FILM 301A — Introduction to Film Units: 0
Roger Ebert wrote, "We live in a box of space and time. "Movies are windows in its walls." Movies play a tremendously important role in our culture. But how much do we know about the history and making of our favorite films and do we really know how to watch them? This class provides an introduction to the basic tools of film analysis. We will examine how elements like narrative & genre, mise-en-scene, camera work, editing and sound work together to create meaning in films. We will examine the business of film, other narrative forms of cinema such as documentary, animated and experimental films and the history of film. And we will examine writing about films, such as Roger Ebert, and others have done since film began. Students will: Analyze elements including narrative & genre, mise-en-scene, camera work, editing and sound in a film and evaluate how well they are used to communicate the film's major themes; Analyze film writing and write about film's themselves. Noncredit Hours: 27 Repeatable: Yes Grading: Pass/No Pass Prerequisite: None Advisory: None Limitation on enrollment: None Transfer Status: None Degree Applicable: NONC COD GE: None CalGETC: None