At-Home Project (Due Friday, 12 Dec 2014)

Young Kurosawa thinking...
...about media maybe?

Remember that the first at-home project is due on Friday, 12 Dec 2014. You will get a little bit of class time for this but not much so be sure to get working on it at home right now. Here are the instructions for said assignment:

Thinking About Media Choice Assignment

(Completed At Home)

Twice per term, once at midterm and once at the end of the class, a choice assignment will become due. For this assignment, simply choose to do one of the following and turn it in:

• Additional Kurosawa Movie: Watch a Kurosawa film we will not be watching in class and watch it at home. Write a one page response to the film where you talk about what you thought of the film. Check with the instructors to see what Kurosawa films we will not be watching in class.
• Watch a John Ford Film: Kurosawa was heavily influenced by John Ford. So, watch a John Ford film at home and write a one-page paper about elements you saw in the movie that you feel are also present in Kurosawa’s films.
• Read 100 Pages of a Dostoyevsky Novel: Kurosawa was heavily influenced by the Russian author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He even adapted one of Dostoyevsky’s books into his film, The Idiot. So, read 100 pages of a Dostoyevsky novel and write a one page paper about elements you saw in Dostoyevsky’s writings that you also see in Kurosawa’s films.
• Read a Shakespeare Play: Kurosawa loved Shakespeare and even adapted a few Shakespeare plays into Samurai movies. So, read a Sheakespeare play and then do one of the following:
• Write a one-page paper about elements of the play that struck you as being similar to Kurosawa’s style.
• Adapt one scene of the play into a script that is set in Samurai times. Make it as Kurosawa-like as possible.
• Write a “Kurosawaian” Script: Write a script for a 5-20 page short film that feels like something Kurosawa could have written.
• Film a “Kurosawaian” Scene: Film and edit a scene that feels like it could have been in a Kurosawa movie. You can do this in groups if you like.
• Give a Presentation: Do some research on Kurosawa’s life, movies, or style and learn things that go above and beyond what we learned in class. Present what you learned to the class. Include clips from Kurosawa’s films.
• Interview Someone from Japan: Do a 30 minute (or more) interview with someone from Japan. Ask them questions that you feel will help you appreciate Kurosawa’s films more. Write up a one page summary of what you learned. Turn it in.
• Another Teacher Approved Project: Do another project which you feel ties into the objectives of the class. Make sure one of the instructors approves it.

Kurosawa Week 2 (Drunken Angel, Research, and Stray Dog)

This week, we watched Drunken Angel (1948) and Stray Dog (1949) and also spent a couple of days doing research on Kurosawa's life and sharing it with each other. Here are all of the assignments that were due this week:

Essay (20 Points)

You need to write a 500 word essay that answers one of the following questions:

• How did what you learned about Kurosawa's life impact how you view his movies? In your essay, rite about how facts you've learned about Kurosawa as a person helped you better appreciate specific story elements or other aspects of the films. You can just talk about one of the films we've seen or more than one but, either way, be very specific about how the facts on Kurosawa helped you appreciate specific parts of the films. Do not be general. Be specific.
• What common themes have you seen in Kurosawa's movies so far? Write about one or more theme that you feel has come up in all or most of the films we've watched and how each film addresses the theme(s). You might also make reference to what you learned about Kurosawa's life and how that helps you understand why he would deal with that theme.
• How has what we've seen in Drunken Angel or Stray Dog or what you learned about Kurosawa's life influenced you personally? Write an essay about the themes or other elements of the films (or of Kurosawa's life) that were important to you and why they matter to you so deeply. You will probably want to include a little bit of personal life story/experience if you do this one.
• Pick another essay topic you would like to write about that relates to the films Drunken Angel and/or Stray Dog. It could also relate to what we learned about Kurosawa's life. Have Will or Josh approve the essay topic and then write the essay.

Turn your essay in via email. Who you turn the essay in to depends on the first letter of your last name:

• A-H: email your essay to Josh: jwagner@ehhs.us.
• I-Z: email your essay to Will: wmcallister@ehhs.us.

Short Movie Responses (5 Points Each)

Remember that you need to write a short answer to the question related to each movie. Here are the questions for this week:

Kurosawa hanging with Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.

• Drunken Angel: What is this film's perspective on life? Do you agree or disagree with that perspective? Why?
• Stray Dog: Which scene(s) of this film were most impactful for you? Why?

