CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Division of Humanities, English, Telecommunications. Introduction to the Moving Image - COMM Credit Hours

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1 CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Division of Humanities, English, Telecommunications Introduction to the Moving Image - COMM Credit Hours COURSE DESCRIPTION Covers the development and employment of television and film techniques. Emphasis on how these techniques are used as a form of artistic expression and create meaning. Classic films, from the silent period to the present day, and television programs are screened. Three class hours weekly. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of this course a student will be able to demonstrate: 1. Critical understanding of a general overview of the historical background of film and television techniques. 2. Knowledge of basic theory of film and television techniques. 3. Critical understanding of how film and television techniques are used in the communication of ideas and in the development of directorial style. CLASS PROCEDURE Students must complete all reading assignments prior to class. Each student is expected to participate in class discussions. The material covered in class will include film/video viewings and lecture material not found in the required reading. Attendance is necessary to successfully complete the course. Two absences will be allowed. In the event of an absence, it is the individual student's responsibility to sign-out and view the missed film or video. Evaluation will be based on attendance, exams and written assignments: Reactions(3)...30% Journal...20% Final (expository) Paper..25% Final Exam...25%

2 REACTION PAPERS A reaction paper is a brief description providing basic factual information about a film or television program and is similar to the film reviews found in newspapers and magazines. They are usually written after one viewing of a film or program. Reactions usually include descriptions of story, technique, genre, acting, directing and comparisons with other films or programs. They are usually written for a wide audience with the purpose of encouraging or discouraging people to see the film or program. They also express the writer's opinion about the film or program. Reaction paper writing can be studied by examining reviews in newspapers and magazines. Students can also view a television program where film critics give their reactions, such as Siskel and Ebert. Reaction papers are to be one to two pages in length, with a minimum of 250 words. The following questions may help you in writing a reaction paper: 1. Describe the "look" of the film/program. Was it similar or different from others? 2. Did you identify with the characters in the film/program? Were they like anyone you know or know about? 3. Who created this film/program? What other work has this person done? Is it similar to their other work? 4. How is this film/program like other films/programs? How is it different? 5. Describe the techniques used in this film/program. JOURNAL The student's journal must include an entry for each film/program viewed in class. It is suggested that students make notes in their journals while viewing the film/program and again after viewing the film/program. The observations written in the journal will be helpful in writing reviews. Some suggestions for journal entries are as follows: 1. What techniques are used? How do editing, cinematography, and music help move the story along? 2. What emotions are evoked? How? 3. Name one striking visual image? How is the image used in the story? 4. Was there a memorable line? Who said it? 5. How was music used? Did you hum the theme song on your way home? 6. What transitions did the director use to get from one scene to another? Was the pace fast or slow? 7. Were the characters believable? Did you identify with them?

3 EXPOSITORY PAPER The Expository Paper is a "reaction plus." An expository paper should be longer and more well thought out than a review. It is usually written after more than one viewing of a film. It is a complete description of a work and its main task is to increase appreciation and understanding of the film/program and its techniques. For the student, the process of writing an expository paper will be a learning process. For this class, the student will write a three to five page expository paper of any film or program. It may be one viewed in class or one of the student's choosing after discussion with the instructor. The following steps are suggestions for writing the paper. 1. Be familiar with the person who created the film/program. 2. Be familiar with the person's other work. 3. Be familiar with the culture for which the film/program was produced. 4. You must know about the media of film and television and their techniques, as well as the techniques used in the work you are writing about. 5. You must know about the genre you are analyzing. 6. You must know about the content area of the film/program. 7. Read all other criticisms of the film/program that you can. You must see the film/program you are analyzing more than once. Begin by brainstorming and logging your impressions of the film/program. This assignment also involves research; read all you can about the work you have chosen to analyze. Discuss your opinions and impressions with other people. CLASS SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Course Introduction - Development of the Moving Image -Edison, Melies and the other early pioneers -Screening: Early film shorts. Sept. 8 - Cinematography and the Moving Picture as a Narrative Form -D.W. Griffith and his contemporaries -Screening: The Gold Rush* -Reading: Understanding Movies (UM) Chap. 1,2,3 Flashback (FB) Chap. 1,2 Sept. 15 The Silent Era -Chaplin and Keaton -Screening: Chaplin* -Reading: FB Chap 3

4 Sept. 22 Editing and Montage -Early American efforts -Eisenstein and the Russian School -Screening: Segments of The Odessa Steps Metropolis and Intolerance -Reading: UM Chap. 4 FB Chap 4 Sept. 29 Film as Art: Expressionism and Surrealism -French and German films of the twenties -Lang, Cocteau and Bunuel -Screening: The Public Enemy* -Reading: UM Chap. 10Oct. 6 The Transition to Sound -Screening: Last of the Mohicans* -Reading: UM Chap 5 FB Chap 6 Oct. 13 Hollywood's Golden Age -The studio system: faults and triumphs -Ford, Wyler, Capra, Hawks and the stars -Screening: Grapes of Wrath* -Reading: FB Chap 5 1st review due Oct. 20 Synthesis -Orson Welles and "Citizen Kane" -Screening: Citizen Kane* -Reading: UM Chap 12 Oct. 27 The Post-War Era -The rebirth of foreign film -Lean, Reed, DeSica, Visconti -Screening: The Bicycle Thief* -Reading: FB Chaps 9 & 10

5 Nov. 3 The Actor - Screening: A Streetcar Named Desire* -Reading: UM Chap 6 Nov. 10 Film Genre - Westerns and Film Noir -Screening: High Plains Drifter* -Reading: UM Chap 8 2nd review due Nov. 17 Early Television -The influence of film on televison techniques -Live and pre-recorded television -Freund and the three-camera set-up -Screening: I Love Lucy* Television Genres -Development of televison genres -Why different television techniques developed -Dramatic and Comedic genres -Screening: Northern Exposure* Dec. 1 The Rise of a New Cinema -The Auteur Theory -Big Budgets: Successes and Failures -Truffaut, Coppola, Cimino, Scorsese -Screening: Annie Hall* -Reading: UM Chap 11 FB Chap 12 & 13 Dec. 8 Modern Special Effects and Editing -70 mm film and modern sound design -Computerized animation control -Spielberg, Lucas and Harryhausen -Screening: TBA* -Reading: FB Chap 14 & 15 3rd review due * Must be included in journal. May be used for written review assignment and/or analysis assignment.

6 TEXTBOOKS Two textbooks are required: Understanding Movies Giannetti, Louis Flashback: A Brief History of Film Giannetti and Eyman Reviewed 06/2015 Page 6

MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT COURSE OF STUDY DRAFT

MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT COURSE OF STUDY DRAFT COURSE TITLE: ADVANCED FILM STUDY COURSE NUMBER: 0844 English/Language Arts 0845 Visual and Performing Arts DEPARTMENT: English/Language Arts & Visual and Performing Arts LENGTH OF COURSE: One Year CREDITS