Catalog Description:
The narrative structure, contexts, and content of film and video are analyzed and critiqued.

Description:
In the course we will study a wide variety of films; we will also study characteristics of the film medium and see how they apply to films studied in the course. Emphasis will be on the expressiveness of film techniques, the fictional film, the variety of films, and interpret the film from the producer's perspective.

Prerequisite:

Required Text>  
Film: An Introduction, Third Edition
Author:William H. Phillips

On reserve at the library are DVDs:

The Player, The Cooler, Sex Lies and Videotapes, American Splendor, and
more will follow.
Evaluation Criteria and Percentage of Grade:

1. journal ------------------------ 30 pts.
2. midterm (definitions and application of concepts to a film)-- 25 pts.
        Complete Chapters 1-4 (Book 's online companion chapter quizzes 1-4)
        (Due No Later than March 31 2 PM)
3. Participation (If you don't attend you are not participating
    (College Policy is 3 absences)- 15 pts.
4. final examination (take home)-------------------------- 30 pts.

    You can always email me pertaining to any questions you may have regarding the course or certainly all things related to RIC that I may be able to help you with.
        From time to time, I will e-mail you information, so please check your e-mail at least once a day. I check my e-mail several times a day, so please email me as needed.
    I plan to initiate a dialogue on the Web to enable us to discuss the films we are screening in class but also to maintain a momentum outside of class and apprise you of various Screenings and Events I become aware of during the semester.

Approximate Schedule:
1/20    Intro to course and what we plan to cover.
                Screening: American Movie, 1999 107 min
1/27    Chapter 1  Introduction to Mise en Scene.    
            Screening: The Player 1992 (124 min)
2/3        Chapter 2  Cinematography (Screen: The Cooler 2003 (101 min)
2/10     Cinematography -Screen:American Splendor  2003 :101 min  
2/17    Chapter 3    Editing. 
            Screening: "The Cutting Edge:The Magic of Movie Editing." 2004 :98 min
2/24     Chapter 3 Editing continued –  Screening:
            Steven Soderbergh, Sex, Lies and Videotape 1989 :100 min
3/03    Chapter 4     Sound   Screening: The Conversation 1974 (113 min)
3/17   Chapter 5  Sources for the Fictional Film
            Special presentation by Art Director, David Polonski,
                on the making of the award winning film, "Waltz with Bashir"

Journal Guidelines (30 points) More Details>>

    Until March 3, you are required to respond in writing to every complete film we screen to that point. We anticipate three to write about. For each of these screenings write about several aspects of the film that are important to you (for example, a character trait, some action, a setting, the lighting, the music, the editing of a scene, an idea implied or stated). The films include: The Player, Sex Lies and Videotape & American Splendor.

    Be sure that each paragraph explains only one major aspect, and make sure you give enough specifics so that the paragraph's point is clear and persuasive.

    During the first draft, it may help you to write quickly focusing on what you want to say and not worrying about how well you are writing. Most people find that it helps to write immediately after seeing a film then to rewrite later in the day or on the next day, or to rewrite later in the day and the next day.

      In the journal you submit on March 17, include only the final draft of each entry. Entries should be about 500 words for feature-length films. (500 words = two double-spaced typed pages with one-inch margins.) All entries must be typed and numbered.

         Journals will be graded from 0 to 20 based on following directions, completeness, clarity, factual accuracy, and originality of insights (not merely repeating points made in class or in the book). I will not read every entry; instead, I will choose several entries at random and read and grade them as representative of the journal as a whole. The journal is a very important course requirement, worth 30 points, so please plan to put considerable effort into writing and rewriting your entries.