Fall 2008 Class Schedule

    

All Films Shown in Merrifield Hall, Room 300,
except where noted or announced otherwise in class,
at 2 pm Tuesdays
(NOTE: Some films run slightly over two hours and may last until 4:15 or so)

NOTE:  FILM TITLES SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!
It is possible that in rare cases a different film might be substituted for the one on the schedule, or that one section might view an alternate film in Merrifield 116 or a different classroom at the same time period. There is also an outside chance that one or two films might be shown at a local movie theatre. Be sure to verify the assigned film and location with your instructor the week before.  Be aware that your instructor may also give additional reading, writing, and/or viewing assignments during the small group class meetings.

 

TEXTBOOK:  Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film (second edition) by Richard Barsam

WEEK DATE

FILM SCREENING
(“Lab” on Tuesdays)

READING ASSIGNMENTS and DISCUSSION TOPICS
(for Wed-Thur small group class lecture/discussion)

Aug. 26-27-28

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen

Ch. 1a  - What is a Movie? Appendix pp 345-371 - Hollywood Production Systems – ONLINE READING: Night at the Movies

 - “PRETEST” in lecture/discussion sections this week! -

Sept. 2-3-4

American Movie (1999)

Chris Smith

Ch. 1b – documentary & genre

– ONLINE READINGS: Development of Cinema and

D. W. Griffith

Sept. 9-10-11

Film history anthology of short films (1870s-1920s)

with live commentary

Ch. 1c  - history & experimental – D.W.Griffith documentary;

start to read Gocsik & Barsam’s “Writing About Movies” booklet,

especially p. 12 and pp 21-53

Sept. 16-17-18

The Navigator (1924)

Buster Keaton; plus Easy Street (1917) and Never Weaken (1921)

Ch. 2a – narrative; genres, silent comedy

 (Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd)Ch.

Sept. 23-24-25

Stagecoach (1939)

John Ford

2b – narrative; genres, the Western

  – ONLINE READING: Hollywood Production Code

FIRST UNIT TEST

(narrative form, film history, genre, production & distribution)

Sept. 30–Oct. 1-2

The Great McGinty (1940) plus short

Preston Sturges

Ch. 1 & 3a –genres, screwball comedy & political satire;

 mise en scene

Oct. 7-8-9

Redskin (1929) plus short

Victor Schertzinger

Ch. 3 - mise en scene

  (note especially significant use of location, costumes, props)

Oct. 14-15-16

The Mayor of Hell (1933) plus short

Archie Mayo

Ch. 4a – cinematography;  PAPER 1 DUE this week!

  – REREAD ONLINE READING: Hollywood Production Code

Oct. 21-22-23

Blood Simple (1983) plus short

Joel and Ethan Coen

Ch. 4b – cinematography;  film noir

  (Be sure to watch the various DVD tutorials for this chapter!)

Oct. 28-29-30

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles

Ch. 5 – acting, Citizen Kane

 

Nov. 4-5-6

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Frank Capra

SECOND UNIT TEST   

(mise en scene and cinematography, acting; filmmaking styles) – NOTE: Forx Film Fest this weekend! – Extra Credit opportunity

Nov.    -12-13

(Nov. 11th is Veterans Day)

TUESDAY HOLIDAY - NO MOVIE

   View on your own the short film Snapshot on the 2nd DVD that came with your textbook!

Ch. 6 – editing

  (Be sure to watch all the DVD tutorials for this chapter, especially the “evolution of editing” tutorial!!   Watch also the chapter 5 tutorial “Editing and Performance in Snapshot” and the chapter 7 tutorial “Sound in Snapshot”)

Nov. 18-19-20

Run Lola Run (1999)

Tom Tykwer;

plus Success Through Violence (2003) & other shorts

Ch. 6-7 – editing and sound

Nov. 25 –

Thanksgiving

Walkabout (1971)

Nicholas Roeg

Ch. 7 – sound & style             PAPER 2 DUE Tuesday!

 - No lecture/discussion sessions this week -

Dec. 2-3-4

Blue Velvet  (1986)

David Lynch

Ch. 8 – theory and analysis, meanings and interpretations

Dec. 9-10-11

Design for Living (1932)

Ernst Lubitsch;

plus Peace on Earth (1939)

and Good Will to Men (1955)

LAST UNIT TEST

(editing, sound, film theory & analysis)

FINALS WEEK

View final movie projects

Student movie projects will be screened at the time normally scheduled for a final exam

CHRISTMAS

VACATION

HAVE A GOOD WINTER BREAK!!

Outline Notes on the Textbook Readings and Lecture/Discussions 

Film Casts, Production Credits, and Discussion Questions (selected titles)

PAPER ASSIGNMENTS

General Guidelines for Writing Papers

FILMS OUTSIDE OF CLASS : You will be expected to see a certain number of films on your own, on tape, DVD, and/or public screenings in order to complete the assigned papers. See the writing assignments and/or ask your instructor for details and films to see. It is recommended that you try to attend part of the Forx Film Festival of new independent movies, scheduled at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks November 7-8-9. Also try to attend the Global Visions foreign film series on the UND campus and watch for other regionally made movies scheduled at the Empire Arts Center, as well as independent films that may play at the River Cinema in East Grand Forks (and rarely at the Carmike or Columbia Theatres in Grand Forks). You may do extra-credit reaction papers for those special movie showings you attend.

      

       

           

  

Reading Assignments:

LAM = Richard Barsam, Looking at Movies – Second Edition
ADDITIONAL READINGS to be announced will be accessible through this website.
Use the DVDs that came with your text to review the chapters and view film clips that help illustrate the concepts.


Some Additional Readings Not in the Textbook:
(go ahead and read them now and
don’t wait for your instructor to assign them!)
          A Night At The Movies
          Orson Welles: Three Views
          Shakespeare and Film
          The Development of the Cinema
          D. W. Griffith
          The Production Code of 1930

 NOTE: Individual class sections may have
substitute reading assignments and/or
additional reading assignments for any
given week. Be sure to check with your
instructor.

Students are encouraged to do outside
readings related to the particular films
and topics being discussed. Many of
the films mentioned in the textbook
are available on home video. DVDs
with commentary tracks are especially
valuable for independent study. The
Chester Fritz Library has an extensive
selection of books about film makers,
film history, film genres, and individual
films (both scripts and analyses). A small
but useful selection of film books can be
found at the UND Bookstore. There
is also a great deal of material available
through the internet.

As in all research, any single source
can not be relied upon as fact. All
sources should be cross-checked with
others, and if possible verified
using original first-hand materials.

       

        

A few of the films shown in previous semesters … well-worth finding on DVD to watch on your own!

BACK to Syllabus

    (Try clicking on the some of the posters!)