FILM CLUB LEARNING THROUGH FILM WHY FILM CLUB

FILM CLUB LEARNING THROUGH FILM

WHY FILM CLUB? • A CONCERN THAT MOVIES ARE TOO MONEY DRIVEN AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DIVERSITY (SUPER HEROES EXTRAVAGANZA) AGREE? PARENT? • NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS A STRANGE KID. I DIDN’T SLEEP WELL AND I STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL. I LOVED TO READ, I LOVED TV AND I LOVED MOVIES, MATH, NOT SO MUCH… • MY PARENTS COULD OFTEN BE HEARD SAYING: “WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE STRANGE BOY? ”…SO INSTEAD OF GETTING MAD AT ME FOR WATCHING TOO MUCH TV OR ALWAYS GOING TO THE MOVIES THEY ENCOURAGED IT…BUT I HAD TO LEARN FROM THE MOVIES AND TALK ABOUT THE SHOWS I WATCHED. . MY REWARD, THEY’D LET ME WATCH A MOVIE THEY LIKED, “GONE WITH THE WIND” WAS A FAVOURITE.

HOW IT HELPED • THE MOVIES HELPED ME LEARN ABOUT THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE BACK TO THE FUTURE. THERE ARE MOVIES ABOUT EVERY SUBJECT, MATH (A BEAUTIFUL MIND), SCIENCE (CONTACT), PHYS ED (REMEMBER THE TITANS), ART (VINCENT AND THEO) ETC. . WATCHING MOVIES THAT WERE SMART, MADE WE FEEL SMART. I STARTED READING BOOKS THE FILM WRE BASED ON AS WELL, LONG BOOKS, LONESOME DOVE, GONE WITH THE WIND! TALKING ABOUT WHAT I WATCHED HELPED ME FORM AN OPINION, HELPED ME RELAX, HELPED ME FEEL LIKE I COULD LEARN BIG IDEAS. IF I COULD SIT THROUGH A COMPLICATED LONG MOVIE LIKE “ 2001 A SPACE ODYSEA” MAYBE I COULD TACKLE ALGEBRA. LATER I LEARNED YOU COULD ACTUALLY GO TO UNIVERSITY AND STUDY FILM, I DID, THEN I GOT INTO TEACHERS COLLEGE, THEN I GOT TO TEACH GREAT KIDS (YOU KNOW, LIKE JACK WELLBANKS!. . HI JACK!

VISUAL CUE SO YOU’RE NOT TOO BORED

Whatdya mean I can go to school for this? ! • http: //www. queensu. ca/filmandmedia/home • Although my degree focused on the literary side you can go to school to be a filmmaker as well. The guy that directed ghostbusters, yep, he went to Mc. Master University, two hours from here…Slimer, reminds me of Mr. Coleman eating lunch in the staff room.

The Truman Show • https: //www. rottentomatoes. com/m/truman_show • Released in 1998, this was the first dramatic role of Jim Carey’s carear (I think it’s his best performance). The film was a financial and critical success (not that it matters, make up your own mind). The movie won a best supporting actor nomination for Ed Harris.

After the Film What point (s) is the film trying to make about the world we live in? Is the film a comedy or a drama? -Text to self, text to world, text to text can include films too. Does anyone think Truman should NOT leave? Why? Is Kristof a villan in this movie? Why/Why not? This film is almost 20 years old, does it still hold up? Justify? -Technical aspects: Use of extras (bus crash scene), Musical Score, (final scene). What is the best acted scene? . . . Let’s watch it. -Is the trailer effective (let’s go back and watch it). What makes it so good? -Did you like it (This scene I really liked because it flipped the idea of narrative on its head, I like when movies earn their surprises. Or not like it (scene I didn’t like because we lose Truman and see Jim Carrey, takes me out of the movie. . also, would like more evidence of him discovering the secret). Connections to real world? Connections in literacy Questions about the assignment?

