THEA 1023: Introduction to Film – HONORS!
TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.
Course Description
A look at the Art of Film – how it influences lives, and how lives influence the art. Students will view films
from many different genres, offer analysis, and gain an appreciation for the many collaborative crafts
involved in the filmmaking process. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Course Meeting Times and Location
Some M/R
Most T/R
5:00–7:00 p.m.
10:00–11:15 a.m.
Screenings
Class Seminar
LIB 201A
LIB 201A
Course Instructors
Kyle Bishop
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email:
BC 300G
MW 8:30–10:00 a.m. & R 3:00–4:00 p.m.
435-586-7804
bishopk@suu.edu
Peter Sham
Office:
Office Hours:
Telephone:
Email:
SH 203
MWF 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. & 3:00–4:00 p.m.
435-865-8676
sham@suu.edu
Course Learning Outcomes
Successful students will complete this course demonstrating competency in the following Film and Screen
Studies program learning outcomes. These outcomes will be reinforced through instruction, practice, and
formative assessment. Students’ efforts will be summatively assessed via a number of interrelated
assignments, quizzes, and projects, as indicated below.
Outcomes
Activities
Assessment
Identify, describe, and
compare the structural
features of film using mediumspecific critical language
Readings and seminars
Biji journals, quizzes and
in-class writing assignments,
and a written film review
Analyze cinematic texts and
narratives from various
cultures and historical periods
to recognize and value
different human perspectives
and experiences
Readings, screenings,
and seminars
Biji journals, in-class
writing assignments, and
a written film review
Produce a short film
Readings, screenings, seminars,
and film production process
Short film
Required Text
Barsam, Richard and Dave Monahan, eds. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. 4th ed. New York:
Norton, 2012. ISBN: 978-0393913026
Recommended Supplies
•
•
A binder or notebook with ruled paper for in-class writing and note taking
A jump drive for backing up all course work and materials
Course Expectations, Standards, and Policies
Attendance: Attendance is not required for this course; however, those wishing to get the most out of the
learning environment will come as often as possible. Material presented and experiences shared in class
will not be reproduced or repeated.
Class Decorum and Behavior: During class, students should listen attentively, engage respectfully in
discussions, and take notes. They are also expected to come to class prepared and to participate in all
in-class assignments and activities. Cell phones must be set to silent for the duration of class, and
students should not distract others with inappropriate behavior or electronic devices.
Late/Make-up Work: Late work will not be accepted, and make-up options will not be available. In
extenuating circumstances, exceptions may be made in advance and at the instructor’s discretion.
Content Disclaimer
Representative films have been carefully chosen based on their quality, not their MPAA rating. Students
may opt out of any assigned film screening, but no alternative will be provided.
Course Assignments
Seminar: [10% of course grade] All students will participate in weekly seminars, preparing for the class
discussion in advance and sharing comments respectfully in class. Additionally, each student will take a
turn leading a class seminar of about 30 minutes.
Biji Journals: [10% of course grade] Students will write weekly entries in a notebook or biji reflecting on
the material studied in the textbook and how it applies to the example films studied for class. Students will
assess their own journals at midterm and at the end of the semester, assigning themselves a letter grade
accompanied by a statement justifying that grade.
Quizzes and In-Class Writing Assignments: [30% of course grade] Every Tuesday, students will take a
10-question quiz on the reading assignment for that week. Occasionally, students will write in-class
assignments, responses, and scene analyses as the instructors deem necessary.
Film Review: [20% of course grade] Students will compose a 1000-word critical film review of a current
movie not already being studied by the class. These reviews should employ close reading, analysis, and
the application of the cinematic principles studied in the course. Students should consult example reviews
from Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Variety, or from reputable reviewers such as Leonard
Maltin and Roger Ebert. Students may hand multiple drafts of the review in for instructor feedback prior to
the final deadline.
