Advanced Film Update

Make sure you turn in your notes for your independent film analysis project.   They were due on November 28th.


We will be viewing more clips and watching The Cutting Edge (documentary on editing) this week.



You must choose and have approved your project presentation clips by December 16.

Winter Break Update 2010

I hope all of you enjoy the in-theatre film of your choice. We will discuss them on January 3rd. BTW, The King's Speech has gotten strong reviews. That's my film preference for the assignment. I hope someone else goes to see it, so we can compare notes upon return from Winter Break.

Following our return to school in January, we will watch one last full film. (Title TBA)
We'll also revisit film terminology and approve project clips. Your clip presentations will begin on January 10th.

Thank You!

A big thank you to all students who attended the Advanced Film Analysis Review Session on Monday, December 21st. It is wonderful to see students give up a few hours of their Winter Break to deepen their learning.

Go see a great movie during your break. We will talk about them when we return to the classroom in January. We will also revisit film terminology, watch one more full film, and finish up with the student presentations on your individual film choices. Oh, and don't forget . . . we'll fit in a final exam before the quarter closes.

What are we doing this week?

November 23 & 24 - We will be watching Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography.

Following Thanksgiving, we will be viewing short clips on cinematic elements. We will also view The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing.

Individual Film Clip Project choices are due December 1st.

Course Guidelines -- Q2 -- 2009-2010

Advanced Film Analysis
Course Guidelines
2009-2010 - Q2 – Fourth Period

Students in this course will explore popular film as an art form by analyzing cinema through the literary, dramatic, and cinematic gazes. That means looking at all the “picky” details like lighting, camera angles, background setting, symbolism, actor choices, costuming, music, etc. Be prepared, I will ask you to look for detail as I would with print material consumed in my classes. We will also be looking at film as a medium that carefully and purposely presents important and often controversial issues to a viewing audience. The picky details and film production elements will help us to understand the filmmakers’ intentions and messages and form our own interpretations of the final visual product. In other words, we will be viewing these films not as simply an entertainment medium, but as a text for cultural exploration and voice. Issues to be discussed may be from a variety of socio-political and literary areas. If time permits, we may also analyze how the historical context of the film’s production and first-run release may impact the interpretation of the cinematic product.

Course Expectations:
• Students will be expected to actively and respectfully view the films in class. What that means is NO SLEEPING or talking through a film! Many feel that once the lights go out, it is nap time or social hour. Think again! It isn’t often that we have the opportunity to have a class devoted to film, so please enjoy it respectfully. Students will need to pay close attention to these films to recognize and analyze elements to be discussed in class.

• Students will be expected to think about and respond to the films and social issues through note taking, writing assignments, and strong, consistent discussion. You may need to prepare film analysis assignments outside of class time. Written and presentation work is expected to be in line with assignment guidelines, thoughtful, organized, and well edited. Assignments not meeting expectations will be returned to students for revision.

• Respectful and active participation in discussions is a course requirement! Allow and encourage your classmates to share their views. Challenge yourself to speak out more if you tend to hold back in class discussions. Participation on discussion days is considered an assignment. If you miss more than one full-film discussion session (fieldtrips only will be accommodated), you may only be eligible for “elective” credit in the class.


Homework Alert!!!!!

Viewing and Discussion of First Run Film
Students must go see a movie in the theatre over Winter Break, read current reviews, and be prepared to discuss the film following our return to classes after WB. If this is a financial concern for any of you, please talk with Denise during the first week of class so accommodations can be made prior to Winter Break.

Formal Cumulative Film Analysis Assignment
As a cumulative course assignment, students will present a short film clip and lead discussion on a film of choice from an extensive title list. Students will make their film choices during week two with a short post-choice period allowing for changes. Guidelines will be distributed prior to the title choice deadline. A small number of films are available for student check out and use for this project. The chosen movie must be on Denise’s approved choice list. Presentations will be completed January 12-14th.

In-Class Final Exam
All students will complete an in-class final exam on course content. This exam is scheduled for fourth hour on January 8th. If you have a fieldtrip or service learning conflict with this date, you will need to take an alternative final exam prior to the 8th.

Late Work:
Students must make a sincere effort to meet due dates in this class to allow for appropriate curriculum development and scaffolding of information. Students must complete ALL assignments to be eligible for credit. Grace periods may be possible in certain circumstances. Those decisions will be made on a case by case basis. Any missed deadlines, for any reason, will result in a community support contact.

Discussion Sessions:
• Students may miss only one full-film discussion session and still be eligible for English credit. There will be no opportunity to make up discussion sessions. The only possible exceptions are fieldtrips, and you must negotiate those with me in advance.

Attendance:
Beware of absences. Save your absences for when you really need them. The Shabazz attendance policy will be strictly enforced. Generally, students who arrive for class more than 15 minutes late will earn an absence for that day. On full-film viewing days, you may not be more than 5 minutes late without a note or escort from a staff member. If you miss part or all of a film due to absences, it is your responsibility to rent the film promptly and view it on your own at your own expense. You will still be responsible for completing acceptable written responses if required. All films viewed in class should be available from any major video rental location. Do not count on the Madison Public Library to have copies of the films on the shelf.

DATES TO REMEMBER: (Not all minor assignments are noted below.)
November 13, 16 -- Twelve Angry Men Discussion
November 20 – Make title choices for Final Film Clip Presentation project
January 4 – Be prepared to discuss a first-run film seen during Winter Break
January 8 -- Final Exam in class.
January 12 – January 15 – Student-led clips viewing and analysis in class

Other assignment deadlines will be announced in class and on the assignment board.


Films that we will view as a class:
Twelve Angry Men (Lumet)
Visions of Light (Documentary on Cinematography)
The Cutting Edge (Documentary on film editing)
Schindler’s List (Spielberg)
Student-Led Clips (to be approved in advance)

Other Possibilities:
Ghost Dog, The Way of the Samurai (Jarmusch)
Barton Fink (Coen Brothers)
? (Kurosawa)
12 Monkeys (Gilliam)
25th Hour (Lee)
Easy Rider (Hopper & Fonda)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
etc.

Advanced Film Scheduled for 2009-10

The Advanced Film Analysis course is scheduled for second quarter in 2009-10. As always, students must have taken Introduction to Film Analysis with Denise to be eligible for the advanced course. Two sections of IFA are available during first quarter.

Please plan your schedules accordingly.

Think about the Cinematic Elements!!

We'll do a final discussion of The Dark Knight on Monday.