Blackboard Jungle in-class question

In what ways was the 1955 movie Blackboard Jungle ahead of its time in its attitudes about race and stereotyping? Cite specific scenes or moments from the movie that showed or implied its attitudes about race and stereotyping.

New extra credit

"Crash," the Academy Award winner for best picture of 2004, explored racial tensions in our society, particularly those involving the police. As you know there have been a number of racially-charged incidents involving the police this summer. For extra credit, watch "Crash" and explain in a few paragraphs if the movie accurately captures the "real-life" tensions that are going on today involving the police and race or if you think the movie does not do a good job depicting this very controversial issue.

Whiplash homework

Instructions: Send me your answer to the question below in an email to ralphnichols58@gmail.com before 6 p.m. today. I only need a few sentences to answer the question. You do not need a long answer but make sure it's in your own words.

Question: How did you feel about the jazz band instructor Fletcher in the movie "Whiplash" and why did you feel that way about him?

Summer 2016 extra credit--more to come

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

Walt Disney predicts the future of media

In 1957, Walt Disney laid out what was then an astonishing plan for an entertainment ecosystem: Animated movies would fuel theme park attractions, which in turn would power merchandise sales, which would create interest in more movies. Today, with “Frozen,” the plan has evolved further.