. Do some research to find out how the film was received during its first release. What did the critics say? How did the general public respond? How do you account for the reception in its own time and today?
Journals will be evaluated the same way as your other blog entries: intellectual depth of the posts, effectiveness of the writing, level of reflection regarding the ideas expressed, and the willingness to contribute to and collaborate with the work of others (Richardson 49).
We often appreciate a movie more when we know how it was made. What went into its creation behind the scenes? How, for example, did the art director design the sets for Citizen Kane? How did the photographer achieve those striking cameral movements and lighting effects? Where did the ideas for the screenplay come from, and what did each writer contribute to the script?
This assignment is an opportunity to look behind the scenes at a particular aspect of filmmaking that interests you.
First, select a film you would like to learn more about from one of the previously mentioned lists.
Then, choose one of the following topics and write on what you learn through research. (Note: choosing one topic is preferable, but if you need to write about more than one to fulfill the 500-word requirement, that’s OK).
You must turn in at least one page of notes of your film with your journal. Whenever you introduce an idea that comes from your research, make sure to mention the source (use signal phrases like “According to Steven Spielberg’s commentary track,” or “According to an article by A.O. Scott in the New York Times.” If any of your sources are online, please link to them in your post and don’t be afraid to quote from them). Hint: DVD commentary tracks and other extra features make excellent sources for this assignment.
A. Script Writing. Who was responsible for the film script? Where did the main idea originate? If the film is based on literature, consult the original text and compare it to the final film.
B. Photography. Who was the film’s chief cinematographer? What is he or she most noted for? Are there any technical innovations in camera work or lighting? How were they achieved?
C. Set design. Who was involved in selecting and creating the film’s sets? Were any special problems encountered in making the sets? How were they solved? How important are the sets in the final film?
D. Music. Does the film use familiar music or an original score? What musical decisions were made by the composer? What effects was the composer striving for? Are different melodies used for different characters or scenes? How do they contribute to the total film experience?
E. Direction. Some directors have a stronger hand than others in the making of a film. Directors may be interested in different elements of filmmaking. What role did the director have in producing the film you chose? What are the director’s hallmarks in this and other films?
F. Acting. Select two or three actors in the film and find out more about them. Why do you think they were chosen for the film? What other roles have they played? Are they versatile or stereotyped? What can you learn about their behavior on or off the set during the film’s production?
G. Reception. Do some research to find out how the film was received during its first release. What did the critics say? How did the general public respond? How do you account for the reception in its own time and today?
Journals will be evaluated the same way as your other blog entries: intellectual depth of the posts, effectiveness of the writing, level of reflection regarding the ideas expressed, and the willingness to contribute to and collaborate with the work of others (Richardson 49).
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