2016 Class Syllabus

Welcome to 2016. The purpose of this website is to help you succeed in class. Check this website periodically for updates on extra credit and class-related information. The more often you visit the website the better it will serve you. I will post extra credit assignments periodically on this website. If you lose your syllabus, feel free to print the one on this website. It is the same as the class syllabus. There are study guides below the syllabus for class tests. If there are any updates to the study guides, I will let you know in class. 

WEEKLY EXTRA CREDIT: Every Friday new movies are released and the theaters are full of moviegoers. Most of the time the new big-budget movie is the big moneymaker for the week. For example, Jurasic World was released on a Friday and by Monday it had made more than $200 million in domestic box office. I want you to pick the winner each Friday, the movie you think will be the biggest moneymaker. Send me an email by Friday at 6 p.m. telling me in one or two paragraphs which movie will make the most money. Estimate how much money you think the movie will make for the weekend and why you think so. Make a copy of the email and put it in your journal. You can do this each and every week if you want to. 

EXTRA CREDIT: Best CGI Award goes to: Since you belong to the CGI generation of moviegoers I want you to choose your favorite CGI movie. I'm sure you've seen plenty of them. Anything with a man in it: Iron Man, Batman, Superman, etc.... Which movie blew you away with its use of CGI and why? Cite specific scenes that were memorable. Include this extra credit in your film journal. 

Extra Credit: It seems that many of you grew up watching Pixar movies including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, The Incredibles and others. I would like you to pick your all-time favorite Pixar movie and explain why it's your favorite in a few paragraphs. Include this very short paper in your film journal. If you're not sure if it's a Pixar movie, look it up. 


Extra Credit: Watch the movie Chaplin about silent film comedian Charlie Chaplin and write a few paragraphs about what you thought of the movie.

Extra Credit: Filmmaker and comedian Chris Rock wrote an insightful essay for Hollywood Reporter magazine on racism in the movie industry. He makes some good points from an insider's perspective. Read Chris Rock's essay for extra credit and write a few paragraphs for your film journal about your reaction to what he wrote. Do you agree or disagree with his perspective? Any surprises? 
The link to the essay is below: 
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-five-filmmaker-chris-rock-753223 

Course Syllabus: Theater Arts 40 

Syllabus: Theater 040          

Instructor: Ralph Nichols 
Instructor email: ralphnichols58@gmail.com 
Instructor phone: (408) 274-7900, ext. 6506 
Instructor Office: VPA-108 
Office Hours: TBA; None during summer 
Class website: www.schoolnotes.com (95135) 

Course Description: 
THEAT-040 -Introduction to Film Units: 3 
This is an introductory course in film studies in which students view classic and recent films to learn the technical and artistic disciplines of filmmaking. Emphasis is placed on the movie industry, its history and business side. 
Lecture Hours: 2.5 Lab Hours: 1.5 Repeatable: No Grading: O 
CAN: None Advisory Level: Read: 3 Write: 3 Math: None 
Transfer Status: CSU/UC Degree Applicable: AA/AS 
CSU GE:  C1 District GE: C1 IGETC: None 

WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE? 

Students who have taken this class have said they watch movies in a different way, with a greater appreciation for technique and direction. The ultimate goal of this class is to improve students� understanding of how films are made and to provide students with a greater appreciation of the medium at a more sophisticated level. 

WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT? 

Students in this class will learn that there is a lot more to �movies� than meets the eye. By studying the movie industry from a business, historical and social viewpoint, students will enrich their moviegoing experience and develop a more sophisticated appreciation of movies and the process of movie-making. 

WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF ME? 

Students are expected to demonstrate a willingness to: 
    1. Attend class on time and stay until the end of class. 
    2. Participate in class discussions. 
    3. Put together a film journal and turn it in on time. 

WHAT LEARNING METHODS WILL WE USE? 

Reading: Some assigned readings will seem challenging: they will require you to concentrate on new concepts and sort out the arguments. You will be better prepared for class discussions and tests if you complete your reading on your own before we discuss it in class. While there is no textbook for this class you will still be expected to do outside reading on the movie industry. 

Writing: You will have several assignments related to your film journal that require you to write outside of class. All of these assignments must be typed and included in your film journal. 

