VENUE CHANGE

All future screenings will be held in Claudia Cohen Hall, Room 402. 

The following is the list of remaining screenings for the semester, as the blog will not continue to be updated for each screening: 

April 2nd:  The World.  Zhang Ke-Jia.  2004.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423176/  (visual storytelling, mise en scene camera work, interesting use of sound) 

April 9th:  Irma Vep.  Olivier Assayas, 1997.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116650/  (film style, application of effects, references film history) 

April 16th:  The Devil's Playground. Lucy Walker, 2002.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293088/  (our only documentary shown for the sole sake of discussing documentary - as opppose to next week which is a documentary about a cinematographer which we're looking at as much for the content as the form.  This documentary focuses on a group of Amish teens and brings up issues of access, trust, and persistence while shooting docs). 

April 23rd:  Tell Them Who You Are.  Mark Wexler, 2006.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420952/   This is a documentary about the important and fascinating cinematographer, Haskell Wexler, made by his son.  It raises questions again about access, truth, and the subject maker relationship in documentary, as well as provides a fascinating glimpse of the person behind the legend.  

April 30th:  The Best of Addams DVLab Video Production Projects - Video 1, Video 2, Cinema Production, and Cinematography.   Final Screening and Party 

March 26th: Days of Heaven

March 26th's film is Days of Heaven (1978) by Terrence Malick. 

What is it about? A hot-tempered farm laborer convinces the woman he loves to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can have a claim to his fortune.

Why are we watching this? The film has been praised for its painterly images, Oscar-winning cinematography, and beautiful musical score. 

IMDB Page

Harrison College House Event Page

Trailer (YouTube)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077405/ 

Cinematography Note: Shot almost entirely at "magic hour," the hours between day and night early in the morning and late in the evening. Terrence Malick wanted to have a white sky and no sight of the sun (IMDB).

Location Change

Due to some technical difficulties in the Heyer Sky Lounge, the film series events this week will take place in the M20 Seminar Room. 

March 19th: Rififi

March 19th's film will be Rififi (1995) by Jules Dassin.

What's it about? Tony Stephanois, just out of prison and angry at his girl Mado's infidelity, decides to join his pals Jo and Mario in an ambitious crime. With Italian safe expert Cesar, they meticulously plan the burglary of a large jewelry establishment. Not a word is spoken as the crime is carried out. And then things begin to go wrong...

Why are we watching this? The film is a good example of the application of style, since it is a film noir masterpiece. 

It also places emphasis on visual storytelling.

IMDB Page

Film Forum Page

IMDB Trailer

Harrison College House Event Page

February 26th: Sunset Boulevard

February 26th's film will be Sunset Boulevard (1950) by Billy Wilder.  

What's it about?  A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.

Why are we watching this? "The film gives a glimpse into film history and is an example of excellent cinematography. It also explores the use of voice over. Arguably the best movie made about Hollywood, Billy Wilder's masterpiece, "Sunset Boulevard," is a tremendously entertaining combination of film noir, black comedy, and character study." (courtesy of Harrison event poster) 

IMDB Page

Trailer (YouTube)

Harrison College House Event Page

February 19: Transsiberian

February 19th's film will be Transsiberian (2008) by Brad Anderson.

What's it about?

A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

Why are we watching this? 

The film in an example of traditional 3-act narrative structure and explores the possibilities of filming in limited locations.

IMDB Page

Trailer

Harrison College House Event Page

Please arrive on time. 

February 12: Run Lola Run

February 12th's movie will be Run Lola Run (1999) by Tom Twyker.

Why are we watching this? The film is a good example of an alternative narrative structure and adventurous editing.

What's it about? A young woman in Germany has twenty minutes to find and bring 100,000 Deutschmarks to her boyfriend before he robs a supermarket. 

IMDB Page

Trailer

Harrison College House Event Page

Editing Statistics (courtesy of IMDB):This film contains about 1581 transitions (edits, dissolves, fades, wipes, etc) in 71 minutes of action (i.e. excluding the credits, and pre-credits sequence). This equates to an Average Shot Length of about 2.7 seconds. Interestingly, the editing is relatively slower towards the end of the film. For most contemporary films, the opposite is the norm.

Number Trivia (also from IMDB): Lola screams for twenty seconds in the Roulette scene, she also bets to the number twenty, the only bills she had were twenties, the first story lasts twenty minutes and twenty minutes was also the time she had to get the money.