Monday, February 1, 2010

Introduction to Film

Again, welcome to Film Studies. Please turn in your film reviews.

Last year we covered a variety of important terms. Take a moment (a few minutes) and try to remember the following:

Diegesis:
Diegetic sound:
Nondiegetic sound:
Narrative Film:
Frame:
Shot:
Sequence:
Sound Track:
Cutting (a.k.a. Editing):
Invisible Cutting:
Shot/Reverse Shot Technique:
Montage:
Synchronization:
Camera Angle: (High Angle, Low Angle, Bird's Eye (Omniscient), Eye-level angle, etc.)
Distance: long shot, full shot, medium shot, close up, etc.
Establishing Shot (a.k.a. "Master Shot")
Perspective:
Camera Movement
Dolly:
Dolly Shot:
Crane:
Pan:
Zoom Shot:
Lighting: (High Key, Low Key)

Story:
In a narrative film, all the events that we see and hear, plus all those that we infer or assume to have occurred, arranged in their presumed causal relations, chronological order, duration, frequency, and spatial locations. Opposed to plot, which is the film's actual presentation of certain events in the narrative.

Plot:
In a narrative film, all the events that are directly presented to us, including their causal relations, chronological order, duration, frequency, and spatial locations. Opposed to story which is the viewer's imaginary construction of all events in the narrative.

Enough of that for now. Let's cover a few important websites! You will need a notebook or journal to take notes. Write down stuff (it helps make the time go faster and you might learn something).

The BEST 100 Films of All Times - A Personal Response by YOU!

Please go to the link (on the left side of this article): Film History.

For our class, this website by film historian Tim Dirks, will provide you with a lot of excellent information. We will be using the link throughout our course as a reliable source of information.

Today, I'd like you to spend some time reviewing the top 100 movies of all time. Please read Dirk's information, take a look through the list and note the following:

1. Which films on this list have you personally seen?
2. Which films on this list have you heard about, but never had the chance to see?
3. If a movie looks interesting to you, please jot down its title in your journal.

After reading through the list, make some personal observations. How "literate" are you when it comes to "best" or top films of all time? Does there seem to be a pattern or genre bias in this list? How does our own culture, socio-economic status, gender, or age affect the way we approach films? Were you surprised to see these films on this list? If you were to write this list, what movies would you put on it that were not included (feel free to indicate your top ten favorites of all time)?

What genre of film do you prefer? Examine why. Go ahead and look through the various lists of top films--you may finally find some you know.

Write a short personal essay trying to answer all these questions (due at the end of class).

HOMEWORK: Please read the article "The Birth of Film" - Highlight and take notes in your notebook about important key concepts you found in the article. On Wednesday we will go over this information as a class. Write at LEAST one thing you learned from the article on an index card (to be handed in).

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