Discussion: Your participation in this class is encouraged and important in helping you learn the material. It has been proven in studies that students learn more by thinking and talking about the subject rather that sitting and not participating. Your class participation grade will be based on how much you contribute to discussions. 

WHAT ARE THE GROUND RULES? 

1. Punctuality and attendance: You have a responsibility to be at all class meetings on time and to remain until the end of class. If you find that you must miss a class, be late, or leave early (and this should only happen under exceptional circumstances) you must call arrange to: 
1.    Review the class notes you missed. 
    2. Get the assignments due for the next class. 

Arriving late or leaving early WILL result in a loss of points beyond your class participation points. 
Attendance is probably the most important thing you must do in this class. Simply attending class does not guarantee a student a passing grade but leaving early and/or arriving late will ensure a student receives a bad grade in the class. 

2. Preparation: The quality of our experience in the course depends on each class member being prepared and being willing to discuss, ask questions, and support one another. In addition, part of your grade will reflect your preparedness and participation. 

3. Late work: You are responsible for keeping up on all of the work for the course and turning it in on time. Even if you have been absent, the next assignments are still due on time. You need to make a friend in class who you can share notes with in the event you miss a class and need to know what we did while you were gone. Make-up tests will only be given on the same day for everybody during the last week of the semester. 

4. Withdrawal: If you stop coming to class, it is important that you drop yourself from the roll through admissions and records. Otherwise, you may stay on the roll until the end of class and receive a grade of F. 

5. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another writer�s words or ideas. Plagiarism is a serious offense. A student who plagiarizes is subject to disciplinary probation and/or suspension as outlined in the college catalog in accordance with district policy. You can also receive an F in the class. I have been a newspaper reporter and teacher for more than 30 years and I am a good judge of student writing. You will do a writing sample in class that I will use to evaluate your writing level. This sample will be compared with writing you do on your own and if there is a major difference in the quality then you may be suspected of plagiarism. 

6. Cell Phones/Media Devices � Cell phones and media devices MUST be turned off during class. Texting is not allowed during class. Running out of class to answer a cell phone call is not allowed during class. There is a time and a place for these devices and it�s not during class. Laptop computers must be closed during movie presentations. You are NOT ALLOWED to cruise the Internet on your laptop during class. Failure to follow these rules will result in a lowering of your grade. Please follow this IMPORTANT rule and do not be rude to your fellow students and teacher. 

7. Test make-up � A student will be allowed to make up only one test during the semester. All make-up tests will be taken on the same day during the last month of the semester. The date will be announced in class. If you miss more than one test during the semester you will only be allowed to make up one test. You cannot redo a test for a better grade. You are only allowed to make up a test if you missed the test when it was given in class. 

General Education Learning Outcomes 

General Education is a commitment on the part of a college to provide students with a broad set of knowledge and skills that will help each student in their process of becoming a well-rounded healthy person equipped to participate wisely in the health of our community.  It requires a carefully selected set of courses and activities on the part of the college and active reflection on the part of the student. 

This course participates in the general education process by including the following General Education Learning Outcome(s): 

Learning Outcomes: 
1    Describe the objectives and themes of films 
2    Identify conflict in a film and demonstrate how the conflict arises from the plot structure of the film 
3    Analyze and describe characterization and character interaction in films 
4    Correlate aspects of visual design and lighting with character and setting 
5    Illustrate how cinematography affects film content 
6    Recognize how editing is used to organize film content and compare various editing styles in films 
7    Assess the impact of sound design on the content of a film 
8    Evaluate and compare acting and directing techniques in films 
9    Make qualitative judgments about the aesthetic, social, and cultural achievements of films 
Summarize opinions of films in writing, supporting statements with detailed observations from the films 