Research (5 points)

Pick a question that you would like to answer in relation to Kurosawa's life. Use the internet to do some research for about an hour in order to thoroughly answer the question. Present what you learned to the class (talk to Will or Josh about setting up a time when you can present this information).

Kurosawa Week 1 (Roshomon and Sanshiro Sugata)

In class this week, we watched Roshomon (1950) and Sanshiro Sugata (1943). Roshomon was Kurosawa's first film that was seen by Hollywood audiences. It was Kurosawa's debut to the world. Sanshiro Sugata was the first film that Kurosawa ever made at all.

FILM RESPONSES (5 POINTS EACH)

Here are the response questions you were expected to answer for each film. As long as you answer all the questions, these responses can be very short. You can handwrite these or email them to jwagner@ehhs.us:

ROSHOMON:

• What do you think really happened with the crime in the film? Why?
• What is this film's outlook on life? Do you agree or disagree with that outlook? Explain.
• After seeing this film, do you think you'll enjoy or not enjoy Kurosawa's films? Why?

SANSHIRO SUGATA:

• Name one moment when an axis cut was used in this film. Why do you think Kurosawa used it in that moment?

ESSAY (20 POINTS)

Then, on Friday, we wrote essays. The essay needs to be 500 words in length. It should follow the criteria found in this link. Email your essay to jwagner@ehhs.us. Your essay can be on one of the following topics:

• Consider ways that either Roshomon or Sanshiro Sugata touched you personally. Write an essay about the themes or other elements of the films that were important to you and why they matter to you so deeply. You will probably want to include a little bit of personal life story/experience if you do this one.
• In class, we learned that Akira Kurosawa was a painter at first. Write about how you feel his painter instincts come out in the films we've seen. Use specific examples from Roshomon and Sanshiro Sugata. Feel free to include screen shots from the films if it helps you make your point. (You can find screen shots on the internet.)
• Write a critical review of either Roshomon or Sanshiro Sugata. In your review, imagine that you are writing to a typical teenage audience. Without spoiling the ending, write about what your teenage audience might like or not like about the movie. Remember that this is a recommendation to help them decide if they should see it or not.
• Pick another essay topic you would like to write about that relates to the films Roshomon and/or Sanshiro Sugata. Have Will or Josh approve the essay topic and then write the essay.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Most versions of the AFI 100 list and many other best film lists put this as the most important film ever made. It was also Orson Welles' first movie (kind of sad that he made the best movie ever first and then had to make great but not-as-awesome films for the rest of his career—it's a strange thing to make your magnum opus first).

Hopefully you noticed as you watched Citizen Kane that it had a very different feel to it than the other films we've watched in this class. There are many ways in which this film is the first modern movie. For example, the J-cut and the L-cut, two techniques that are standard practice in every movie made now, were first used in Citizen Kane. Also, the technique of telling the story told through flashbacks had never been done before Cane but is often done now and not considered particularly groundbreaking anymore.

This shot is an example of the innovation used in this film. Cameras
at the time could not get both characters in focus but Welles
demanded that they both be in focus so they took each shot
separately and then put them together.

This film was used to end this class on purpose. It represents the culmination of the evolution of
cinema during the era that we've focused on in this class. We started with Lumiere and Edison films that were just moving images without sound or much of a story. Then we evolved to silent films that did tell a story and used the tools of cinematography in more-and-more innovative ways until they culminated with the high silent era.

Then came sound and more innovations that compensated for the weaknesses of sound. Eventually Hollywood reached the golden age and then the golden year. Lots of movies were made and filmmakers figured out better and better ways to tell stories until Citizen Kane came along. This film really is a culmination of everything that happened before and the film that brings us into the modern cinematic age. Watch films before and after Citizen Kane and you will notice a difference.

When you comment about Citizen Kane, you need to answer three of the following questions:

• Why do you think so many great film lists put this film at the top? Remember the four criteria the AFI list creators use to measure a great film.
• What would you say the theme of this film is? Justify your response with at least three specific examples from the film.
• We know what the critics say but what do you think? Do you personally think Citizen Kane is a good movie? Why or why not?
  
