Assignment II

Assignment II

Using the knowledge of film interpretation you have acquired during the previous weeks, write a lecture you have been invited to deliver at the UCLA Film School  analyzing  (rather than simply describing) the plot of a film of your choice from among those that we have viewed for class. Be sure to include ample discussion of some of the film-making techniques you have learned about in the Yale Film School.  Remember: you are writing a lecture that you are going to deliver to a class of film students.  Don't retreat to familiar ground by writing a paper for me.  (Message me if you wish to present your lecture orally and we'll discuss options for transferring an audio file.)  I don't intend to cover any material on film-making in class.  This the "independent study" portion of IRLS507 which will give me a good idea of how you work on your own.

***Here's how to do the assignment.  Pretend that you have been invited to the UCLA film school to give a talk on one of the film's we have seen.  Choose your film, then write your paper as if you are not writing a paper but preparing a lecture that you will present.  You can assume that many of those in your audience will have seen the film, so a simple plot description is of no interest.  However, if you can discuss elements of the film in terms of the concepts you have learned in the Yale Film School course as well as any other concepts you may find relevant, and if you can analyze certain scenes in a unique fashion, that will be of great interest to potential future film makers.  Believe me, no one in class has ever done an assignment like this one, so you're not alone.  My purpose is to have you write for someone other than me.  Begin with something like "Colleagues, today I wish to . . . " in order to take yourself out of the traditional "write for the prof" mindset.  I don't want to spell out what specifics are important, as this is entirely up to you to decide.  This, of course, includes the length of your presentation.  Try to make your talk "live."  For example, if you have references, don't just list them.  Say something like, "I'm going to pass around a flyer with a list of articles I think you might find interesting."  Always imagine yourself in front of a group of grad students when you are putting your assignment together.  That should help prevent you from falling into traditional "paper writing mode."