If you liked this film. . • Ed. Tv (1999), A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed for a tv show. Do you have any recommendations for me? (expand text to text). • http: //www. rogerebert. com/reviews/the-truman-show-1998 • Great Movies: http: //www. rogerebert. com/great-movies • I word about ratings and age (Make sure you’re the right age before you see a film, Network). Don’t learn too much about a film before you go to see it. • https: //padlet. com/griffins 1/filmclub • Next Month. . Field of Dreams: A Halloween ghost story, sort of. . • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ut 06 d 4 dpt. Wo

Field of Dreams and Truman Follow-up • Any further thoughts on The Truman Show: Show/read student work allow for discussion. • Essay requirements: How can we make it easier? Remember, a little bit of summary (Avery) a lot of opinion and evidence. • I had one…do the ads need to give away a films secrets before you go see it. This film doesn’t reveal itself until the 1 hr. mark, was anyone surprised? How much do kids need to see to buy a ticket? Ironic, in an age where we need to know everything, how much does this matter to you? • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c 3 g. I 9 ms 8 Fdc • Why it was selected: FOD was selected because it was a very unique film for its time (for any time really). The narrative is fantasy rooted in reality which is very rare for films today. I also love that it is a ghost story (sort of).

After the film • Did we understand the film? . . I love the beg and end • Is the film too corny for you? . . Too boring. . Explain yourselves!!!! • Text to Text; I would always talk about how “Number the Stars”/”Of Mice and Men” are great books because they do not have perfect endings (they’re realistic), this, in my opinion, does. Which movies deserve happy/sad endings? • Choose a scene in which you liked/disliked the acting. . let’s examine it in the name of evidence. • I would argue that the Truman Show is full of social meaning, Field of Dreams is pure entertainment to me. . Is there a message? . . Does a film need one? Can a movie be bad that is noble, Can a silly comedy be a great movie but have no message…Defend, Defend!!! • https: //www. rottentomatoes. com/m/field_of_dreams/

Life is Beautiful Discussion points • Italy joined with Germany during World War 2 because they had an egotistical dictator named Benito Mussolini. B. M. believed that Italy should be the Roman Empire again and that Hitler was the only man with the vision to make that happen. Hitler believed that Fascism (one dictator with lots of power) should return. He also believed that the Jewish people were pure evil. He blamed them for poverty and considered them less than rodents. His “final solution” was to have Jews, harassed, rounded up and put in concentration camps where the healthy would be enslaved and those too old, young or weak to help their cause would be executed. Gas chambers, mass shootings and ovens were used in an attempt to eliminate the race. In all, approx. 6, 000. Jewish people were killed during the greatest human tragedy of all time. . discuss… • https: //furtherglory. wordpress. com/2011/09/06/dying-victims-scratchedthe-walls-of-the-auschwitz-gas-chamber-with-their-fingernails/

Holocaust

Life is Beautiful > Italy actually has the distinction of being on both sides during the war. The allies quickly overtook the outdated Italian army in 1943 and controlled much of Italy to the delight of the mostly oppressed Italian people. Mussolini (who was put in charge of a small part of Italy by Hitler after the invasion) was executed in 1945 by Italian freedom fighters. His body was put on display in the centre of town. • Made in 1998, Life is Beautiful opened to critical praise and some controversy. Although many agreed that the film had good intentions, some argued that the holocaust was not the proper setting for a romantic comedy. Also, some argued that the star of the film, Roberto Benigni was the wrong person to make the film as he was a gentile…Discuss

Discussion points • Can a film belong to more than one genre? • Score: This is a film where the score plays a major role. Pay attention to this technical aspect of the film as you watch it. I believe it’s a teaching tool for students regarding the notion of film involving a multitude of components.

After LIB Roberto Benigni wins the Oscar: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 c. TR 6 fk 8 frs Why is it called “Life is Beautiful”. . Infer from the title. Did you like the film…Why? ? !!!!! Or why not? Should this topic be fair game for a comedy? . . . Is it a comedy? Let’s listen to the score (Play preview). . is it effective? , Is the ad effective? Beautiful example of condensing time and cinematography (Garden scene). This is a foreign film, should we seek out more foreign films? Why/Why not? • Other films/books: Schindler’s List, Hannah’s Suitcase, Devils Arithmetic. • •

Looking ahead: • Schindler’s List trailer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=M 5 Fp. B 6 q. DGAE • LIB rotten tomatoes • https: //www. rottentomatoes. com/m/1084398 -life_is_beautiful/ • Controversial review. . Agree or Disagree?

Contact • “It’s a Wonderful Life” follow up: Thoughts, opinions, observations. Do you think having classic films at theatre is a good idea? Was the black and white an issue? Are there times when Black and White serves the story (talk about cinematography). • Theme of Dreams, going after your dreams, regret…How does this movie compare with Field of Dreams? , Truman Show? , Life is Beautiful • Finding connections is a way of seeing common elements and thinking on a deeper level. • How much do you think about the movie afterwards

Contact • https: //www. rottentomatoes. com/m/1078021 -contact/ • Why contact: The film asks us to explore issues involving a battle between faith and science. . More specifically, do you have to believe in one and not the other? Not many films explore this subject material in a mainstream release. . I believe this film does so in an intelligent manner…Do you seek intelligence in a film? (Jack going to see Passengers, why? ). . Does a film have any obligation to be intelligent, even a comedy? Do you think this changes as you get older? This film is also of the science fiction genre: What do you guys think of science fiction?