Course Assignments (continued)
Short Film: [30% of course grade] To demonstrate their understanding of basic film principles, student
teams will create their own 3-5 minute short films. Teams will write their own screenplays (adaptations are
encouraged), storyboard a shot list, organize their own production team (actors, designers, etc.), shoot
the film, and edit the final cut. Films must then be published to YouTube and the link distributed to the
instructors and the rest of the class by 5 p.m. on the University Study Day. Films will be formally screened
as part of the “final exam” period, followed by an awards ceremony. Students will use team rubrics to
assess how they and their team members did during the production process (self-assessment: 20%;
average team assessment: 20%), and the instructors will use a different rubric to assess the final product
(60%; 30 from each instructor).
Grading Policy
Quizzes will be graded objectively; other assignments and course work will be self-assessed, graded via
rubrics, and/or carefully assessed subjectively by the course instructors and assigned assessment points.
At the end of the semester, grades will be averaged and weighted as indicated above, and students’ final
grades will be determined based on the table below:
PERCENTAGE
RANGE
93 to 100%
90 to 92%
GRADE
GPA
OBSERVATION
A
A-
4.0
3.67
Exceptional: Student has successfully demonstrated significantly advanced
achievement in, and understanding and application of, all course material.
They have performed well above expectations in attitude, effort, assignments,
preparation, participation, focus and progress.
87 to 89%
83 to 86%
80 to 82%
B+
B
B-
3.33
3.0
2.67
Above-average performance: Student has gone beyond expectations,
demonstrating extra competence in and application of course material.
Student has made extra effort in all assignments, preparations and lessons,
and shown above-average progress.
77 to 79%
73 to 76%
70 to 72%
C+
C
C-
2.33
2.0
1.67
Average performance: All work complete and on-time, adherence to policies,
no extra or remarkable effort.
67 to 69%
63 to 66%
60 to 62%
D+
D
D-
1.33
1.0
0.67
Below-average: has not demonstrated significant performance, understanding
or effort in course material. This is a failing grade for all majors.
59 and below
F
0
Poor to unacceptable performance: student has not met the minimum
requirements or effort for the course.
Fine Print
Academic Integrity Policy: Scholastic dishonesty is intolerable and will be prosecuted fully. Any student
caught deliberately plagiarizing work will immediately fail that assignment and possibly the entire course.
Students are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published
by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for
information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.
Fine Print (continued)
SANS: Professors and instructors at SUU care about student success; as a result, the faculty participate
in the Student Assessment Notification System (SANS), an early alert program designed to provide peer
mentor support and resources. Students struggling in this course will receive a notice of concern from
their instructor through SANS and should use the support resources offered them through this system.
Accommodation of Students with Disabilities: Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other
disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the
Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in Room 206F of
the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the
provision of services.
Sexual Harassment: This course will observe the university’s policy for avoiding sexual harassment.
However, because film imitates human behavior and because sexuality is a significant part of human
behavior, some materials in this course may deal with sexual behaviors, situations, stereotypes, and
language. People easily offended by such subject matter may want to reconsider taking this course.
Emergency Management: In case of emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS)
will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the
homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the
Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's
emergency management plan can be found at <http://www.suu.edu/ad/em/>.
HEOA Compliance: The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as
provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law. Detailed information can be found at
<http://www.suu.edu/it/p2p-student-notice.html>.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this syllabus—other than the grading, late assignments, makeup
work, and attendance policies—may be subject to change with advance notice.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1
Tuesday, January 7
Introduction to the course and discussion of syllabus
Personal introductions
Thursday, January 9
Discussion of learning outcomes and course assignments
Organization of production teams and assigning of basic roles (for example):
(1) Director, boom operator, sound designer, etc.
(2) Director of photography, cinematographer, camera operator, editor
(3) Screenwriter, story boarder, production designer, costumer
(4) Casting director, lighter, grip, etc.
