Course Expectations, Introduction to Film Art (creative process, creative team)

Form as overall patterning in a film; Style as film's use of cinematic techniques.

Discussion of (classic Hollywood) narrative, narration, narrator, story, plot and diegesis; Narrative of Casablanca discussed.

Components of mise en scène are examined; Setting, props as narrative and expressive tools. Costume and Make-up, Production design.

Description: analysis of the function of cinematic objects; basic semiotics used to analyze visual rhetoric. Shots from film We Need to Talk about Kevin (and others)

Acting and the Star system, Film style, Introduction to genre; Types of actors, approaches to acting, Directing actors, Acting styles;

Components of mise en scène are further examined to include cinematography - camera angles, frame, composition, basics of lighting. Clips from tutorials and films are used for elaboration. Night of the Hunter is screened, also used to demonstrate genre presentation.

Discussion of functions and techniques of sound and editing in film art. Discussion of alternatives to classical Hollywood Narration. Screening: Rashomon. Midterm Exam opened after class.

Student presentation on the Horror genre; conventions, context, audience expectations, major films and filmmakers working within the genre

Student presentation on the Film Noir genre; conventions, context, audience expectations, major films and filmmakers working within the genre) Screening: Laura (88 minutes)

Student presentation on the Western genre; conventions, context, audience expectations, major films and filmmakers working within the genre) Screening: Scenes from westerns and High Noon (85 minutes)

Student presentation on the Action/Thriller genre; conventions, context, audience expectations, major films and filmmakers working within the genre). Screening: scenes from action films and Taken (90 minutes)

Student presentation on the sports film genre; conventions, context, audience expectations, major films and filmmakers working within the genre) Screening: TBD

Final exam is comprehensive of all material covered in course, but primarily from readings and lectures assigned since midterm: chapters 1-6, 8-9 in Bordwell's Film Art; Barsam & Monahan, pp. 85-119 and chapter 7 in Looking at Movies, ch. 13 Pramaggiore, including student presentations on genres, readings and screenings.