Thursday, April 26, 2012
Trollhunter, Winged Migration, American Mystic, etc.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tarnation
We didn't have time to discuss the film after viewing, so I'd like to hear your reactions and thoughts. Did you enjoy the film? Was it upsetting or hard to watch? What about the unusual techniques used by the filmmaker?
Monday, April 16, 2012
Second Essay Assignment
The topic is more or less open. But some guidelines:
1. Focus on ONE documentary film. I'd prefer it to be one we've watched in class, or talked about in class, or perhaps one made by one of the filmmakers we've studied. Other acceptable titles include:
Breathing Lessons
Sweetgrass
Wasteland
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Winged Migration
Man on Wire
Project Nim
Food, Inc.
Supersize Me
The Class
Capturing the Friedmans
anything by Errol Morris
anything by Frederick Wiseman
anything by Michael Moore
anything by D. A Pennebaker
anything by Bruce Sinofsky/Joe Berlinger
To help guide your choice: ask yourself if you could legitimately defend this film as a milestone in documentary...
Everyone MUST at the very least let me know beforehand what film you're writing about! Better to send me a thesis statement (see #5).
2. You can discuss the film in general, or choose a specific element (such as the positioning of the camera, or the function of location). But try not to focus too much on the content alone, i.e., what the film is "about." Of course all films tell a story, but the focus of this paper should go beyond that. Consider instead how the film approaches its topic, what kind of documentary it is (does it correspond to any of the five modes?), what its impact or influence has been, what may be unique about its origins, why/how its subject matter is unique, what may be unusual about its production values, etc. Perhaps you want to consider the film's aesthetics, entertainment value, or other factors related to its audience appeal. Make sure your topic is focused and specific.
3. Length: 1200-1500 words. Use double space or 1.5 spacing.
4. Citations/research. Please use at least TWO outside sources in writing your essay. Be sure you properly cite your sources for any quotes or any paraphrased ideas not original to you. You may use internal footnotes or endnotes, or a Works Cited page if you credit the author.source within your essay itself.
5. Have a solid topic or thesis before you begin. You can bring in or email me a two sentence topic or thesis statement (no more than 200 words) and I'd be happy to weigh in.
6. Essays are due in class May 2. I prefer printed essays, not emailed assignments. Don't miss class just because your essay is not ready; let me know the situation.
1. Focus on ONE documentary film. I'd prefer it to be one we've watched in class, or talked about in class, or perhaps one made by one of the filmmakers we've studied. Other acceptable titles include:
Breathing Lessons
Sweetgrass
Wasteland
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Winged Migration
Man on Wire
Project Nim
Food, Inc.
Supersize Me
The Class
Capturing the Friedmans
anything by Errol Morris
anything by Frederick Wiseman
anything by Michael Moore
anything by D. A Pennebaker
anything by Bruce Sinofsky/Joe Berlinger
To help guide your choice: ask yourself if you could legitimately defend this film as a milestone in documentary...
Everyone MUST at the very least let me know beforehand what film you're writing about! Better to send me a thesis statement (see #5).
2. You can discuss the film in general, or choose a specific element (such as the positioning of the camera, or the function of location). But try not to focus too much on the content alone, i.e., what the film is "about." Of course all films tell a story, but the focus of this paper should go beyond that. Consider instead how the film approaches its topic, what kind of documentary it is (does it correspond to any of the five modes?), what its impact or influence has been, what may be unique about its origins, why/how its subject matter is unique, what may be unusual about its production values, etc. Perhaps you want to consider the film's aesthetics, entertainment value, or other factors related to its audience appeal. Make sure your topic is focused and specific.
3. Length: 1200-1500 words. Use double space or 1.5 spacing.
4. Citations/research. Please use at least TWO outside sources in writing your essay. Be sure you properly cite your sources for any quotes or any paraphrased ideas not original to you. You may use internal footnotes or endnotes, or a Works Cited page if you credit the author.source within your essay itself.
5. Have a solid topic or thesis before you begin. You can bring in or email me a two sentence topic or thesis statement (no more than 200 words) and I'd be happy to weigh in.
6. Essays are due in class May 2. I prefer printed essays, not emailed assignments. Don't miss class just because your essay is not ready; let me know the situation.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
The Blair Witch Project: more thoughts?
