Film Studies Course Syllabus
Ms. Amy McGrath
amy_mcgrath@dpsk12.org
720-424-1800
mcgfilmstudies@gmail.com : email address for assignment submission
Welcome to Film Studies! Over the course of the next two semesters, we will view, discuss and write about almost 40
movies! Film is possibly the most culturally relevant of all modern art mediums. It is also an important synthesis of
ALL art forms. Film Studies will help give you a basic understanding of the history of the cinema, major genres, and
basic elements of filmmaking. We will be considering symbol, archetype, perspective, and structure- as well as many
other tools that filmmakers use to create meaning. You will be researching and writing about all of the films that you
see. Thinking and writing critically about film is one of the key aspects of the course- you will be doing a substantial
amount of writing.
Course expectations:
-We will watch, in class, one movie per week. One day of class will be spent in discussion, lecture, research and
writing.
-You may want to keep a notebook or journal handy to jot down notes and reflections about the films we watch, as
you will need to be able to recall details when you write your reflections. Obviously, though you will use computers to
write and submit work, NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES will be permitted for use during screening time.
- You will create a journal reflection for every film you see.
-Once a month you will write a 2-3 page review about a film of your choice.
-You will have film vocabulary/concepts tests.
-Second semester, you will write one major paper (5-8pages). I will give you more details about this assignment later
in the year.
- Eventually, you will research and present to the class a film- including background information, a shot-by-shot
analysis, and the preparation of discussion questions.
It’s such a privilege to teach film studies at DSA! We’re going to have a great time, but it will require a considerable
commitment on your part. It will be worth it, I promise!
Course Materials:
Corrigan, Timothy. A Short Guide to Writing About Film, 5th Edition. Pearson Longman, 2004.
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I would strongly recommend a Netflix subscription to Film Studies students. This will give you access to films
to review, as well as access to any film you might miss viewing in class.
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Important Film Studies documents can be found in the “Documents” page of the Video Cinema Arts website.
http://dsapresents.org/vcadept/
Attendance/Grading policies
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Be on time. After your first few warnings, you’ll be spending lunch periods working in my room, which is, like,
completely humiliating .
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Student work for this course will be submitted by email. If this presents a problem for you, please contact me
immediately so we can work out a plan. All student work for this course should be submitted to
mcgfilmstudies@gmail.com Work can be submitted as a google doc, or as .pdf or .doc (word) files. If you are
utilizing any other word processing software, please beware- I will not be able to open your work! Please
indicate what assignment you are submitting in the subject line of your email.
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Show up for class. Missing a lot of class will be really tough in Film Studies because you’ll miss watching the
films, which puts you behind in your journals and discussion questions. I can’t lend out my dvd copies of the
films- so if you miss a movie, you’ll have to find it yourself or come watch it in my classroom during your
lunch or free periods. Finally, I don’t accept makeup work from unexcused absences. Unexcused absences
will be referred to the student advisor.
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Get your work turned in, on time. Work will be counted as on time if the email you send me is time/date
stamped by 9 am on the day it is due. Late work in film studies can be turned in for 50% credit which means
you will always receive a failing grade on anything not turned in on time. This will become especially
important on your journals, which are high-points grades. You will have ONE grace journal entry per
semester- use it wisely! Makeup work from excused absences must be completed promptly. It is YOUR
responsibility to find out what work you missed if you were absent. If you need help or more time on an
assignment, please contact me in person or via email at least 24 hours in advance of its due date.
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Points are cumulative throughout the semester. Grades will be updated in IC bi-weekly.
If you ever need more time or help on anything, please contact me. I’m actually really nice. Just don’t come see me
about why you don’t have your assignment that’s due that day… I won’t as nice. The best way to reach me outside of
class is by email, which I check regularly- amy_mcgrath@dpsk12.org
Class Norms:
Be respectful. Film Studies is a privilege reserved for DSA Juniors and Seniors. I have based this course on college level
Film courses with the expectation that you can handle the workload and the benefits. This is the only class at DSA
where you get to watch lots of amazing movies- and some of them have pretty adult themes. I expect you to be
respectful and take the course seriously, which doesn’t mean that we won’t have any fun- we definitely will. It is also
essential that you earnestly contribute to class discussion and ask intelligent, important questions.
And a little pet peeve –please use the bathroom before you come to class. I do not like people leaving the classroom
mid-film; I find it highly distracting. So, if you can at all help it, utilize the facilities before or after class.
"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder."
Alfred Hitchcock.