Please read the Class Policies page now. Note that missing more than two classes, excused or not, and silence in class discussion can have an impact on your final grade to be determined at my discretion. If you miss more than four days of classes, you will not pass the class.

Tuesday Period 2 - 3 (8:30 AM - 10:25 AM)

Thursday Period 3 (9:35 AM - 10:25 AM)

Richard Lanham, Revising Prose (1979) Read Chapters 1 and 2 and follow Lanham's advice before you turn in any work.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE BEST WEBSITE FOR FILM ANALYSIS IS

https://filmanalysis.yale.edu/

These websites can also be useful;

Film Studies: Film Terminology & Analysis

Columbia film glossary with clips

Columbia film glossary of terms

Film Analysis Terms

Please Clap timestamp (00:29)

"If you skip class, you don't pass."

How Great Editors Think Like Filmmakers (Scene Breakdown)

Walter Murch and In the Blink of an Eye

How to Make a Movie Trailer for Terrible Movies- Editing 3-Act Trailer Structure

Iconic movie trailers, explained by a trailer editor

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT is due next week, Monday, January 19 by 5:00 p.m. See below for details. Richard Lanham, Revising Prose (1979) Read Chapters 1 and 2 and follow Lanham's advice before you turn in your work.

Please turn off your cell phones and computers before class. You can't discuss a film or reading if you are multi-tasking. I expect everyone to be paying full attention during class. Take notes with paper and pen or pencils. We will use the computer and computer projecter in class as we need them when discussing the film.

Post your DQs and Three Shots BOTH on CANVAS https://elearning.ufl.edu/ and on this Google doc so that everyone in class has a chance to read.

Discussion Questions are always due Mondays by 5:00 p.m. I will give quizzes at the beginning of class on Thursdays.

YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT on is due January 19 by 5:00 p.m. (See below.)

When you are co-leading discussion, put your notes on a google doc and put the link to your google doc on Canvas. Give me permission to edit your google doc so I can comment on it. Do not delete your notes. Please put the links to your google doc co-leading notes on Canvas

I designed this course myself and am looking forward to teaching it this semester.

If you have a question or a problem, please contact me in class or at [email protected].

No cell phones, ipads, or laptops in use during class. I expect your full attention during class discussion for the entire class period.

If you have an ADA accommodation, please let me know how I can help.

 

Tentative Schedule: (Please expect minor adjustments to be made in the schedule from time to time; all changes will be announced both in class and on the class email listserv. Soon we will begin discussing film trailers for the assigned films.)

Resources First Day of Class

Four of the films will will watch on available on the Criterion Channel. A subscription costs $10.99 a month.

January 13 The Importance of Film Editing and Film Music: Olivier's Henry V (1944) and Branagh's Henry V (1989). Which version is better? Why? But first. Let's watch the trailers.

Trailer for Henry V (dir. Laurence Olivier 1944) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

A Brief Detour on image and sound quality

https://www.criterionchannel.com/henry-v-1 (The sequence dissolves from a long and brisk tracking shot (1:29:37) of French knights, each one in turn about to get on their horses to a close-up of St. George's flag at 1:30:11.)

Trailer for Henry V Official Trailer #1 (1989) Kenneth Branagh HD

Now we may watch St. Crispin's Day Speech both in Laurence Olivier's Henry V (1944) and in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V (1989).

 

There will be a quiz on the assigned viewings (1-6) at the beginning of class January 15. Missed quizzes may not be made up.

RESOURCES Second Day of Class

DUE January 15 WHAT IS A TRAILER? WHAT IS A TEASER? WHAT IS A SIZZLE REEL? WHAT IS A MONTAGE? WHAT IS A MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE?

REQUIRED READINGS and VIEWINGS:

Watch These Trailers

1. How to Make a Movie Trailer: 6 Tips for Cutting Your Own Trail

2. Dissecting a Trailer: The Parts of the Film That Make the Cut

3. Christopher Hooton, We spoke to the people who make film trailers

Watch the Title Sequences

4. Sometimes Titles Are the Whole Story

5. The Oscar for Best Film Title Sequence Goes to ...

Watch these Sizzle Reels

6. Sizzle reels made by Cohen Media and in 2016 as silent films with music (with cross-cutting between a number of films, all of which and are reassembled given titles at the end of the sizzle) PARALLEL EDITING. Dividing up films by clips and that follow in a certain order and then following that same struture or pattern with clips that connect back to the previous clip.

Due Monday, January 19 by 5:00 p.m: After you watch Macbeth  (dir. Roman Polanski, 1971), write two Discussion Questions (DQs) on Macbeth  (dir. Roman Polanski, 1971), and describe any three shots of your choice with three film analysis terms.

