Thursday, April 25, 2013

1930's Test; Sound & Film Noir

Your scripts are due this morning. Please print them out and turn them in.

After our test on the 1930's, please read the articles: Giannetti's chapter on Sound ("The Talkie Revolution") & Rausch's "The Dark Streets of Film Noir." Note key or important ideas in your journal/notebook. When everyone has taken the test, we will switch over to learn about film noir.

Film Noir: please watch the short film clip: The Elements of Film Noir (documentary)

Here are a few things to watch for as we screen The Maltese Falcon:

1. A protagonist that is cynical or detached
2. A femme fatale who leads the protagonist astray
3. A mystery, crime, or use of suspense
4. A naive scapegoat to take the rap of some "crime"
5. Goons (hired criminals who give the protagonist a hard time)
6. Razor sharp dialogue
7. Reference and description of low key lighting

The Maltese Falcon, directed and written for the screen by John Huston
Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett

Today's class will be extended until 10:00 or 10:05 due to testing.

HOMEWORK: Please complete the 2 articles (sound & film noir) from above.

No comments:

The Murky Middle (Even More Advice)

Aristotle wrote that stories should have a beginning, middle, and end. Middles can be difficult. You might have a smashing opening to a stor...