In this course we will delve into film as an art form. In order to gain a better understanding of the complexities of the medium we will first focus on individual aspects of film form, such as mise-en-scène, cinematography, sound and editing, and how they create meaning. We will then explore how these aspects come together to tell a story. Throughout the course we will work with plenty of examples – both historical and contemporary – putting them into context and gaining practice in the analysis of a variety of film clips. Two course screenings provide the basis for more extended discussions.
Led by Maggie Hoffgen, Freelance Film Educator.
Course outline:
Week 1
- Expectations
- How do we make meaning/interpret what we experience when watching a film: a taster
- Overview of course
Week 2
- Approaching mise-en-scène + cinematography (part 1)
Week 3
- Course screening 1: Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942)
Week 4
- Discussion of course screening: Applying knowledge!
- Cinematography (part 2)
- Getting to grips with editing (part 1)
Week 5
- Getting to grips with editing (part 2)
- Preparing course screening 2
Week 6
- Course screening 2: Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1996)
Week 7
- Discussion of course screening
- Talking about sound
- Looking at narrative conventions (Hollywood)
Week 8
- More about narrative
- Having fun with genres