Introduction to Film Studies

Each moment of a film involves countless decisions: where to place the camera, where to position the actors, choosing how they will dress, should there be music in the background, the relation of a shot to those that precede it and those that follow it, among endless other decisions. Throughout the course, students will focus on these considerations, stepping into the mindset of a filmmaker to learn what techniques they use to convey meaning—and create the sense of a world through film. 

In the first three days of class, an introduction to the major avenues of expression in cinema—cinematography, editing, mise-en-scène, sound and narrative—will be explored. In the final two days of class, students will engage in close, detailed readings of two films that will elucidate not only the filmmakers’ technical choices, but the reasons behind those choices.

Please be aware that some of the films viewed contain violence and mature subject matter. Students should have a willingness to engage thoughtfully with challenging films.