Darn, darn, darn! No class, so no more fun review game. 

Final is still on for tomorrow and Wednesday.  If we have a snow day tomorrow, it will be Wednesday and Thursday. 

Tues. 

12/1

Cont'd viewing of "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Announcement:

On Friday, you will have the opportunity to do one of the following for extra credit:

A)  Write about the film "Where the Wild Things Are"

B)  Write about the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's."  

For each, your prompt will be to write a short evaluation of the effectiveness of the film as a translation. 

Study for final exam

Exam format:

I.  Matching terms to definitions or storyboard illustrations.  Only terms for which we viewed film clips will be covered.

II.  Film clip analysis.  There will be at least four film clips, drawn from clips shown in intro to film techniques and movies assigned and shown in class.

For each clip, you will comment on techniques used to achieve particular effects.  For some clips, you may be asked to compare the scene to its corresponding scene in the book / story.

III.  Short Essay on the Literature.  Three prompts from which to choose, each covering only the works of literature read for class.  Essays will need to be roughly 3 paragraphs.

Finished reading "A Christmas Memory"

Class portfolios given out for final exam study

Beginning of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" film (stopped at 25:25)

Final exam for this class will be in class Tuesday 12/8 - Wed. 12/9 (two days).

Radical Translation Assignment for Breakfast at Tiffany's -- due Monday, for those participating

Extra credit viewing of "Where the Wild Things Are"  must be done by Fri. 12/4

Mon. 

11/23

Continued discussion of Breakfast .  . . 

What Holly and Fred want, possible themes (or lack thereof), etc.

Opening discussion of Breakfast . . . 

Two discussion questions written by each class member.

Thurs. 

11/19

Continued discussion of  "Cat . . ." 

Hays Code, etc.

End of "Cat . . . "

Written reflections

Discussion

Reading schedule for Breakfast at Tiffany's:

to p. 55 for tomorrow

to p. 79 for Thurs.

to p. 93 for Fri.

finish for Monday

Wrap-up discussion of Cat -- comments on the 1974 revision, etc. 

Viewing of first 10 min. of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" dir. by Richard Brooks

Correction:  the author of A Long Day's Journey into Night is Eugene O'Neill, not Edward Albee.  Albee is, as I said, the author of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which was also made into a film with Liz Taylor.

Thurs. 

11/12

Audio recording:  1959 BBC interview with Tennessee Williams.  

Cont'd look at what characters want, conflicts

Cat discussion cont'd:  

What do these characters want?  Board exercise

Conflicts in the play

Read Act III, Broadway version in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

5 dialectical journals due tomorrow.

Sorry, have to be gone.

See below.

Tues.

11/3

(no class Mon.)

Finished viewing "Harriet . . . "

Written reflections

Spy journal sharing

In-class essay on "Harriet the Spy" as film translation is Monday 11/9

5 dialectical journal entries on Cat . . . due Tuesday 11/10

Cont'd readings from Purple Socks:  A Louise Fitzhugh Tribute Site

Beginning of "Harriet the Spy" (1996), dir. by Bronwen Hughes, screenplay by Greg Taylor.

catreadsched.pdf 

spy journal due 11/3

in-class essay evaluating success of "Harriet the Spy" (1996) as a film translation of Harriet the Spy by Fitzhugh will be on Mon. 11/9.   

Tues.

10/27

Continued discussion of the challenges of adapting children's literature 

Wrap-up discussion of Harriet

A quick look at Purple Socks:  A Louise Fitzhugh Tribute Site

Reading quiz #2 for Harriet

Journal prompts, writing

Brief sharing of spy journals -- bring these back tomorrow.

Reminder of extra credit opportunity Friday afternoon:  Meet us at the Ward Parkway theater to see "Where the Wild Things Are" at 1:50.  We'll meet at the Starbucks in Ward Parkway afterward to discuss. 

finish Harriet

work on spy journal; it's due Tues. 11/3 (no Lit to Film 11/2)

Find your copy of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and make sure it is the correct edition.  Compare isbn numbers.  You have a reading assignment from it on Wed.

Journal prompts

See link at left for Amazon page with isbn for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. 

Fri. 

