Examine Rififi through a feminist lens. Use at least one quote from a feminist film theory essay (either the Laura Mulvey essay or Anneke Smelik's essay.) Read the film by analyzing one five-minute scene. Be sure to discuss the film's meaning as a whole (through the feminist lens) and the scene's relation to that meaning. Why did you choose the scene? I also want you to mention your favorite part of the movie and what cinematic techniques you learned you could use in your own productions. Minimum of 2 paragraphs.
And, check out these cool production design pictures from the movie!
Due: Monday, January 27
Friday, January 17, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Screenwriting
Sit down and read some scripts...
Go Into the Story--85 free, legal scripts for download
The Daily Script--a collection of movie scripts and screenplays to serve as a resource for writers and actors and those who simply enjoy reading movie scripts.
Go Into the Story--85 free, legal scripts for download
The Daily Script--a collection of movie scripts and screenplays to serve as a resource for writers and actors and those who simply enjoy reading movie scripts.
The more scripts/screenplays you read, the better you will be at writing them.
Everyone in class is required to write a 5-7 page screenplay. You have a choice of topics. Be sure to keep your screenplay simple so that your group can film it.
Main Character finds a magical object. What happens?
Main Character missed his/her curfew again and it's final exam time. What happens?
Main Character runs into his/her best friend and he/she is doing something very uncharacteristic. What is he/she doing and why? What happens?
Main Character is obsessed with orange soda. For whatever reason, orange soda is temporarily unavailable in Buffalo. To what lengths does the MC go in order to satisfy this obsession? What happens?
Main Character's best friend has just revealed an earth-shattering secret to him/her that changes everything about their friendship and may be pertinent to others as well. What is the secret? Does MC tell anyone? What happens?
Have fun. Be sure to write your script in script format with 12 pt. courier font.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Film Noir--Double Indemnity
Having read Paul Schrader's Notes on Film Noir, please discuss Double Indemnity and your choice of another film noir that Schrader talks about (check Netflix, Internet Archive, Amazon Prime, YouTube). Discuss, in at least 4 well-developed paragraphs, the films' implicit meanings and how the directors portray these meanings cinematically. Be sure to use a lot of visual examples (camera angles, shot composition, movement, editing, sequencing, lighting, mise-en-scene, etc.). Look at the representations of the characters and issues. Ask yourself, Why? For example, Why did the director choose to light a scene a certain way? Why is a particular character dressed the way he/she is? What is the purpose of the setting? Etc. Include one quote from Schrader's essay.
In order to make this a manageable task, choose a 5-minute scene from each film and focus on that scene and how it relates to the film as a whole. Also, find a review written at the time of the film's release and include one quote.
Remember, this exercise is preparing you for the Presentation assessment (only one year away!).
In case you don't have the Schrader essay, you can find it here: http://ubuntuone.com/0eij9pdtWkxT2y7P7xpASD
Due: Monday, January 13
In order to make this a manageable task, choose a 5-minute scene from each film and focus on that scene and how it relates to the film as a whole. Also, find a review written at the time of the film's release and include one quote.
Remember, this exercise is preparing you for the Presentation assessment (only one year away!).
In case you don't have the Schrader essay, you can find it here: http://ubuntuone.com/0eij9pdtWkxT2y7P7xpASD
Due: Monday, January 13
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
M
Fritz Lang's M is available to stream at this link:
https://archive.org/details/PhantasmagoriaTheater-MFritzLang1931574
https://archive.org/details/PhantasmagoriaTheater-MFritzLang1931574
Friday, October 25, 2013
Man With a Movie Camera
Battleship Potemkin can be viewed here. Your Potemkin screening sheet is due Monday, November 4.
Watch the film...
Watch the film...
Your Looking at Movies textbook has a nice quote about Vertov and his film on page 428.
Vertov shows us how to frame reality and movement: through the human eye and the camera eye, or through windows and shutters. But to confound us, he also shows us--through such devices as the freeze-frame, split screen, stop-action, slow motion, and fast motion--how the cinematographer and editor can transform the movements of life into something that is unpredictable. He not only proves that the camera has a life of its own, but also reminds us of the editor, who is putting all of this footage together. Reality may be in the control of the artist, his camera, and its tricks, but it also finds definition within the editor's presentation and, ultimately, the viewer's perception.
In your first well-developed paragraph, please discuss this quote in relation to a five minute piece ofMan With a Movie Camera. Be sure to describe shots cinematically, as if I've never seen the film before. Discuss elements of editing, such as the juxtaposition of shots, rhythm, montage, etc.
In your second well-developed paragraph, discuss this quote in relation to a film of your choice. Try to be as specific as possible in your descriptions and speak cinematically when you discuss the film.
Due: Monday, November 11
Monday, October 21, 2013
Metropolis
In his essay on Metropolis, B. Urgosíková states:
In the 1920s Lang was strongly influenced by Expressionist film, particularly its artistic forms. Originally an architect, Lang was a man of unusually sensitive visual perceptions. His films of those years show an expressionistic sense for the plastic and the lighting, which emphasized architectonic lines and conveyed a sense of geometric construction that not only extends to the sets and the depicted milieu but even influenced the positioning of the actors in individual shots.
Choose a theme you see in Metropolis and how Lang expresses this theme through expressionism. Choose a 5 minute scene in the film and ANALYZE it using your chosen theme and how it is expressed. Analyze mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, shot composition, etc.) and cinematography of the scene. In 3 well developed paragraphs, be sure to analyze deeply and DESCRIPTIVELY. I want an image in my mind when I read your response.
In the 1920s Lang was strongly influenced by Expressionist film, particularly its artistic forms. Originally an architect, Lang was a man of unusually sensitive visual perceptions. His films of those years show an expressionistic sense for the plastic and the lighting, which emphasized architectonic lines and conveyed a sense of geometric construction that not only extends to the sets and the depicted milieu but even influenced the positioning of the actors in individual shots.
Choose a theme you see in Metropolis and how Lang expresses this theme through expressionism. Choose a 5 minute scene in the film and ANALYZE it using your chosen theme and how it is expressed. Analyze mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, shot composition, etc.) and cinematography of the scene. In 3 well developed paragraphs, be sure to analyze deeply and DESCRIPTIVELY. I want an image in my mind when I read your response.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu
Watch F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu and compare and contrast it with The Cabiniet of Dr. Caligari. ReadRoger Ebert's essay on Munau's masterpiece as well as his essay on Caligari and use at least one quote from each. Your response should be at least 2 well-developed paragraphs.
If you want to re-watch Caligari, go here. Nosferatu can be found here.
Due: Friday, October 18
If you want to re-watch Caligari, go here. Nosferatu can be found here.
Due: Friday, October 18
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