Elements of Film
Fall 2011
Tom Hammond
This course is an introduction to film analysis and criticism. Being able to identify and interpret the various components of a film is vital to understanding the most important and influential art form of the last century and this one as well. We will watch films and clips in class. You will be assigned feature-length films to watch as homework as well as readings from the required text. There will be a class blog for you to participate in and an individual project.
Class Blog: http://filmelements.blogspot.com. You will be invited to post on this website.
Instructors Contact Information – phone: 813-900-4759, email: hammontm@eckerd.edu or thammond1946@yahoo.com
Face to face meetings can be arranged before or after class.
Required Text:
Louis Giannetti, “Understanding Movies”
Netflix – A monthly subscription is a good idea for the semester. All assigned movies are “streamable” on Netflix. It costs $8 per month and the first month is usually free. You can obtain all the films at the library, but availability might be a problem with 25 students and a limited number of copies on hand. You can rent or buy, but Netflix is easily the most convenient and affordable method. If you subscribe and for an extra $7, you can receive the films by mail as well as streaming. Turnaround is 2-3 days.
Course Requirements and Grading:
• Attendance & Participation 20% of grade
• Contribution to Class Blog 20% of grade
• Midterm & Final Exam 40% of grade
• Final Project 20% of grade
• Extra Credit Project (+10% of grade)
Attendance & Participation – Every class covers a component of film history, theory and criticism vital to your overall understanding of the subject. If you can’t avoid missing a class, let me know in advance. Any pattern of absence or chronic lateness will be noted and will adversely impact your final grade. Speak up in class. If that is difficult for you, bring in something that will inspire discussion.
The Class Blog – You will be invited to author on the blog. You can make comments on existing posts, post photos, videos or your own writing. You can add links and suggested readings and viewings as well. The Blog is a component of participation. Contributing to it will generate interest in the class and good grades for you.
Mid-Term & Final Exams – You are responsible for knowing the content of the assigned readings, and being familiar with class and required outside viewings. The exams will be a combination of objective and short answer questions.
Final Project – Here are the guidelines for the final project:
• You will create a visual essay that will either tell a story or make a point.
• It will consist of twelve (12) photographs taken by you. No more, no less.
• You may use sound, but only music. No dialogue, narration or sound effects.
• No text unless it naturally occurs in the photo (street signs, etc.).
• Project to be submitted on a disc and presented as a projection to the class.
• Submit a short paper (1-2 pages) explaining the project and pertinent details about the photos.
We will be viewing these projects during the last two weeks of class. Try to incorporate as many of the concepts that we learned about during the semester. You will show your project first without comment. A class critique will follow along with a second viewing. Be prepared to discuss the details of your choices and your process in putting the project together.
If you wish to do this assignment as a video rather than still images, talk to me about the possible guidelines.
Extra Credit – You can keep a journal of films you view outside the requirements of class. You should choose from movies that are mentioned or illustrated in the text book. Write a paragraph or more for each entry explaining how this film relates to the subjects we are studying in class along with a personal opinion. Turn in your work before the end of the semester in organized and printed form.
Academic Integrity – If you use an idea from another source, you can quote it or paraphrase it, but please CITE IT. Failure to do so will be a violation of the Honor Code.
The Eckerd College Honor Code: “On my honor, as an Eckerd College student, I pledge not to lie, cheat or steal, nor to tolerate these behaviors in others.”
To affirm this, you will write, “Pledged” followed by your signature on all assignments, papers and exams.
Assignment Schedule:
• All readings are chapters in the required text, “Understanding Movies” by Louis Gannetti.
• Assigned Viewings are films you are required to see outside of class (all “streamable” on Netflix).
• In class we will watch feature films, scenes and clips from various movies and documentary material on filmmaking. Much of this will also be posted on the Blog for your further study.
Week 1: Introduction
Introduction of students and professor
Review of syllabus
In-class viewing: “Citizen Kane”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 1
Week 2: Photography
Lecture: Cinematography
In-class viewing: “Visions of Light”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 2
Assigned viewing: “Black Narcissus”
Week 3: Mise en Scene
Lecture: Mise en Scene
In-class viewing: “I Walked With a Zombie”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 3
Assigned viewing: “The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari” (1920)
Week 4: Movement
Lecture: Cinematic Movement
In-class viewing: “Kung Fu Hustle”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 4
Assigned viewing: “13 Assassins”
Week 5: Editing
Lecture: Film Editing
In-class viewing: “The Cutting Edge”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 5
Assigned Viewing: “Battleship Potemkin”
Week 6: Sound
Lecture: Film Sound
In-class viewing: “Singin’ in the Rain”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 6
Assigned viewing: “The Conversation”
Week 7: Acting – MIDTERM EXAM
Lecture: Film Acting
In-class viewing: “On the Waterfront”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 7
Assigned viewing: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
Week 8: Drama
Lecture: Drama
In-class viewing: “Twentieth Century”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 8
Assigned viewing: “All About Eve”
Week 9: Story
Lecture: Storytelling
In-class viewing: “8 ½”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 9
Assigned viewing: “High Noon”
Week 10: Writing
Lecture: Screenwriting
In-class viewing: “Chinatown”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 10
Assigned viewing: “The Grapes of Wrath”
Week 11: Ideology
Lecture: Theme
In-class viewing: “V for Vendetta”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 11
Assigned viewing: “To Be Or Not To Be” (1942)
Week 12: Theory
Lecture: Film Theory & Criticism
In-class viewing: “The Bicycle Thief”
Assigned reading: Giannetti, Chapter 12
Assigned viewing: “Blue Velvet”
Week 13: Thanksgiving – no class
Week 14: Synthesis – FINAL EXAM
Lecture: Re-viewing “Citizen Kane”
In-class viewing: “Citizen Kane
Individual Project Presentations due
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
In the event of an emergency or campus shutdown, class work will continue online at:
www.filmelements.blogspot.com
You will be invited to contribute as a blog correspondent at the beginning of the semester. This is part of the participation segment of your grade and the location for all information if class can’t be held as scheduled. Assignments will be posted there as well as suggested readings. Video lectures will be available if a shutdown continues for more than one week. Under those circumstances, you may also post any written assignments on the blog or send them to my email at:
hammontm@eckerd.edu or thammond1946@yahoo.com
You can contact me by phone at: 813-900-4759
Be sure to review the school handout on procedure in the event of a hurricane.
ELEMENTS OF FILM – REQUIRED VIEWINGS
“The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari” – 1920
“Battleship Potemkin” – 1925
“Twentieth Century” – 1934
“The Grapes of Wrath” – 1940
“Citizen Kane” – 1941
“To Be Or Not To Be” – 1942
“I Walked With a Zombie” – 1943
“Black Narcissus” – 1947
“The Bicycle Thief” - 1948
“All About Eve” – 1950
“Singin’ in the Rain” - 1951
“High Noon” – 1952
“On the Waterfront” – 1954
“8 ½” – 1963
“Chinatown” – 1974
“The Conversation” – 1974
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – 1975
“Blue Velvet” – 1986
“Visions of Light” – 1992
“The Cutting Edge” – 2004
“Kung Fu Hustle” – 2004
“V For Vendetta” – 2006
“13 Assassins” - 2010
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