10/23

Read ch. 13 - 14 for Mon.

spy journal

Thurs.

10/22

read 

work on spy journal assignment

Wed.

10/21

read 

work on spy journal assignment

Introduction to reader's theatre

small group work

read 

work on spy journal assignment

Introduction to spy journal assignment

spy activity

continue reading

work on spy journal assignment

Continue to read Harriet the Spy

Don't forget extra credit opportunity 10/30 (see below)

Continued sharing of kids' books

Opening discussion of Harriet

Wrap up with Div. Bell

Reading sched. for Harriet the Spy introduced.

Extra credit opportunity:

Pull out your old copy of "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, re-read it, and meet up with me and your lit to film classmates for a matinee showing of "Where the Wild Things Are" dir. by Spike Jonze on Friday 10/30.  We'll have coffee afterward to discuss the film as an adaptation.  Locations TBA.  

Due tomorrow:

Bring in a copy of the children's chapter book that had the biggest impact on you as a child.  (If you don't have a copy, just have the title and author and be ready to talk about it.)  

Begin reading Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh.  Bring it every day until further notice.

Reading schedule:

"The truth about 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' " by Beth Arnold for Salon.com

Optional:  "The Real Love Story Behind The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" 

Featurettes on the making of "The Div. Bell . . . " 

Preview of the 09-10 Siren; call for submissions.  Want to submit?  Email The Siren at ndsiren@gmail.com.

Wed.

10/7

"The Diving Bell. . . " finished.

Reflections.  

Reflections on "The Diving Bell . . . " as film translation:

divbellreflections.pdf

Sharing of Found Poems using wiki

A look at the artwork of Julian Schnabel

Julian Schnabel on Charlie Rose

Julian Schnabel on 60 Minutes 

Work on movie review -- don't forget to do your research!

Great article for further reading on Julian Schnabel:

Mr. Big Bounces Back:  Julian Schnabel's Amazing Journey from Faded Art Star to Filmmaker Extraordinaire  

Wed.

9/30

Introduction to movie review assignment.

Readings of movie reviews.

Movie review is due Fri. 10/9

Found poem is due tomorrow.  Please place page numbers where phrases are found at the bottom of the page.

Movie Review Assignment

Movie reviews:

The Discreet Charm of the American Bonehead

by Dana Stevens for Slate

"Unmasked:  The Phantom of the Opera" by Anthony Lane for The New Yorker (copied)

Intentionally or Not, Twilight is One of the Funniest Movies of the Year by Lauren Piester of The Online Gargoyle (a high school publication)

"Capitalism: a Love Story:  Michael Moore's Latest Simplistic, Infuriating, Inspiring Documentary 

by Dana Stevens

Essay on a particular trend in recent films:  A Fine Romance:  The New Comedy of the Sexes

by David Denby for The New Yorker 

Journal writing:  theme, director's responsibility with respect to facts when adapting memoir, hier. of purpose

Discussion of these responses and last chapters of Diving Bell

Intro. to Found Poem assignment

Fri.

9/25

Clip from "A Labor of Love:  the Making of Sweet Land"

Opening discussion of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 

Prepare for in-class essay

Prompts:essay1.pdf

Thurs.

9/24

Read to p. 106 for tomorrow.  

Change in reading schedule:  Finish by TUESDAY.

In-class essay is Mon.  See below.

Wed. 

9/23

reading quiz

Sweet Land reflections (written) and sharing

Announcement:  In-class essay Monday.  Analysis of film translation of short story. You will choose between "The Tin Star" / "High Noon" and "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" / Sweet Land"  Prompts will be given out on Friday.  No texts or notes allowed while writing essay.  Essay will be worth 45 points.

Tues.

9/22

Fri.

9/18

Sharing of treatments for "A Gravestone . . ."

Began watching"Sweet Land," written and dir. by Ali Selim.  2005.  Watched about 15 minutes.  Abby, come by during senior study hall on Mon. to watch the 15 minutes you missed using a laptop.

Thurs.

9/17

Continued work on translation notes.

Discussion of "A Gravestone . . . "

Read to p. 42 in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Monday.  

Translation treatment and storyboard due tomorrow.