There is a great deal of information online about this film, if you're interested in finding out more. The original official website has evolved in recent years but still looks much the same as it it did in 1999. There are a number of scholarly articles (and at least one scholarly anthology) about it as well. The one I mentioned in class, on the film's influence on aesthetics in contemporary horror cinema, can be found here. For an interesting feminist analysis, this essay by Linda Badley is very interesting. The DVD contains yet another "fake documentary" which explores the folklore of the Blair Witch, in "Curse of the Blair Witch."
How does this film hold up as a milestone in documentary? Is it possible to see it as a groundbreaking film both for the horror and documentary genres?
How does this film hold up as a milestone in documentary? Is it possible to see it as a groundbreaking film both for the horror and documentary genres?
Living for 32
Hey guys!
This Monday is the 5 year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting. Schools all across the United States, including SUNY New Paltz, are going to honor those whose lives were lost by screening the documentary, Living for 32. This film follows one survivor of the shooting, Colin Goddard, as he takes his blessing of being alive to honor those who didn't make it.
The screening begins at 8PM this Monday in LC104. After the screening, there will be a live Q&A with Colin Goddard with remarks by the producer, Maria Cuomo Cole. Students across America will be able to ask questions by either submitting them at the event or by tweeting them with the hashtag, #livefor32.
It would be great if you all could come. At the very least, come for the pizza which will be given out after the film and before the Q&A.
Watch the trailer below!
The screening begins at 8PM this Monday in LC104. After the screening, there will be a live Q&A with Colin Goddard with remarks by the producer, Maria Cuomo Cole. Students across America will be able to ask questions by either submitting them at the event or by tweeting them with the hashtag, #livefor32.
It would be great if you all could come. At the very least, come for the pizza which will be given out after the film and before the Q&A.
Watch the trailer below!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Blair Witch Project Response
Is it bad that after watching this film I wanted to go camping? Well, at least up until the very end. Not that I was scared or anything...
I really enjoyed "The Blair Witch Project;" I've been wanting to see it for a while but it was one of those movies that I could never find time to sit down and watch it on my own so I'm glad we got to watch it in class. My reaction to the film was that it was an incredible and new approach (at the time of its release) to a horror-categorized film. What made it feel so real was the dynamics of each character and especially the camera work. I found it really interesting that the actors were the ones making the movie especially since they didn't exactly know what the movie was about or where the story was taking them. And the fact that they didn't know where the story line was going made their reactions to certain events more believable because they were genuine reactions (more or less). However, the one thing that I found frustrating and would criticize would be some of the interactions between the three characters. After the first couple of nights they were stuck in the woods, they started to turn on each other, which could be understandable under the conditions they were in. However, I feel like if I were in their position, I would have stopped bickering and pointing blame some time before they did because there would be no chance for them to escape unless they started working together. I understand they were terrified, hungry, cold and angry at each other, but I feel that I would have tried to keep the peace between all the campers in order to get out of there as a team. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
I really enjoyed "The Blair Witch Project;" I've been wanting to see it for a while but it was one of those movies that I could never find time to sit down and watch it on my own so I'm glad we got to watch it in class. My reaction to the film was that it was an incredible and new approach (at the time of its release) to a horror-categorized film. What made it feel so real was the dynamics of each character and especially the camera work. I found it really interesting that the actors were the ones making the movie especially since they didn't exactly know what the movie was about or where the story was taking them. And the fact that they didn't know where the story line was going made their reactions to certain events more believable because they were genuine reactions (more or less). However, the one thing that I found frustrating and would criticize would be some of the interactions between the three characters. After the first couple of nights they were stuck in the woods, they started to turn on each other, which could be understandable under the conditions they were in. However, I feel like if I were in their position, I would have stopped bickering and pointing blame some time before they did because there would be no chance for them to escape unless they started working together. I understand they were terrified, hungry, cold and angry at each other, but I feel that I would have tried to keep the peace between all the campers in order to get out of there as a team. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Documentary films changing the world
This article lists nine documentary films that "changed the world" and include a number of the films discussed in your textbook Milestones in Documentary. Certainly there is no denying that films which lead to the release of wrongly-incarcerated individuals, like The Thin Blue Line and Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills are life-changing on many levels. Have you seen any of these films and would you agree they're significant?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
MARWENCOL
Here is the place for any comments or questions about Marwencol.
There is a website displaying many of Mark Hogancamp's photos here, with a detailed storyline of the ongoing events in the village of Marwencol. The film won a great many awards and so there are also many reviews and articles to be found online.
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