This outcome contributes to the General Education areas of emphasis stated in the accreditation standards and District General Education Philosophy (pending)] checked below: 
__x___ Aesthetic sensitivity 
__x___ Civic responsibility (local, national, global) 
__x___ Civility 
__x___ Computer literacy 
__x___ Critical analysis/logical thinking 
__x___ Cultural diversity 
__x___ Ethical principles 
__x___ Historical sensitivity 
__x___ Information competency 
__x___ Integrated organism including the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual 
            (local and CSU GE) 
__x___ Interpersonal Skills 
__x___ Oral communication including speaking and listening 
__x___ Political involvement (local, national, global) 
__x___ Scientific and quantitative reasoning 
__x___ Social responsibility (local, national, global) 
__x___ Teamwork (ability to work and solve problems as a team, recommended by Jim Potterton) 
       _x____ Written communication 

District Policies 

Attendance Policy:  �Students are expected to maintain regular and prompt attendance in all classes.  Instructors shall maintain a record of students� attendance in class.� VI. Instruction Policies 6070.1 12/19/89 

Withdrawal/Drop Policy: 
It is the ultimate responsibility of the student to formally drop the class.  You should not rely on the instructor to drop you from a class for non-attendance.  You may drop by telephone using the STAR system (223-0300) or by completing the proper forms in the Office of Admissions and Records.  To be eligible for a refund of fees and/or prevent a recorded grade of �F: or �W�, you must drop the class on or before posted date. 

College Honesty Policy: 

Students are expected to write their own papers and to not copy from another student or author (plagiarism).  Consequences of such actions may lead to reduction of a grade, suspension form the class, course failure, or expulsion from the college. 
Violations of standards include the following: 
� Altering grades 
� Altering or forging college documents, records, or identification 
� Copying from someone�s test or allowing someone to copy your test 
� Copying from an author�s work without giving credit (plagiarism) 
� Doing an assignment (e.g., a term paper or essay) for another student or asking, paying, bribing, or blackmailing someone to do an assignment for you 
� Sitting in for someone in class or on a test or having someone sit in class for you if not authorized by the instructor 
� Submitting work previously presented in another class if not authorized by the instructor 
� During an exam, using or consulting other test or course material not authorized by the instructor 
� Possession of an examination or materials not authorized by the instructor. Consequences may include one or more of the following actions by appropriate college officials as shown in parentheses: 
� Receiving a failing grade on the test, paper, or exam 
� Course grade lowered, possibly resulting in course failure 
� Verbal or written reprimand/warning 
� Suspension for a longer specified time 
� Expulsion from college 

WHAT MATERIALS DO I NEED? 

Notebook: A large, 3-ring binder for all assignments and work, Scantron forms and a No. 2 pencil for tests. Writing paper for in-class assignments. 

HOW MUCH TIME WILL I SPEND ON THIS CLASS? 

In college you are expected to work two hours per week outside of class for every one hour you meet in class. You will spend time outside of class reading, studying for tests and watching videos for your final project. Start planning your schedule now so that you can accommodate this work load. 

HOW WILL I BE GRADED? 

Your grade will be calculated based on: 
Five tests                       600 points 
Final paper                     100 points 
Film Journal             150 points 
Attendance, participation     150 points 

The grading scale for the course is: 
                A = 900 - 1,000 points 
                B = 800 - 899 points 
                C = 700 - 799 points 
                D = 600 - 699 points 
                F = Below 600 points 

HOW WILL I KNOW MY GRADE? 

It is the responsibility of the students to keep track of their own grade. Hold on to your returned tests and keep track of your scores. Evaluate your participation level periodically throughout the semester. If you are not participating or participating very little you will want to increase your level of participation (see below). Be realistic about your grade. If you are getting C�s on your tests and not participating you should not expect an A in the class. There are four parts of your grade (see above). To have any realistic chance of getting an A in the class you will need to do �A� quality work in at least three of the four categories. Your final grade is final and it will not be changed after it is submitted to admissions and records unless I made a mistake calculating your grade. Your final grade should not be a surprise. Keep track of your progress throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns about your grade should be resolved before the end of the semester. Final grades are final. 

THINGS NOT TO DO IN MY CLASS 
             (In no particular order) 

1. Arrive late/leave early or both. Showing up late for the final. 
2. Refuse to participate, speak, make comments or ask questions. 
3. Watch media devices (cell phones, lap tops, etc.) instead of watching the movie. 
4. Rush out of the classroom to make or take cell phone calls. 
5. Don't make the assumption that this class is an easy A or there is nothing to learn because it's film. 
       (Students who do any or all of these things significantly lower their grade) 

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE 

One hundred and fifty points of your grade is based on how active a role you take in this class and your attendance. The more you participate in class discussions the more points you receive. It's important to participate frequently by asking questions or making comments. It's proven that students learn better if they actively participate in class. 

