FILM 1  
INTRODUCTION TO FILM STUDIES (#5351)

Reedley College – Spring 2011
Ryan LaSalle – 8:00-9:15 am –  TTH   FRM 1
Contacts: ryan.lasalle@reedleycollege.edu   559-638-3641 (ext. 3125)
Office: Annex 2   Office hours: TBA    Final: Thursday, May 19, 8-9:50 am
    
For the love of film...

There is a difference between the casual movie going experience and taking a class in film studies. The “studies” denotes a certain level of examination and rigor that elevates “seeing a movie” to experiencing and understanding film on a completely different level. This class aims to expose students to a wide range of films in order to better understand techniques in direction, cinematography, sound, editing, and lighting. We will view and examine entire films (as well as scenes) in order to better understand historical and social context and genre development. 

Upon successfully completing this class, a student should be able to observe and analyze various elements of a film, critique films through discussion and writing with regard to social and historical context, and demonstrate a basic knowledge and application of various film theories.

Be prepared to:

Come to class. Watch films. Stay awake. Take notes. Ask questions. Do research. Write papers. Take tests. Show interest (even if you have to fake it). Think critically. Participate in discussions.

Always have your:   *notebook    *writing instrument 

Textbooks: Anatomy of Film, 6th edition, Bernard F. Dick

Policies:  3 absences allowed without penalty. Subsequent absences result in a loss of participation points. Absences totaling more than two weeks (four classes) within the first 9 weeks of class may cause the student to be dropped from the class. Late work will be accepted for partial credit with instructor’s approval (5% deduction for each class day late). Note: this does not apply to the final project and its components or the final test. If a test is not taken on the date of the test, a make-up test may be arranged at the discretion of the instructor and may be subject to a late penalty.

Tardiness should be avoided but in the rare event of coming to class late, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure the roll has been updated. In the event of plagiarism (see Schedule of Courses for more information) the student will fail the assignment or the class at the discretion of the instructor (depending on the nature and severity of the offense).

Grading:  Grading will be based on a point system. 
90%A 80%B 70%C 60%D 50%F (of total points available in class)	
(1-2)    1. Response essay (in class)			     5
(1)       2. Midterm essay 			                  10 
(1)       3. Final essay		 		                  25
             (4-6)    4. Quizzes/tests					     5-20		 
                         5. Participation                                                          5		

Final drop date: March 11, 2011
*instructor reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus as deemed necessary or appropriate.
*Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including alternate media requests, please notify me immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.