DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION
Institute of Arts and Sciences
FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
COURSE SYLLABUS 2008-2009
Introduction to Film (CNM 101) Prof. Cherish Aileen A. Brillon
1st semester 2008-2009 wanderingsoul_8@yahoo.com
Class schedule: Wed (3:00-6:00) theintellectualrebel.wordpress.com
Consultation: by appointment
Course Description:
This course examines the nature of film as an art form. It tackles the historical account of film from discovery of photography until the 21st century film.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the semester, the students are expected to:
- Discover the beginnings of film as an art
- Appreciate the nature of film and its contribution to its society and nation.
- Understand the various socio-political factors affecting filmmakers with their film as means of artistic expressions
- Familiarize with the elements and cinematic codes of film as foundation of film art appreciation in and out of the country.
Required texts:
- Mast, G. & Kawin, B. (1992). A Short History of the Movies (5th ed.). USA: MacMillan
- Bordwell, D. & Thompson, K. (2004). Film Art: An Introduction (7th ed). New York: McGraw Hill.
- Pramaggiore, M. & Wallis, T. (2006). Film: A Critical Introduction. China: Laurence King Publishing
Supplementary readings:
- Prince, S. (1997). Movies and Meaning: An Introduction to Film. USA: Allyn & Bacon.
- Philips, W.H. (2002). Film: An Introduction(2nd ed). USA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
- Dancyger, K. (1999). The World of Film and Video Production: Aesthetics and Practices.
- Nelmes, J. (ed). (1996). An Introduction to Film Studies. New York, London: Routledge.
Course requirements:
I. Papers
A. Film Notebook
This notebook should outline the plot and significant scenes of each film. This will help you remember the films around exam time and prepare you for identification questions on the tests.
B. Reaction papers
Film reviews for Cinemalaya (due this July) and Cinemanila (due this August) Film Festivals and Reaction paper on educational tour
II. Recitation/Reporting
The class will be divided into several groups and will be asked to report on assigned topics
III. Assignments
Regular assignments should be passed on time.
IV. Quizzes
There will be announced and surprised quizzes during the semester.
V. Regular attendance
The University policy of 6 absences (considered dropped) will be strictly implemented, as well as 3 instances of tardiness (arriving 15 mins late prior to your class schedule) will be considered an infraction on your attendance.
For a 3-hour class, you are only allowed 3 absences before being considered dropped and an allowance of 30 mins or you will be considered tardy.
Grading Scheme Transmutation table: Formula for computing grades:
Papers/Film Notebook 40% 95–100 = 1.00 PG= 2(CS)+PX/3
Recitation/Reporting 20% 90-94 = 1.25 MG = 2(CA)+PG/3
Quizzes 25% 86-89 = 1.50 FG= 2(CA)+MG/3
Assignments 15% 82-85 = 1.75
78-81 = 2.00
Total 100% 74-77 = 2.25
70-73 = 2.50
*Grading system is cumulative 66-69 = 2.75
60-64 = 3.00
Classroom Policy:
- Submission dates for assignments, papers and other class projects will be strictly enforced. I will not accept late submissions except under special circumstances (in case of absences resulting to sickness and other life and death matters, please present an excuse letter and a medical certificate)
- Make up quizzes will only be given to those who can present an excuse letter and a medical certificate
- As previously mentioned, infractions on absences and tardiness will strictly be enforced.
- There will be a 10-15 minute break during the 3 hour class.
- When there is group reporting or any group activities (projects), individual group members are required to submit a written evaluation with a corresponding grade of their groupmates. It should be typewritten and sealed for confidentiality purposes. Peer evaluation makes up 20% of the grade for each activity.
- For those who missed the screening of scheduled films, you will be asked to watch an alternative film that you can rent on your local video shops.
- Please put your mobile phones on silent mode during class hours. Likewise, iPods, PSPs, mp3s and mp4s are not allowed when class is ongoing.
- Anyone caught cheating is subject to disciplinary action
- I reserve the right to answer your texts messages especially if it pertains to topics already discussed in class.
- Anyone caught committing acts of plagiarism (especially copy paste techniques) automatically gets a grade of 5.00.
- Regularly visit theintellectualrebel.wordpress.com for special class related announcements. Click on the category to which your class belongs.