FILM JOURNAL 

Your final journal will be put together throughout the semester and will be worth 150 points. There will be journal deadlines for short papers announced during class but the journal itself will not be due until the end of the semester. Missing one of the paper deadlines will cost you the points that were available for that assignment. You will use a three-ring binder for this assignment and everything in the film journal needs to be in the three rings (not shoved in the sleeve).

The journal will consist of in-class papers and papers you do outside of class. Every paper done at home must be typed or it will not be accepted. All papers need to be at least one full typed page unless otherwise specified. All journals must be in a three-ring binder that can be purchased at the student bookstore. Your first journal deadline that will be worth 20 points will be announced in class and it will be to bring in your three-ring binder to class with the syllabus in the binder. 

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE FILM JOURNAL (All assignments are typed 12pt. Times font and double-spaced). 

Table of Contents--Include a table of contents listing the assignments that appear in your journal. 

In-class notes -- These notes do not have to be typed because they are taken in class. 

Extra Credit Assignments -- Include a list of extra credit assignments that you did during the semester. 

Movie Memories -- We all have memories of our childhood. I'm interested in your movie memories for this paper. Being young adults you should still have vivid memories of important movies and movie experiences you had growing up. I want you to write a detailed paper about the movies that were important ot you and how they helped to shape your understanding of the world. Be specific in describing movies you saw and where you saw them. Did you always go to movies with friends or family or were you a loner at the movie theater. The length should be two typed pages. Point value 30 points. Deadline TBA. 

Favorite and least favorite -- At the end of the semester I'll ask for your opinion on your favorite and least favorite movie you saw in class. You need to choose one of the movies we saw in their entirity not one of the film clips. Which movie did you like the most and why and what was your least favorite movie? Length should be one typed page. Point value 25 points. Deadline TBA. 

You Be the Teacher -- What three movies would you show the class if you were teaching this film studies class and why? Explain why these three movies would be on your must show list. What would you expect the class to learn from these movies? Would these movies stand the test of time and be good to show 20, 30 years from now? Do not base your choices on movies that you simply like. Pick movies that others could learn something from about culture or filmmaking, etc. Do not pick sequels. Focus on movies that have some education value and explain what that would be. Length should be one typed page. Point value 25 points. Deadline TBA. 

MPAA Ratings Assignment -- Choose a movie in current release and evaluate the rating based on what you learned about the MPAA ratings in this class. Was the rating appropriate for the content of the movie or was the rating too soft? How do you think the movie's rating will impact its box office. Length should be one typed page. Point value 20 points. Deadline TBA. 

Test 1 Study Guide

Why is conflict a central element in movies? 

Be familiar with the three phases of filmmaking: 
Preproduction 
Production 
Postproduction 

Know the definition of the following filmmaking terms: 
Cut, scene, close-up, medium shot, long shot, panning, tracking, point of view shot, cross-cutting, MTV editing, montage, dissolve, final cut. 

Understand the American style of film editing and the art of the invisible cut. 

Know the contributions of the following directors: Alfred Hitchcock, D.W. Griffith, Orson Welles. 

How do directors master the art of visual storytelling? 

The business side of movies. 

How much movie money comes from outside of the U.S. and why are American movies so popular worldwide? 

Why do movies cost so much to make and market? Why do kid movies make the most money? 

Know the differences between movie franchises, good movies, bad movies and independent movies. 

What role do studios play in the filmmaking process. 

What are the primary sources of revenues for studios? 

What's happening to the DVD and how is home viewing of movies changing? 

Test 2 Study Guide 

Comedies, Stereotyping, Movie censorship 

Be familiar with the different types of comedies including slapstick, romantic comedy, satire, dark comedy, screwball comedy and raunchy guy and raunchy girl comedy. 

Why are slapstick comedies so popular and profitable? 