What Is a Good DQ? A question about some formal aspect of the film.

Here is an excellent and concise audiocommentary over a few moments on lighting in a film. John Bailey Breaks Down a Tour de Force of Gothic Lighting

This Google doc gives examples of the format for the Discussion Questions and description of any three shots of your choice with three film analysis terms. They are always due Mondays and Wednesdays by 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

Post your DQs and three shots BOTH on Canvas AND on this Google doc by 5:00 p.m.

January 20 In some cases you may need to rent an assigned film online or watch it on disc.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

https://www.criterion.com/films/28020-macbeth

Macbeth (dir. Roman Polanski, 1971) You can find unedited versions of many of Shakespeare's plays for free online here. Here you can find the text of The Tragedy of Macbeth.

There will be a quiz at the beginning of class January 22. Missed classes may not be made up. I'LL SHOW YOU SHOTS FROM THE FILM AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN THE FILM TRAILER TOO AND ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY THEM FROM MEMORY.

This Google doc gives examples of the format for the Discussion Questions and description of any three shots of your choice with three film analysis terms. They are always due Mondays and Wednesdays by 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

January 22 Shot Selection, Re-editing, and Music Editing in the Film Trailer

IN CLASS QUIZ. I'LL SHOW YOU SHOTS FROM THE FILM AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN THE FILM TRAILER AND ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY THEM FROM MEMORY.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

https://www.criterion.com/films/28020-macbeth

COMPARE The TRAILER to the FILM. Which shots are kept? Which lines from the play? How are they resequenced?

How does the film's opening differ the trailer's opening? How does the film edit the music?

Macbeth (dir. Roman Polanski, 1971)


Sign Up to Co-Lead Class STARTING JULY 27. Do not partner with the same person twice. Once you have a partner to co-lead class discussion, the two of you will create a google doc for your notes and share it with me by 5:00 p.m. the day before you are co-leading so I can add my thoughts.  Make sure you give me permission to edit the google document. When you co-lead, you do not have to turn in DQs and three shots.

January 27

Different Assignment in Place of DQs

Write one DQ on the French Trailer and Preview for Castle of the Spider's Web (an accurate translation of Throne of Blood). Ignore the French subtitles. And write one DAQ on the 70mm video.

1. Le Château de l'araignée ( bande annonce VOST ) (French subtitles)

2. 70mm: From Oklahoma to Oppenheimer (Or, How Very Big Film Was Used to Make Very Big Movies)

Recommended:

Throne of Blood / Le Château de l'araignée Akira Kurosawa trailer (in Japanese)

The Throne Of Blood (Kumonosu-J) [Original Film Soundtrack] (1957)

Le Château de l’araignée de Akira Kurosawa (Blu-ray review)

2. LE CHÂTEAU DE L'ARAIGNÉE - extrait "la prophétie réalisée" (HD - VOST)

The Criterion edition and trailer are linked here (with a paid subscription)

Apocalypse Now (1979) Opening Sequence

 

REQUIRED VIEWING:

January 29 IN CLASS QUIZ. I'LL SHOW YOU SHOTS FROM THE FILM AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN THE FILM TRAILER AND ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY THEM FROM MEMORY.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

Throne of Blood (dir. Akira Kurosowa, 1957) For another example of a wrong aspect ratio, see here.

The Criterion edition and trailer are linked here (with a paid subscription)


February 3

Required Viewing: Write one DQ on each trailer

Two Trailers

Macbeth - Orson Welles - Jeanette Nolan - 1948 - Trailer - 4K

(Ignore the French text)

Macbeth d'Orson Welles : Bande-annonce Carlotta Rerelease trailer

February 5 IN CLASS QUIZ. I'LL SHOW YOU SHOTS FROM THE FILM AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN THE FILM TRAILER AND ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY THEM FROM MEMORY.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

Macbeth (dir. Orson Welles, 1948)

February 10

REQUIRED VIEWING:

Hamlet (dir. Laurence Olivier, 1948)

https://www.criterionchannel.com/hamlet

February 12 IN CLASS QUIZ. I'LL SHOW YOU SHOTS FROM THE FILM AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN THE FILM TRAILER AND ASK YOU TO IDENTIFY THEM FROM MEMORY.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

Trailer:

Hamlet - Laurence Olivier - 1948 - Trailer - 4K

https://www.criterionchannel.com/hamlet
So oft it chances in particular men 651
That, for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth,- wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin,-
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion,655
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o'erleavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,660
Their virtues else- be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo-
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault. The dram of e'il
Doth all the noble substance often dout

To his own scandal.665

Enter Ghost.