Week 4: Film — Getting started
Reading and course structure
Foundational Learning:
Always begin with the weekly readings.
These build vocabulary, terminology, ideas, and concepts for the week.
They provide the essential intellectual framework.
Introductory Video Context:
Watch the short introductory video before engaging with activities.
It offers an overview and contextualizes the week's learning objectives.
Helps connect readings with practical application.
Cumulative Activities:
Methodically complete all activities in your LSF (Learning Success Folder).
Each activity incrementally builds upon the last.
Forms a "mosaic backdrop" preparing you for your weekly craft/assignment.
Support Resources:
Actively utilize tutoring services and the writing lab if difficulties arise.
Instructor notes limited uptake; book sessions proactively, even with busy summer schedules.
Optional LLC webinars may have recorded sessions available, beneficial if joining late or missing live events.
Timely Submission Emphasis:
Prioritize submitting your work by the due date.
Course has a relatively lenient late work policy.
Consistent procrastination or missing assignments significantly harms your overall grade.
Primary focus is on timely submission for continuous engagement.
Community Engagement for Cohesion:
If feeling "discombobulated" or disconnected, actively engage in the course community.
Interaction helps reconnect with classmates, fosters belonging, and regains momentum.
Weekly Community Prompt:
Participate in the weekly discussion: share favorite film actors and reasons for preferences.
Also serves as an open forum for other relevant thoughts or questions.
Weekly Written Assignment:
An essay, structured similarly to previous weeks.
Consists of two primary components:
A "compass competency" section (assesses specific learning outcomes).
The main assignment prompt (outlining the essay's core task).
Comprehensive Prompt Review:
Read the entire assignment document carefully, not just the brief snapshot.
The latter half contains critical information regarding specific formatting, submission guidelines, and uploading instructions.
Uploading Instructions:
Ensure you save your file properly.
Attach it to the designated submission area.
Do not cut and paste the text directly into the message box (can cause formatting issues).
Course prompts and community engagement
Interactive Discussion:
Weekly prompt encourages sharing and discussing favorite film actors within the course community forum.
Fosters an interactive learning environment.
Raison d'être (Reason for being):
Cultivates a vibrant course community and a space for discussing film preferences, actor appeal, and reasoning.
Promotes critical thinking about performance and cinematic impact.
Open Participation:
While the prompt offers a structured avenue, you are encouraged to post other relevant content or initiate discussions.
The prompt primarily serves as a starting point for engagement.
Q&A Facilitation:
A small visual cue (the “little guy with the question mark”) is provided to spark questions.
Utilize the dedicated Q&A section in the course community or message the instructor privately for personalized assistance.
Assignment details and competencies
Essay-Based Assessment:
The central written assignment is an essay, maintaining the established format from prior weeks.
Reinforces consistent academic practice.
Compass Competency Focus:
Evaluates how film contributes to our understanding of human experience, enriches lives, and engages us intellectually/aesthetically.
Involves analyzing thematic depth, character development, and narrative techniques.
Full Prompt Importance:
The provided snapshot is merely an inspirational overview; reading the entire assignment document is imperative.
The full text contains all critical details, rubrics, and specific expectations.
Formatting and Submission Precision:
The latter portion of the assignment prompt specifically details proper formatting standards (e.g., citation style, layout) and meticulous uploading procedures.
Adhering to these instructions precisely is key to successful submission.
Submission Mechanics:
Correct method: save your completed document (e.g., .docx or .pdf), then attach it directly to the designated submission area.
Under no circumstances copy and paste the essay text into the message box (can lead to data loss or incorrect rendering).
The beginnings and evolution of film (historical timeline)
Early Beginnings: Late 19th Century (1890s):
Thomas Edison and William Dickson (U.S.):
Developed the Kinetograph (early motion picture camera) and Kinetoscope (peep-show viewing device).
Active in early 1890s, setting the stage for public film exhibition.
Lumière Brothers (France):
Auguste and Louis Lumière advanced technology with their Cinématographe (patented in 1895).