- Since this is a film class and film screening is an important part of the subject, I expect everyone to be on time and to observe proper decorum. Latecomers during the screening of the film will not be allowed to enter the room until after the movie is finished.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1
Topics: Discussion of syllabus
Screening Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore (alternative)
Assignment Form groups of five and present a timeline of the early history of film from photography to moving images
Part I Film History/Movements
Week 2
Topics: Early History of Film and Classical Hollywood Cinema
Readings: Mast: Chapter 2: Birth of Cinema
Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 12: Film History
Screening: The Birth of A Nation (D.W. Griffith)
Activity Group presentation of early history of film
Assignment: Read up on German Expressionism and French Impressionism
Week 3
Topics: German Expressionism and French Impressionism and Surrealism
Readings: Mast: Chapter 7: German Golden Age
Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 12: Film History
Screening Metropolis by Fritz Lang
Activity Recitation
Week 4
Topic: Soviet Montage and Italian Neorealism
Readings: Mast: Chapter 8: Soviet Montage
Chapter 13: Neorealism
Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 12: Film History
Screening The Bicycle Thief by Vittorio de Sica
Activity Long quiz (including Soviet Montage and Italian Neorealism)
Assignment List down at least five French New Wave and/or Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Filmmakers and their contribution to the current film industry
Week 5
Topic: French New Wave and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
Readings: Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 12: Film History
Mast: Chapter 10: France Between the Wars
Chapter 11: The American Studio Years
Chapter 15: Hollywood Renaissance
Screening Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino or Masculin Feminin by Jean Luc Godard
Assignment Form groups of five and choose one Asian country and discuss its film history/movement
Week 6 Prelim exams
Screening Batch 81 by Mike de Leon
Week 7
Topic: History of Asian Cinema (Japan, China, Korea & Philippines)
Readings: Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 12: Film History
Mast: Chapter 14: Emerging National Traditions I (Cinemas East)
Problems in Philippine Film History by Bienvenido Lumbera *
Hidden Secrets: Chinese Independent Films in the 1990s (taken from Cinema Indio) *
Screening Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa
Activity Group presentation of Asian cinema history (quiz)
Assignment List down 10 film terminologies and define each
Week 8
Continuation of discussion/film screening
Part II: The Study of Film Medium
Week 9
Topic: The Language of Cinema
Film Equipment (camera, lights, editing machines)
Readings: Mowelfund Handouts
Dancyger: Chapter 1: The language of cinema
Activity Recitation
Hands on demonstration/identification of film equipment
Assignment Define mise-en-scene
What are the elements of mise-en-scene and discuss each.
Week 10
Topic: Film Techniques (Visual Elements, editing, sound, acting)
Readings: Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 2: Film Form
Chapter 3: Narrative as a formal system
Chapter 6: Mise-en-scene
Nelmes: Chapter 4: Film Form and Narrative
Screening A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick
Assignment List down 5 film genres and give 5 conventions of each genre
Week 11
Continuation of discussion/film screening
Announcement of the requirements for midterm exams
“Choose your film day” OPTIONAL
Choices of film: V for Vendetta by The Wachowski Brothers– Action/Adventure
Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore – Documentary
Stranger than Fiction by Marc Forster – Comedy
Psycho by Alfred Hitchcok – Horror/Suspense
Across the Universe by Julie Taymor – Musical
Week 12 Midterm exams
Presentation of videos by groups
Activity Take Home Quiz:
Outline the history of studio system
What is the implication of the studio system in the current setup of film industry?
How has the star system affected the structure of the film industry?
Week 13
Topic: Introduction to Film Genres
Readings Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 4: Introduction to Film Genres
Bordwell & Thompson: Chapter 5: Documentary, Experimental, Animated
Pramaggiore & Wallis: Chapter 13: Genre
Part III Film as social practice
Week 14
Topic: Studio and Star system
Readings: Mast: Chapter 9: Studio System
Pramaggiore & Wallis: Chapter 15: Cinema as an industry: Economics and Technology
Assignment Form a group of three students and review one film based on the MTRCB Rating and Review System
Week 14
Topic: Censorship and self-regulation
Film Education
Readings: Contemporary articles on Philippine Cinema
Plaridel (August 2004): MTRCB Implementing Rules and Regulations and the Long Road to Freedom of Expression by Lucenio Lauzon *
Pramaggiore & Wallis: Chapter 10: Social Context and Film Style
Activity Presentation of findings by each group (Recitation)
“Choose your film day”
Choices of film: Burlesk Queen by Celso Ad Castillo
Science of Sleep by Michel Gondry
Working Girls by Ishmael Bernal
2046 by Wong Kar Wai
Mulholland Dr by David Lynch
Week 15 “Movie Marathon Day”
Week 16 Continuation of unfinished discussion
Week 17 Final Exams
Revised by:
Cherish Aileen A. Brillon AY 2008-2009
The Truth Is Out There
December 2, 2010 at 4:01 am
the film industry is of course a multi billion dollar industry that employs a lot of people ~.: