Metropolis & Film Project

Metropolis assistance (when writing your paper)
--Metropolis (history & analysis)

Missed any of the film? Or need to study a certain scene? Look here! (Metropolis - Complete Film)

After watching Metropolis, please upload or begin working on your intertitles for your film project.

Before you leave today, make sure you have met with your group members and deciding on a filming schedule. Your film should be shot (completely) by Monday, April 4. Upload film files as soon as you can so that your chosen editor can begin working.

Extra Credit (until 5/06/2011): You may watch and analyze Fritz Lang's movie "M". Here's the film. Your paper should be 3-5 pages double-spaced and include appropriate film criticism (see how to do this from the links to your right).

HOMEWORK: Please read the chapter "The Movies Learn to Speak" and take notes about the beginning of sound in film.

Playwrights' festival, Hanah Tinti, Workshops, Film Project

The Playwrights' Festival is opening and closing on March 31 at 7:00 in the Ensemble Theater. All playwrights should be in attendance (that was the whole point of the project). All other students in this class are admitted free. Please come and support your colleagues.

Tomorrow you have a Masterclass Workshop with Hanah Tinti. Please think of some questions you may have about her book or being a professional author and magazine editor.

We could use your help tomorrow night (7:00 for the Panel Discussion. Students who have an interest in gaining community service can help out by babysitting and setting up.) In that case, plan on being here around 6:45.

Film your silent films. Most of this material is on your shoulders and the shoulders of your group. The deadline for the project is April 4. Not a lot of time. Go out and film!

Prep for your Silent Film Projects/Homework

Please turn in your homework assignment and upload any film shots or sequences you have completed on your silent film projects. We will take a few minutes during 1st period to complete these tasks.

Silent film projects are due April 4. Please shoot the films and begin work on them so that you can complete the projects by the deadline.

Fritz Lang & Metropolis

Fritz Lang born in Vienna, Germany, 1890 -- the son of an architect, he dropped out of college to fight in the Great War (WWI)

After the war, Lang met producer Erich Pommer who worked for the movie company Declar--
Later Declar becomes UFA (the largest film company in Europe)

1919 - Lang directs his first film “Halbblut” (the Half-Caste)
1920 - Meets writer Thea von Harbou, marries her in 1922

Thea von Harbou wrote all of Lang’s films (including Metropolis) until 1933 when they divorced.

1925-1926 - Lang makes the film Metropolis which is drastically cut and distributed over the world Lang forms his own production company; Thea is his main writer
1931 - Lang directs M (with actor Peter Lorre)
1932 - The Testimony of Dr. Mabuse (banned because it criticized the Nazi party)
1933 - Immigrated to the U.S.
1934 - Offered a contract by David Selznick, producer at MGM. He goes on to make several films (mixing styles), ends up going blind and dying in 1975.

MAJOR FILMS: Halbblut (Half Caste) (1919) Dr. Mabuse (1922) (serial) Die Niebelungen (Siegfried; Kriemhild's Revenge) (1924). Metropolis (1926) Spies (1928) M (1931) The Last Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1932) Fury (1936) You Only Live Once
(1937) Western Union (1941) Man Hunt (1941) The Ministry of Fear (1944) Cloak and Dagger (1946) Secret Beyond the Door (1948) The Big Heat (1953) Moonfleet (1955) While the City Sleeps (1956). Die Tausend Augend des Dr. Mabuse ("The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse") 1960

Film analysis:

1. Write about the effective use of special effects (including titles and music to affect tone); You may look here for further help in writing your paper.
2. Write about the effectiveness of the cinematography (the shots, angles, lighting, composition of the shots, mise-en-shot, mise-en-scene, etc.)
3. Pick a major character in the movie and analyze his/her acting, effective portrayal of the role, etc.
4. Write about the effectiveness of the plot, film script, and story elements of the film: Frequency, Narration, Story, Plot, Order, Narrative Format, Sequence, etc.
5. Write about the film as a historical vehicle. Answer: how is Metropolis the epitome and culmination of the Golden Age of silent film?
6. Write about the effective use of theme in the film. Why is the film still relevant today?

Your paper should be between 3-5 pages, double spaced.

Sergei Eisenstein

As film continued to gain popularity, the film culture around the world inspired various directors and auteurs to create new and exciting films. The most influential film maker of early Russian film was Sergei Eisenstein.

Asspen
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Montage song from South Park, Season 6.

Eisenstein is remembered in film for his contribution of the montage. The montage changed the way filmmakers approached film. It allows a filmmaker to tell a story through a sequence of shots that manipulate time. It is still used today and carries with it a psychological impact. In a script it is indicated by a series of descriptive lines, each spaced apart to indicate a series of shots, rather than description that would indicate one shot or scene.

Here's a few clips from some of his films:

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Oktober

Alexander Nevsky (battle on the ice sequence) - Music by Sergei Prokofiev

Ivan the Terrible

Film Test, The Golden Age of Film Research Sheet, Silent Film Project

After our test today, please use the time in the lab to complete the following:

1. Please research The Golden Age of Film and answer the questions. This sheet is due next class (Monday, March 21). You can find the article and link here. Please read the entire article, as there is a lot of lovely information here about this time period. You will understand and appreciate more if you don't skim for answers.

2. When all tests are in, you are free to work on your silent film projects (if applicable). You should at least choose today which film treatment you are going to use and who you are working with to form a "monopoly".

Prep for Final Marking Period & Treatments Due

Today please use the time given to you in the lab to complete the following:

--Study for the exam on Thursday (there is a lot of material there...please look at it.)
--Read the Hays Code chapter handout
--Complete and turn in your treatment

--Get into groups of 1 (working solo) up to 5. (No group will be given credit for more than 5 people in it) and read each others treatments. Choose the best one from your group to make into a silent film. Each member of a group is responsible for shooting, editing, and creating the intertitles for a silent film. Your silent film should be no longer than 5 minutes in length. It should include intertitles as appropriate, opening credits, and closing credits. You may use music to underscore your film.

Generally jobs that you will need to fill:
1. Director (this person makes sure the film comes together)
2. Cinematographer/Director of Photography (the person shooting the film; decides how to shoot the film photographically)
3. Grip(s) (people to move objects around/carry the camera, props, etc.
4. Gaffer (deals with lighting)
5. Casting director (gets actors for the film or assigns parts)
6. Script Writer (handles the treatment and intertitles)
7. Editor (edits the film)
8. Actors (people to play various parts)
9. Your credits should give credit to any music you use