FST 210 - Moviemakers and Scholars
SPRING 2013, Tuesdays, 1-3:45PM
Lumina Theater – Fisher Student Center
Heath Franklin
franklinh@uncw.edu
Course Description:
Moviemakers and Scholars examines the many facets and variety of perspectives on
film from professional filmmakers and academic scholars. The course features a
series of local and nationally prominent speakers, including writers, directors,
producers, editors, actors, production and sound designers, and other film
professionals. Academic scholars from UNCW’s Film Studies Department and other
nationally prominent film studies professors make presentations about their critical
work, research interests, and other topics of film interpretation. Lectures and
presentations include screenings of selected films or clips, as well as a variety of
examples of film form and function including narrative, documentary, experimental,
animated and abstract or avant-garde films from around the world. A series of
readings prepare students to get the most out of these presentations.
Requirements:
Enrollment in this course is heavy. Therefore we must follow several basic
guidelines in order to give our speakers a chance to share their experiences and give
your peers the opportunity to digest the lectures. This means that the use of all
electronic devices is prohibited at all times. Please do not talk with your
neighbor. Please be punctual and sit as far forward as seating is available.
Due to speakers’ scheduling and the possibility of changes, you must be ready for
changes to our calendar. Exam dates can shift at any time, without notice. I will do
my best to keep this from happening, but other peoples’ schedules are beyond my
control.
I will attempt to keep a current schedule at the following website:
http://www.uncw.edu/filmstudies/events/moviemakers.html
Please refer to this website often to stay current with schedule changes, grades and
reading assignments.
Readings:
The Courage to Create, Rollo May
Making Movies, Sidney Lumet
Screenplay, Syd Field
What a Producer Does, Houghton
Attendance:
Attendance in all classes is mandatory and necessary to achieve the goals of this
course. Due to the nature of the course and its weekly presenters, it will be difficult
at best to miss even one class and perform satisfactory on exams. All absences are
considered un-excused unless previous arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No exceptions. You will be given one unexcused absence without
penalty. An additional absence will result in failure of the course. Attendance will
be taken at the beginning or the end of each class.
Grading:
Exam 1 – 30% (Feb. 12th)
Exam 2 – 30% (March 26th)
Final Exam – 40% (April 30th)
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 59 and below
Exams:
Exams will cover assigned reading as well as material derived from the weekly
speakers. Please take detailed notes during each lecture, as this will compromise
the bulk of each exam’s material. Exams will be either multiple choice or true/false
with a short writing component.
Office Hours:
I do not keep standard office hours as I am only on campus one time per week. I will
attempt to be at least 15 minutes early for each class and will be available after class
for your questions or concerns. If you have questions that cannot be answered
during this time then please email me. You are responsible for the material so
please do not ask me how to find out what happened in a class you missed.
Student Learning Objectives:
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Through assigned readings, short writings, lectures, screenings, and
presentations, students develop a familiarity with film history, film
scholarship, film language, conventions, and the filmmaking process.
Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze, appreciate, and
make cogent subjective judgments about the many roles and variety of
opportunities available in the business and scholarship of film.
Through exams, students will demonstrate an understanding of the preproduction, production and post-production process.
UNCW Academic Expectations: “In choosing UNCW, you have become part of our
community of scholars. We recognize that the UNCW learning experience is
challenging and requires hard work. It also requires a commitment to make time
available to do that hard work. The University expects you to make academics your
highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and
acquiring knowledge. Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving
prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our
faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this
effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.”
The Academic Honor Code: All members of UNCW’s community are expected to
follow the Academic Honor Code, listed in the Student Handbook. Academic
dishonesty, in any form, such as plagiarism, is not tolerated at this university. See
website: http://www.uncw.edu/policies/03-100-academichonorcode.htm
Policy on Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism: The University has established a
Code of Student Life to define academic misconduct. Students who violate this code
by cheating, (such as unauthorized assistance or collaboration), or by committing
plagiarism (not crediting sources or referencing works, misrepresenting others’
work or ideas your own, copying directly from texts or online sources, etc), will be
reported to the Dean of Students for academic discipline.
Campus Respect Compact: The Respect Compact has been instituted at this
university to affirm our commitment to a civil community, characterized by mutual
respect. See the website:
http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/pdc/documents/SeahawkRespectCompact.pdf