Functioned as camera, printer, and projector, allowing multiple viewers.
First public screening in Paris in December 1895 is often cited as the birth of cinema.
Characteristics of Early Films:
Universally black and white, silent, and very short (often 1-2 minutes).
Not feature-length narratives; rather "snippets" telling stories through sequential images.
Technological Parallels:
Development intertwined with advancements in electricity and lighting (e.g., Edison's light bulb preceded film experimentation).
Silent Era and Storytelling (Early 20th Century):
Films conveyed narratives through moving images.
Relied on expressive acting, intertitles (text cards), and live musical accompaniment for emotional impact and clarity.
Transition to Sound: Birth of the "Talkies" (Mid to Late 1920s):
Shift from live music to synchronized sound recordings integrated onto the film strip.
Introduced two distinct tracks—video and audio—fundamentally changing the cinematic experience.
Color experiments also began during this period.
Color Film Adoption (Standard by 1930s\textendash1940s):
Initial color experiments were expensive.
As costs decreased, color became the industry standard for most commercial films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
Black-and-white cinematography persisted in artistic/art-house films as a deliberate stylistic choice.
Hollywood's Dominance (circa 1920s\textendash1940s):
Zenith of Hollywood's studio system: large production companies controlled production, distribution, and exhibition.
Profoundly shaped and regulated the film entertainment landscape for decades.
Television Disruption and Legal Battles (Early 1950s):
Widespread introduction of TV into households challenged the film industry.
Broadcasters sought to show feature films, but restrictions and monopoly concerns were significant.
Roughly 7 \text{ or } 8 major production companies controlled distribution/pricing, leading to legal challenges to break monopolies.
Legal and Market Shifts:
Courts eventually ruled against studio monopolies, allowing TV networks to license and show feature films.
Dramatically altered the entertainment landscape, forcing film industry innovation.
Home Media and Distribution Evolution (Post-1950s to 2000s):
Successive waves of home entertainment: VCRs, video rental stores (e.g., Blockbuster), personal cameras, and DVDs.
These technologies gave audiences unprecedented control over when and where to view content.
Streaming Era (Late 2000s to Present):
Profound transformation: shift from physical media to digital streaming services.
Redefined content access, enabling personalized, on-demand viewing, and altering consumption habits.
The Speaker's Summarized Arc:
From communal public cinema-going to highly individualized, on-demand viewing patterns.
Rapid, century-spanning evolution underscores constant technological and cultural shifts.
Spotlight: Guillermo del Toro (director focus)
Why del Toro?
Highlighted for his distinctive and successful career, blending acclaimed foreign-language cinema with mainstream Hollywood success.
Demonstrates unique artistic versatility.
Origins and Career Arc:
Early Career: Born in Mexico; gained recognition for Spanish-language, independent, art-oriented films.
Hollywood Transition and Hybrid Approach: Successfully transitioned to Hollywood, achieved Oscar recognition for English-language features. Consistently alternates between blockbusters and intimate Spanish-language projects, exploring diverse themes.
Notable Works and Traits:
Pan's Labyrinth: Landmark Oscar-winning film, celebrated for imaginative, dark fairy-tale storytelling and strong visual design.
The Shape of Water: Another Oscar-winning project, lauded for exceptional artistry, dreamlike aesthetics, and profound emotional resonance.
Hollywood Blockbusters: Includes the Hellboy series (at least two films) and an entry in the Blade franchise, showcasing genre range.
Visual Style and Storytelling Emphasis:
Universally acclaimed for highly distinctive visual design (intricate creature work, gothic aesthetics, meticulous detail).
Always coupled with a strong emphasis on compelling, character-driven storytelling.
Anecdote: Traveling Art Exhibit:
An exhibit of his film sets toured to the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Instructor’s child (ages 10\textendash11), interested in Hellboy and Marvel, was highly engaged.
Illustrates cross-appeal bands, though some pieces contained intense horror elements (with selective age-appropriate viewing).
