Introduction to the Art of Film

Course Policies	Introduction
August
17	Course Introduction – The Audience That Knew Too Much
	Working Definitions of "Critical Reading" and "Film Text"

19	The Business - Distribution, Promotion, Exhibition
	Film Experience – Chapter 1


24	Marketing Report (by groups)
	Discussion of Star System


26	Star System and Film Discussion
	Screening: Sunset Boulevard (Wilder, 1950)

	Basic Composition of Film
31	Mise-en-scene
	Film Experience – Chapter 3

September
2	German Expressionism and Film Discussion
	Screening: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1920)
	Marketing and Mise-en-scene Quiz

7	LABOR DAY - No Classes

9	Cinematography
	Film Experience – Chapter 4


14	Cinematography (cont.)
	Begin exercises for Shot-by-shot

16	Cinematography and Direction
	Screening: Raising Arizona (Coens, 1987)
	Cinematography Quiz

21	Editing - Introduction to Continuity
	Film Experience – Chapter 5 (p.135-60)


23	Shot-by-shot Exercise and Film Discussion
	Screening: The Big Sleep (Hawks, 1946)

28	Editing - Alternatives to Continuity
	Film Experience – Chapter 5 (p.160-83)
	Shot-by-shot Exercise Due


30	Review for Midterm
	Writing Exercise to Prepare for Midterm Essay

October
5	Midterm Exam
	Oct. 6th = Last day to withdraw with a "W"

7	Discontinuity and Film Discussion
	Screening: Bonnie and Clyde (Penn, 1967)

12	Introduction to Film Sound
	Film Experience – Chapter 6


14	Film Sound and Discussion
	Screening: Do the Right Thing (Lee, 1989)

	Organizational Structures
19	Narrative Form
	Film Experience – Chapter 7


21	Discussion of Narrative Form and Film
	Screening: Adaptation (Jonze, 2002)
	Segmentation Exercise

26	Experimental Film
	Film Experience – Chapter 9
	In-class Screening: Meshes in the Afternoon (Deren, 1943); Un Chien Andalou (Buñuel, 1929)

28	Film Sound and Narrative Form (including experimental form) Quiz
	Revised Segmentation Exercise and Rationale Due (typed)

November
2	Movie Genres
	Film Experience – Chapter 10


4	Rituals, Conventions, Achetypes and Formulas
	Screening: Let the Right One In (Alfredson, 2008)

9	Documentary
	Film Experience – Chapter 8

11	Documentary and Film Discussion
	Screening: Grizzly Man (Herzog, 2005)


16	Global Cinema
	Film Experience – Chapter 12 (p.405-23)


18	Global Cinema and Film Discussion
	Screening: Hero (Zhang, 2002)

23	Movie Genres and Documentary Film Quiz

25-29	THANKSGIVING RECESS - No classes

30	Animation and the Digital Future
	In-class screening: Steamboat Willie (Disney, 1928) and excerpts of WALL-E (Stanton, 2008)

December
2	Final Review for Exam

11	Final Exam - 2-4 pm