Last class, you spent some time reviewing the top 100 movies of all time. Please read Tim Dirk's information on the AMC Film History website. Last class you took a look through the list, and noted the following:
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)?
After answering the questions above, write a response to the forum during period one.
After your post, please take a look at these websites (during period one):
Early film was little more than the thrill of capturing "real life." Finally, through technology, photographers were able to depict reality in a way never before possible. This had many uses. For one, it allowed people to witness strange or exotic locations, cultures, or people. Now someone who lived in New York City didn't have to spend a month on a steamer boat to visit far-away-lands. Presidents could be seen without having to campaign in your home town. Life could be seen as it really was. These slices of life are documentaries in the strictest sense. These "actualities" are little more than moving snapshots. Note there is no plot or character development--just real life.
Watch these films from the late 1890's and early 1900's. As you watch, take notes about the director(s) and the titles and content of the film. Summarize in a few words or a sentence or two what each film is about. At the end of the collection, answer the following: what do you notice about the films? What subject matter do they deal with? What do you notice about the shots and camera work in these films?
The oldest surviving film in existence at this point is Louis Le Prince's Roundhay Garden Scene (1888). This sequence was recorded on an 1885 Eastman Kodak paper base photographic film through Le Prince's single-lens combi-camera-projector. It moved at 12 frames per second.
Edison Kinetoscope films: (1894-1896)
The Kiss, Serpentine Dances, Sandow the Strong Man, Comic Boxing, Cock Fighting, The Barber Shop, Feeding the Chickens, Seminary Girls
The Lumiere Bros. (Documentary)
Homework: Please complete your viewing of these films and read the article "The Beginning of Film." Take notes of what you found interesting/important or confusing. Put ?, comment, etc. on index card to hand in Friday, Feb. 3.
1. Which films on this list have you personally seen? (jot down a few titles in your journal)After reading through your list, make some personal observations.
2. Which films on this list have you heard about, but never had the chance to see? (jot down a few titles)
3. If a movie looks interesting to you, please jot down its title in your journal.
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)?
After answering the questions above, write a response to the forum during period one.
After your post, please take a look at these websites (during period one):
- IMDB.com (this is the international movie data base, and can be very helpful to you in this course).
- Metacritic (a website where you can find all sorts of film reviews for models regarding how to write a film review--and for your own enjoyment)
- The Internet Script database. This site publishes many contemporary film scripts. It will be important to check your film script formatting and go here to read scripts.
- Youtube.com Many of the clips we will be watching in this class come from sites like youtube.com.
Early film was little more than the thrill of capturing "real life." Finally, through technology, photographers were able to depict reality in a way never before possible. This had many uses. For one, it allowed people to witness strange or exotic locations, cultures, or people. Now someone who lived in New York City didn't have to spend a month on a steamer boat to visit far-away-lands. Presidents could be seen without having to campaign in your home town. Life could be seen as it really was. These slices of life are documentaries in the strictest sense. These "actualities" are little more than moving snapshots. Note there is no plot or character development--just real life.
Watch these films from the late 1890's and early 1900's. As you watch, take notes about the director(s) and the titles and content of the film. Summarize in a few words or a sentence or two what each film is about. At the end of the collection, answer the following: what do you notice about the films? What subject matter do they deal with? What do you notice about the shots and camera work in these films?
The oldest surviving film in existence at this point is Louis Le Prince's Roundhay Garden Scene (1888). This sequence was recorded on an 1885 Eastman Kodak paper base photographic film through Le Prince's single-lens combi-camera-projector. It moved at 12 frames per second.
Edison Kinetoscope films: (1894-1896)
The Kiss, Serpentine Dances, Sandow the Strong Man, Comic Boxing, Cock Fighting, The Barber Shop, Feeding the Chickens, Seminary Girls
The Lumiere Bros. (Documentary)
- Lion, London Zoological Gardens (Lumiere Bros) (1895)
- Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (Lumiere Bros) (1895)
- The Sprinkler Sprinkled (Lumiere Bros) (1895)
- Le Squelette Joyeux (the happy skeleton) (1895)
- Arab Cortege (Lumiere Bros) (1896)
- Various actualities (documentaries)
- Statue of Liberty (1898)
- The inauguration of President McKinley (1901)
- Skyscrapers of New York (1903)
- Moscow Clad in Snow (1906)
- Vancouver (1907)
Homework: Please complete your viewing of these films and read the article "The Beginning of Film." Take notes of what you found interesting/important or confusing. Put ?, comment, etc. on index card to hand in Friday, Feb. 3.
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