Intro to cinema2

Introduction to Cinema

1er Bachillerato BilingueCinema/Cinematography

A. G.

1er Bachillerato BilingueCinema/Cinematography

A. G.

Schedule/ Syllabus

» 3-Week Unit (with the possibility for extensions). Week 1 will include: Early History of

Film What is a movie

and how do we analyze it?

Form and Narrative

» 3-Week Unit (with the possibility for extensions). Week 1 will include: Early History of

Film What is a movie

and how do we analyze it?

Form and Narrative

Schedule/Syllabus

» Week 2 will include: Mis-En-Scene and Design Acting and Performance Cinematography and Editing

» Week 2 will include: Mis-En-Scene and Design Acting and Performance Cinematography and Editing

Schedule/Syllabus

» Week 3 will include: Different Genres

In Cinema Documentary

Non-Fiction Animation An Exam?

» Week 3 will include: Different Genres

In Cinema Documentary

Non-Fiction Animation An Exam?

Extensions

» Project week! Design your own

movie poster Create a back-

cover for a DVD Host the Oscars!

» Project week! Design your own

movie poster Create a back-

cover for a DVD Host the Oscars!

What is “film”?

» Is a film a series of moving pictures? No! A film is a group of images displayed

one after the other at a high speed to create the illusion of movement.

» Is a film a series of moving pictures? No! A film is a group of images displayed

one after the other at a high speed to create the illusion of movement.

Origins of Film

» Complicated story with many different interpretations

» Leland Stanford and the Horse Bet, 1878 $25,000 bet Photographer

Eadward Muybridge 12 cameras + 12

pictures

» Complicated story with many different interpretations

» Leland Stanford and the Horse Bet, 1878 $25,000 bet Photographer

Eadward Muybridge 12 cameras + 12

pictures

Origins of Film Continued

» William Dickson and Thomas Edison recorded moving pictures on a film strip in 1890

» The Kinetograph and Kinetescope

» Only 1 person at a time could watch the images

» William Dickson and Thomas Edison recorded moving pictures on a film strip in 1890

» The Kinetograph and Kinetescope

» Only 1 person at a time could watch the images

Record of a Sneeze

Origins of Film Continued

» Lumiere Brothers built the Cinematograph

» Advantage of being a recording and projecting device

» Lumiere Brothers built the Cinematograph

» Advantage of being a recording and projecting device

The Arrival of a Train

"Our invention can be exploited for a certain

time as a scientific curiosity, but apart from

that, it has no commercial future whatsoever." —

Auguste Lumière

Origins of Film Continued

» Advent of THE STORY

» Stories told through silent films

» Then, stories told through films combining visual and auditory elements

» Advent of THE STORY

» Stories told through silent films

» Then, stories told through films combining visual and auditory elements

Origins of Film Continued

» Expansion of cinema industry: 1922, 40 million

Americans attend the movies weekly

1931, average weekly movie attendance jumps to 75 million

Expansion of theaters Explosion of

Hollywood

» Expansion of cinema industry: 1922, 40 million

Americans attend the movies weekly

1931, average weekly movie attendance jumps to 75 million

Expansion of theaters Explosion of

Hollywood

Major Changes to the Modern Film Industry

» Commercializaion of TV

» 3D Capabilities» Wrap-Around

Screens» Special Effects» Animation» The Digital

Movement

» Commercializaion of TV

» 3D Capabilities» Wrap-Around

Screens» Special Effects» Animation» The Digital

Movement

Homework :)

» Answer the questions on the “Intro to Film and Cinema” handout. Be prepared to share your answers in class.

» Answer the questions on the “Intro to Film and Cinema” handout. Be prepared to share your answers in class.

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 1) The Technical Approach What is the technical quality of the

film overall? What filmmaking techniques are

used, and what effects do they create?

What are the strongest technical points, and what are the weakest?

» 1) The Technical Approach What is the technical quality of the

film overall? What filmmaking techniques are

used, and what effects do they create?

What are the strongest technical points, and what are the weakest?

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 2) The Directorial Approach How would you describe the director’s style

based on this film and other films by him/her?

How do various elements of the film reflect the director’s artistic or life philosophy?

Does this film reflect a new direction for this director? How is it similar and/or different from the director’s other films?

» 2) The Directorial Approach How would you describe the director’s style

based on this film and other films by him/her?

How do various elements of the film reflect the director’s artistic or life philosophy?

Does this film reflect a new direction for this director? How is it similar and/or different from the director’s other films?

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 3) The Genre Approach In what ways does this film fit into the

criteria associated with this genre? What are the variations on the

standard genre that this film presents? How do these variations make the film interesting or unique?

What values or beliefs are reflected in the film? Give examples.

» 3) The Genre Approach In what ways does this film fit into the

criteria associated with this genre? What are the variations on the

standard genre that this film presents? How do these variations make the film interesting or unique?

What values or beliefs are reflected in the film? Give examples.

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 4) The Psychological Approach Do any of the characters possess universal

qualities? If so, which qualities? What aspects of human nature does the film

help us understand? Examine the relationships between

characters. What problems are explored? What insights are revealed about human relationships?

» 4) The Psychological Approach Do any of the characters possess universal

qualities? If so, which qualities? What aspects of human nature does the film

help us understand? Examine the relationships between

characters. What problems are explored? What insights are revealed about human relationships?

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 5) The Sociological/Political Approach From what social class does the main

character come? How is this class portrayed? How does this impact the film?

What seems to be socially and politically important to the characters?

Does the film seem to support a traditional values system or does it question that view?

» 5) The Sociological/Political Approach From what social class does the main

character come? How is this class portrayed? How does this impact the film?

What seems to be socially and politically important to the characters?

Does the film seem to support a traditional values system or does it question that view?

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 6) The Performance Approach How well-suited is the main

actor/actress to his/her role? How is it similar to or different from

other roles played by this actor? How do the supporting actors interact

with the main actors, and how do these relationship affect the film?

» 6) The Performance Approach How well-suited is the main

actor/actress to his/her role? How is it similar to or different from

other roles played by this actor? How do the supporting actors interact

with the main actors, and how do these relationship affect the film?

Seven Approaches for Analyzing a Film

» 7) Overall Approach How powerful is this star’s performance? How does the film reflect the style of this

particular director? How does the film work as an example of this

genre? What is the theme of the film? How important

or creatively-expressed is the theme? Is the film emotionally effective? In what way?

» 7) Overall Approach How powerful is this star’s performance? How does the film reflect the style of this

particular director? How does the film work as an example of this

genre? What is the theme of the film? How important

or creatively-expressed is the theme? Is the film emotionally effective? In what way?

Pre-Break Overview

» What is a film?» Early history of film» 7 approaches for analyzing a film» Clips to illustrate film analysis

process

» What is a film?» Early history of film» 7 approaches for analyzing a film» Clips to illustrate film analysis

process