Work on translation notes assignment for "A Gravestone Made of Wheat."  See links at right with specifics.  

Assignment is due FRIDAY. 

Translation notes assignment for "A Gravestone Made of Wheat":

gravestonetransnotes.pdf

Due Friday.

Reading schedule for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly:

Read to p. 42 for Mon. 9/21

Read to p. 68 for Wed. 9/23

                 84 for Thurs. 9/24

                 106 for Fri. 9/25

Finish the book for Mon. 9/28 

Sample storyboard:

drvstrybrd.pdf

Storyboard instructions:

storyboardstudyplanlitfilm.pdf

Tues.

9/15

Begin reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly when you have time

Take a look at translation notes assignment for "A Gravestone Made of Wheat":  gravestonetransnotes.pdf

Begin this evening if you have time.  You'll work on it in class tomorrow.

Mon.

9/14

Finished "High Noon"

Response writing

Discussion

Read "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver.  Write 3 dialectical journal entries.  Due tomorrow.

Find your copy of The Diving Bell and The Butterfly.  You'll begin reading that book this week.

Fri.

9/11

Thurs.

9/10

More sharing of film translation notes

Beginning of "High Noon," dir. Fred Zinneman (1952).  Screenplay by Carl Foreman.

Wed.

9/9

Discussion of "The Tin Star" ; examination of Campbell's heroic cycle and its possible application to this story

Sharing of film translation ideas for "The Tin Star"

Do part C of translation notes assignment for tomorrow.

2 viewing log entries due tomorrow 

Tues.

9/8

More notes on the "Nature of Film Translation"

Deadline for viewing log entries has been moved to Thursday

Instructions for homework (handwritten or typed):

Envision your own film translation of the story "The Tin Star"

1.  Decide on one of the three modes we've been studying for your translation.

2.  Do a hierarchy of purpose ranking for your  translation

3.  Write out notes on the following:

A.  State what you believe is the “integral meaning” or core theme of the story.  Use a complete sentence and express the idea in general terms (in other words, as a general lesson or statement about the human condition).  Explain how you will go about underscoring this meaning(s) in the film.  Refer at least one fimmaking technique from your packet of terms.  

B. Take the two items at the top of your hierarchy of purpose and elaborate on how you would capture those aspects of the story in the film.  State at least four film techniques you would use in the process of translating these aspects of the text.  If meaning was in the top two, skip down to the 3rd.  

C. OPTIONAL How might you expand on the story for a feature-length film?  Give two examples of ways that your film would expand on the original text of the story.  Consider plot, characters, and other aspects that would represent an expansion of the original story.  Be specific and elaborate carefully.

Fri.

9/4

Read "The Tin Star" (copied)

Write 4 dialectical journal entries on loose leaf.  Due Tuesday.

Don't forget about viewing logs.  See instructions below.

"The Tin Star"  

tinstar.PDF

Thurs.

9/3

Work on viewing logs

Re-do's of three key points from MacFarlane

Wed.

9/2

Last two techniques:

symbolism and storyboard

Study for test

viewing logs (see below)

filmmaking.pdf

(the entire presentation)

Tues.

9/1

Test. Thurs. (see details below)

Two viewing log entries due next Wed.

Mon.

8/31

Viewing logs introduced.

Filmmaking techniques continued:  steadicam, visual match cut, and crosscut. 

See below for what's due tomorrow.

Test Thurs. on filmmaking techniques.

Two viewing log entries due Wed. 9/9.   Ask questions in advance if you are having trouble creating your page on the wiki.

Fri.

8/28

Read "Reading Film and Literature" by Brian McFarlane (copied) by Tues.  On loose leaf, write out three key points you can find in the article.  Paraphrase -- use your own words.   

Test on filmmaking techniques Thurs.  Know terms for which we viewed example clips and know movie titles and directors.  (Years not required)

"Reading Film and Literature"  (litfilm8.28.PDF)

Note:  there will be one page in this document with some words at the edge obscured.  The hard copies are easier to read than the scan -- pick up a copy Mon. 

Tues. 8/25

(switched up order of table)

syllabus

moviesurvey.pdf