Exhibit's installations praised as outstanding and immersive.
Significance:
Exemplifies cross-cultural influence, remarkable genre flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to powerful visual storytelling.
Successfully balances artistic, independent filmmaking with commercial Hollywood projects.
Sundance Film Festival (code word of the week)
What Sundance Is:
An annually held independent film festival in Park City, Utah.
Distinguished for showcasing high-quality, often innovative films outside blockbuster economics.
Purpose and Character:
"In-Between Space": Not part of the mega-Hollywood studio machine, but immensely influential in shaping distribution and recognition for smaller, daring films.
Launchpad for Talent: Films premiered here frequently go on to other festivals, win awards, and launch/elevate careers.
Origin and Organization:
Founders: Founded by Robert Redford and collaborators in the late 1970s, with its inaugural period around 1978 (specifically 1978, originally as the Utah/US Film Festival).
Beyond the Festival: The Sundance Institute supports filmmakers via grants, internships, and financing opportunities to help new entrants break into the industry.
Geography and Setting:
Notable for selecting scenic, appealing locations (Park City’s mountains) to host events and screenings.
Current Relevance:
Remains an indispensable ecosystem for discovering fresh talent, fostering new ideas, and promoting diverse storytelling outside the traditional, big-studio system.
Favorite things and course community prompts
Prompt Reminders:
Discuss favorite actors.
Separately, discuss a favorite film of all time, including what makes it your favorite.
Engagement Goal:
Encourage participation in the course community.
Foster discussion about film, actors, directors, and personal taste.
Accessibility:
Prompts are intentionally designed to be approachable, not requiring heavy theoretical background.
Invite personal reflection on artistic choices and appeal.
Practical notes on course mechanics and expectations (summary of key points)
Readings First: Prioritize readings to build vocabulary and concepts for the week.
Introductory Video: Watch the introductory video to contextualize activities.
LSF Activities: Complete LSF folder activities in sequence to form a cohesive learning mosaic.
Utilize Support: Use tutoring and writing lab resources if struggling; schedule in advance due to term variability.
Late Work Policy: Lenient, but consistent lateness hurts grades; missing work has a larger negative impact.
Proper Submission: Do not paste essays into the message box; upload the saved file to the submission area.
Community Engagement: Course encourages engagement through prompts about actors, films, and personal favorites to create a collaborative learning environment.
Real-world relevance and reflections
Evolution of Film Distribution: Highlights ongoing tensions between business models, access, and artistic expression (theaters, TV, VCR, DVD, streaming).
Monopolies and Market Forces: Significantly shape what content is available, when, and where. Underscores ethical/practical considerations around access, pricing, and cultural influence.
Spotlight on Del Toro: Emphasizes how filmmakers navigate cross-cultural production contexts, balancing artistic vision with commercial success.
Sundance as a Pipeline: Illustrates a practical pipeline from independent cinema to wider recognition and industry opportunities. Reinforces the value of diverse, lower-budget storytelling.
Quick references and key terms (LaTeX-enhanced)
Early film history timeline: \text{Late 19th Century (Edison/Lumières)} \Rightarrow \text{1920s\textendash1930s (Silent to Sound/Color)} \Rightarrow \text{1950s (TV Rise)} \Rightarrow \text{1990s\textendashPresent (Streaming/Home Media)}
Major players in early industry consolidation: Approximately 7 \text{ or } 8 big production companies.
Timeline anchors: 1895 (Lumière's public screening), 1978 (Sundance origin).
Talkies and color adoption: Gradual shift in the 1920s \textendash 1930s. Color became standard in the 1930s \textendash 1940s. Black and white remained a deliberate artistic choice.
Notable works of Guillermo del Toro: Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy, Blade.
End-of-week prompts and help
Q&A and Community Channels: Remember to utilize the designated Q&A prompt and engage with the various course community channels for any assistance needed.
Instructor Availability: The instructor is readily available for private messages should you require additional guidance, clarification, or personalized support.