• I wrote above that Citizen Kane changed the way movies are made. As you watched the film, did you notice moments that seemed like more advanced filmmaking then the films we've watched earlier in this class? If so, please describe what you say and explain why you feel it is more advanced.
• Make your own top ten list of movies we've watched in this class and write it in your response. What criteria did you use to make the list? Which film gets the #1 spot on your list and why?
• How about "rosebud"?

Third Movie at Home

Now is the time to pick the final film from the AFI list that you haven't seen and will watch at home for this class. Then post about it here in the comments below this very post.

You need to have watched the film and posted about it by November 3.

If you have lost your AFI list, you can access it by clicking here.

Now, when you post about the film, you need to do the following:

1. State the name of the film you watched.
2. Write three full paragraphs about it.
3. Answer four of the following questions:

• Do you feel the film you watched is more like an Edison film or more like a Lumiere film? Why?
• Did anything we've learned in film history class so far help you appreciate the film more? If so, tell us which thing that we learned helped you and how it helped?
• Why do you feel the film you watched is on the AFI 100 list? Remember the four criteria the AFI used to make their list.
  
• Were any of the special effects invented by Melies used in the film? If so, state which Melies special effect was used and describe how it was used in one moment of the film.
• Were there any moments of the film that had particularly impressive cinematography, editing, acting, writing, lighting, sound, etc. If so, describe the moment to us and tell us what was so special about the use of the filmic element?
• Was this film made pre-Hays code, during the Hays code, or after the Hays code was over? If it was made during the Hays code, what moments did you notice that were obviously censored or "toned down" because of the Hays code? If it was made before or after the Hays code, what moments did you notice that would not have been allowed during the Hays code?
• Would you recommend this film to other members of the class? Why or why not?

The Golden Year

1939, Hollywood's Golden Year. So called because so many films were made that year and so many of them are remembered as classics. We watched two films from 1939 in class. They are listed below with questions about each:

Destry Rides Again (1939)

This was one of three films made in the Golden Year starring Jimmy Stewart. Perhaps that was why the year was golden: because Jimmy Stewart made a lot of movies! Destry is a Western and, prior to recent history, Westerns were a staple in Hollywood. You could always count on someone making a Western at any given time and they were successful (thus, they kept making them). But Destry is no ordinary Western. The generic gunslinging sheriff hero is replaced with a peaceful man.

Answer the following questions:

• How do you feel about the twist of having a peaceful sheriff? Did it work for you? Or would you prefer to have the typical sheriff that takes out the bad guys with his gun and grit? Why?
• This film is well remembered by many an intelligent person. You'll notice it is on the windows in the hallway by the studio. It's on some critic's lists of great films. Why do you think some smart film appreciators like it so much? Do you like it? Why or why not?
• If you were to remake this film, what would you do to improve it? (And don't just say, "add color".)

Gone With the Wind (1939)

There is one word that definitely, for sure, describes this film: long. Clocking in at 3 hours and 53 minutes, it is definitely an experience to watch the whole thing. For this reason, the post on this film will be worth twice as much a normal one.

Answer the following questions about this film:

• This film is included on the AFI 100 list. Why do you think that is?
• Did you like this film or not? Explain in detail.
• Do you feel this film needs to be as long as it is? Do you think it should be shorter? If you do think it's too long, explain what parts you think should be cut out and why. If you like the length, explain why you feel the story deserves this running time.

EXTRA CREDIT: Them (2006)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!


As a fun, internationally, Halloween treat, we watched Them, or in French, Ils.  I'm excited to know what you guys think.  This is just extra credit, so don't stress about getting it done, but if you want to share your thoughts about this and get some free bonus points, well, that'd be awesome!

This movie was selected to be in oodles of festivals.  It was nominated for oodles of awards at these festivals, including best picture at the Neuchatel International Film Festival and at the Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival.   

Different types of horror resonate with different people - some people are deeply terrified of creepy clowns.  Others are deeply affected by monsters.  Others are terrified of ghosts.  For me, the scariest thing are intruders - real people with twisted desires to hurt others.  Man, that gets to me...  And Ils executes this kind of terror expertly, and thus it succeeds in reaching deep into my soul and giving me the chills!  Two thumbs up from me. 

• What'd you think?  Did you think it deserves the praise it got?  Why or why not?
• Did you enjoy the movie?
• If you are a horror movie fan, how does this one rank in your opinion?