Film Study 2007

Williamsville North High Schoool

Ms. Donovan



Course Information Reading List Expectations of Students Is Film Study The Right Course For Me? (Power Point) Actor Analysis Project Box Office Analysis Project


"Every single art form is involved in film, in a way."

--Sydney Pollack, Director

"I don't think it's the job of filmmakers to give anybody answers. I do think, though, that a good film makes you ask questions of yourself as you leave the theatre."

--Paul Haggis, Director of Crash

"Cinema is the most pervasive, most indescriminate, and most seductive entertainment yet devised by man."

--Ian Buruma, Film Critic








In this course, students will explore the history of film, the business of film, and the way visual elements are used to communicate and tell stories. In essence, they will learn how to “read” a film. The course will include viewing various types of visual texts that may include full length features, short films, documentaries, animated, silent and foreign films, as well as excerpts of films used to illustrate specific techniques. They will also read samples of film criticism and analysis, film reviews and articles and essays about the art and craft of filmmaking. Literary works that have been made into films may be assigned for comparison purposes. Through this course, students will become familiar with film terminology, the elements of film production and the business and economics of film. Students will learn how all of these elements work together to both reflect and impact the culture in which films are created. In addition, students will be expected to actively participate in class discussions, watch films thoughtfully and critically, craft written responses to films, write film criticism and reviews, and do assigned readings and responses in a film journal. In short, students are asked to come to this course with a strong interest in all aspects of film, an open-mindedness about the many different genres of film they will be exposed to in the course, and above all, a great curiosity for learning more about the art of film and filmmaking. If technology permits, students may create their own films demonstrating the techniques they have been studying. As a culminating experience students will write an in-depth analysis paper in which they apply appropriate terminology to a film to demonstrate an understanding of film elements, such as technique, historical significance and cultural impact.





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