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1.4 Overview Film Theory

(Due: Oct 3 Status: Not Completed)
Overview on the History of Film Theory
I just want to point out that because we’re linking to and thus reading scripts off of different websites, you might notice various formatting discrepancies in the assortment of scripts. Please ignore these, as we can’t control the formatting of the scripts posted.
1. Watch SAC_CO Video (Welcome Video) under the Assets, if you haven't already watched it in instruction 1.1
2. Watch Keynote 1.4.3 Keynote QT (Course Overview) under the Assets.
3. Read Bordwell’s Studying Cinema.
4. Consider the following questions as you read the overview:
a. What questions do film theorists hope to answer?
b. Why might it be important for screenwriters to be able to know film theory?
c. What do you look at when you analyze film – what are the components you study to answer for yourself the question of whether a film succeeds or not?
5. Read The Sweet Hereafter script. This film was made in 1997 by the director Atom Egoyan.
6. Consider the following as you read:
a. How does Atom play with time in his script?
b. How did the linearity or non-linearity add to the dramatic structure of the script?
c. What does Mitchell Stevens want and what does he need? What is he really trying to accomplish internally and externally by representing these people?
7. Read The Princess Bride script. A 1987 film by Rob Reiner. This screenplay was voted by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time. It is also on AFI’s top film list.
8. Consider the following:
a. What elements of the classic fairytale genre does Goldman reappropriate to make this script a parody of that genre?
b. Westley wants to rescue his love. But what does he need (what is his internal need)?
c. What were the main obstacles standing between Wesley rescuing Buttercup?
d. Identify the two main plot points that send the script off in a new direction?
9. Now read Roger Ebert’s review of The Princess Bride script.
a. What did you learn about the meaning of the film from reading this review?
10. Read Taxi Driver script. Taxi Driver is a Martin Scorsesse film made in 1976. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and received the Palme d’Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. It’s on several one hundred best films of all time lists; including Time Magazine's and the AFI’s "Top 100 List".
11. Consider the following:
a. What is the theme of this movie?
b. In what way is the protagonist an antihero and how did you find yourself relating to him – were there times you related to him?
c. Why was each of the secondary characters (Betsy, Iris and Sport) important in the story and how do they illuminate things about Travis?
12. Now read Roger Ebert’s review of the Taxi Driver script.

a. What did you learn about the meaning of the film from reading this review?

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