Week 2
Monday, January 13
Screening of Juno in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, January 14
Looking at Movies Chapter 1: “Introduction”
Juno (2007)
Thursday, January 16
Student-lead seminars on Juno
Screening of The Godfather in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Week 3
Tuesday, January 21
LAM Chapter 2: “Principles of Film Form”
The Godfather (1972)
Thursday, January 23
Student-lead seminars on The Godfather
Week 4
Monday, January 27
Screening of Raising Arizona in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, January 28
LAM Chapter 3: “Types of Movies”
Raising Arizona (1987)
Thursday, January 30
Student-lead seminars on Raising Arizona
Week 5
Monday, February 3
Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, February 4
LAM Chapter 4: “Elements of Narrative”
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Thursday, February 6
Student-lead seminars on To Kill a Mockingbird
Tentative Schedule (continued)
Week 6
Monday, January 10
Screening of Citizen Kane in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, February 11
LAM Chapter 5: “Mise-en-scene”
Citizen Kane (1941)
Thursday, February 13
Student-lead seminars on Citizen Kane
Screening of Jaws in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Week 7
Tuesday, February 18
LAM Chapter 6: “Cinematography”
Jaws (1975)
Thursday, February 20
Student-lead seminars on Jaws
Week 8
Monday, February 24
Screening of Kramer vs. Kramer in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, February 25
LAM Chapter 7: “Acting”
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Thursday, February 27
Student-lead seminars on Kramer vs. Kramer
Week 9
Tuesday, March 4
Preproduction: Screenwriting/screenplay
Thursday, March 6
No Class: Work on screenplays in production groups
Spring Break
Week 10
Tuesday, March 18
Preproduction: Storyboarding, shot list, casting, location work, production design, rehearsal, etc.
Thursday, March 20
No Class: Work on preproduction efforts in production groups
Week 11
Monday, March 24
Screening of Psycho in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, March 25
LAM Chapter 8: “Editing”
Psycho (1960)
Tentative Schedule (continued)
Week 11 (continued)
Thursday, March 27
Student-lead seminars on Psycho
Week 12
Monday, March 31
Screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, April 1
LAM Chapter 9: “Sound”
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Thursday, April 3
Student-lead seminars on 2001: A Space Odyssey
Week 13
Monday, April 7
Screening of Singing in the Rain in LIB 201A at 5 p.m. (also available on library reserve)
Tuesday, April 8
No Class: The Festival of Excellence
Thursday, April 10
LAM Chapter 10: “Film History”
Singing in the Rain (1952)
Week 14
Monday, April 14
Screening of TBD film at Movies 8 (time TBD)
Tuesday, April 15
LAM Chapter 11: “Filmmaking Technologies and Production Systems”
Film TBD
Thursday, April 17
Film Reviews due on Canvas by 5 p.m.
Student-lead seminars on TBD film
Week 15
Tuesday, April 22
No Class: Work on production/postproduction in production groups
Thursday, April 24
No Class: Work on postproduction in production groups
Friday, April 25
Short Films posted to YouTube and links distributed by 5 pm.
Final Period
Thursday, May 1, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Public Screenings
Awards Ceremony!
What’s Expected of You!
TEAM
RUBRIC
1-Unacceptable
2-Needs
Improvement
3-Standard
Collaboration
Will not help,
ignores partners
Sometimes willing to
help partners
Shares work when
asked and listens to
partners
Creativity
Never thinks of
other ideas to solve
a problem
Occasionally has a
new idea, but little
follow through
Has new ideas but will
not share with others
Task/Focus
Consistently talking
to others in room,
rarely works on
task
Sometimes talks
about unrelated
subjects
Usually follows the
task and talks only to
partner
Preparedness
Never has supplies
or willing to find
proper place in task
Looks through to task
to find place and
sometimes borrows
supplies
Uses daily wrap-up to
find place in task
Skillfulness
Makes no effort to
learn new skills
Satisfies with
answering questions,
but no real
understanding
Has general idea of
task. Able to answer
specific questions.
4-Exemplary
Willingly explains
things to partner
and will use
partner’s ideas
Develops new
ideas or ways of
doing things.
Products exceed
requirements
Always follows the
steps of the task
and sometimes
goes beyond the
concepts
Arrives early for
class and
necessities for the
day's work are
ready
Has clear idea of
task and its
relationship to
technology and
education