Know the contributions of Charlie Chaplin, Mel Brooks, the Farrelly Brothers, the Wayans Brothers, the Coen Brothers and Woody Allen. 

Know the impact and evolution of the Production Code, the MPAA ratings and movie sanitizing on movies. How are Catholics and Mormons involved in movie censorship? 

Why is the MPAA ratings controversial and how do directors feel about the system? 

What financial impact do ratings have on movies? Know the differences between the ratings: G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17. 

Be familiar with the contributions of Sidney Poitier, Step 'N Fetchit, Hattie McDaniel and Bill Robinson. 

How has stereotyping impacted movies? What key events has impacted movie stereotyping over the years such as World War II? 

Test 3 Study Guide 

McCarthyism and the Studio System. 

Be familiar with the studios during Hollywood's Golden Age, the men who ran them and the studios we have today. 

What were some of the differences between studios in the golden age, such as the movie star was king, and studios today? 

What were the characteristics of the studio bosses? 

Why was MGM the richest, most important studio during the Golden Age? What was characteristic about the other studios? 

How long was the studio system in operation and why did it end with the Paramount Case of 1948? 

Why was the studio system a monopoly? What was good and bad about the studio system? 

What is McCarthyism and how did it hurt the movie industry? 

Be familiar with the terms: HUAC, the Hollywood 10, the Blacklist, naming names, friendly and unfriendly witnesses. 

Why did the studio bosses create the blacklist? 

How did the studio bosses testify and what happened to those who were uncooperative with HUAC? 

Test 4 Study Guide 

Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s: 

What happened to the moviegoing audiences in the 1950s? 

Be familiar with the reasons for the 80 percent decline in the moviegoing audience from 1946 to 1960. 

What impact did McCarthyism, the Paramount Case, TV and baby boomers have on movies during the 1950s? 

Why did the studios dismiss TV as a fad? 

Know how Walt Disney reacted to the advent of TV. 

How did the studios fight back with new technology in Cinerama and CinemaScope. Be familiar with theater gimmicks such as smell-a-vision, coward's corner, the tingler and 3-D. 

Know the top genres of the 1950s such as toga and sandal movies, musicals, westerns, pirate movies and science fiction. How did the science fiction movies of the 1950s differ from other eras. 

Why were drive-in movies such a big part of the 1950s? What contributions did drive-ins make in the history of movies? Why are drive-in movies on the decline? 

How did the movie studios lose touch with their audience during the 1960s? 

Which studios faced bankruptcy in the 1960s? 

How did the cultural revolution of the 1960s with hippies, civil rights, women's movement and the Vietnam War impact the movie studios? 

How did the directors assert control  in the 1960s? 

Why did directors focus on social issues in movies such as abortion, racism, nuclear war, political assassinations, drugs and alcoholism during the 1960s? 

Be familiar with some of the important movies of the decade including The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Bonnie and Clyde and In the Heat of the Night. 

Understand how the end of the production code made movies more violent and more sexual. 

Test 5 Study Guide

The 1970s and beyond: 

The CGI revolution begins and Hollywood is reborn. 

Studios discover the secret to prosperity: turn out dozens of mind-numbing sequels (also called popcorn movies--small on plot, big on action) full of CGI that kids love. 

Be familiar with key movies in the CGI revolution including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Forest Gump and The Terminator. 

Know the following terms: CGI, analog vs. digital, matte painting, storyboarding and previsualization. 

Be familiar with the career of the film-school generation directors: 
Steven Spielberg 
George Lucas 
Francis Ford Coppola 
Martin Scorsese 

What key movies did these directors make and how did they impact the movie industry? Why are they given some of the credit for revitalizing and saving the movie industry? 

How did George Lucas and Star Wars create the template for the franchise? 

Why did Lucas create his company ILM and what impact did ILM have on the CGI revolution? 

How did Pixar spin off from ILM and what has Pixar done over the last 20 plus years? 

Be familiar with the Spielberg--Lucas collaboration and how did it move the CGI revolution forward? 

How did Scorsese and Coppola move the gangster genre forward? 

How did Spielberg's success with JAWS create the template for today's blockbuster? 

What happened to key studios during the 1970s and beyond including MGM, Disney and Universal?