After the film: • Did you like it? Why/Why not? • Use of special effects: President at the time having a press conference? Distraction…Special effects at the service of the story • Any connection between this and the other films (chasing your dreams despite doubt). • Selling a film with a strong female lead? Highly influential (Box office mojo.

If you liked this… • Star Wars • Star Trek • 2001 A Space Odyssee • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=XHj. Iq. QBs. Pjk

Contact Follow-Up • Jack’s Assignment was awesome. Let’s take a look. Did you like the film? Did you have any lingering thoughts about the movie? • I love the dialogue in the film AND I think the special effects hold up. Perhaps too wordy/preachy but I still think the acting was excellent: Jody Foster in particular: show clip. . • I’d like a more concerted effort to complete the assignments, it will benefit your report card. • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=3 de. NVM 3 EWIc

Wall-e • Why: I was working at St. Peter and I had a movie night, I knew nothing about it but the kids voted for it. I was disappointed because it was a cartoon. I wasn’t in to cartoons. Then I saw this: It not only made me appreciate animation but made me realize the power of silence in film. This is a silent movie. When I was thinking for the list of these films I chose Wall-e because it’s a great example of animation, It’s a great silent movie, and…it’s a February love story. • Silent Film: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=EEDMO 8 iw. Ls. M • Chaplin: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q. Auh. Iy. E 93 Mg

Follow-up • Sheridan college story: • https: //www. sheridancollege. ca/life-at-sheridan/sheridanstories/drawing-on-desire. aspx • How many of you are interested in a carear in animation? • What’d you think? Is it a good love story? A good cartoon? What did you think of the silence? What does this film say about our environment? Did you like the first part or the second part better?

Recommend • If you like this film, I would also suggest: Snow White, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, etc. . • What is the future of film? Computer created? You tell me. . What do you recommend? • Wall-e follow-up: Did anyone look at a silent film? . Were there any lingering thoughts, feelings, opinions from the film? . . One of our questions was, why is this not a popular film: People who were not here? . . .

Remember The Titans • Unfortunately, American history involves slavery, a civil war, civil rights, segregation and racism. It has led, with varying degrees of success, to solutions that include; affirmative action, de-segregation, reperations etc. . If you are shocked and saddened by some events in this film, please keep in mind that The U. S. had half their nation fight a war TO KEEP slavery. My dad, my experience in Charleston (the importance of football to the south). • Brown vs. Board of Education was the Supreme Court ruling that made segregation unconstitutional and thus illegal. • https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Brown_v. _Board_of_Education#/media/File: Educa tional_separation_in_the_US_prior_to_Brown_Map. svg • https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Brown_v. _Board_of_Education • Although the decision occurred in 1954, some states resisted or refused, some states cited state laws to refrain and some needed to figure out the logistics. . few did so immediately. African American schools were often shabby and far away.

History through Film • Film can be a gateway into loving history, the film Glory changed me. • Amistad and Roots: Stories involving slave revolts aboard ships where conditions were frequently horrible…roots clip • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w. RKOIphn. HXk • Civil War: Gone with the Wind and Glory • Mammy: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=FZ 7 r 2 OVu 1 ss • Glory: Robert Gould Shaw and 1 st black regiment of the Civil War • Lincoln: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-e. EMit 4 pljs • Ken Burns The Civil War. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q. Xw. CWt. MXc 94

History Cont. . • Civil Rights films: • Selma, Malcom X, Mississippi Burning, Forrest Gump. • Malcom X: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=c. T 1 j. LY 20 t. Lo • Mississippi Burning: • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=SUtl. Jwf. NEt. I • Selma trailer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x 6 t 7 v. VTxaic • Glory trailer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 Xu. UGD 7 aa 3 E

After The Film: Politics • Obama electoral college. http: //www. b 12 partners. net/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2012/11/Actual-Electoral-College-Results-2012. png • Trump-Clinton • http: //www. 270 towin. com/maps/2016 -actual-electoral-map • Racial divide is a huge factor in American Life…questions? • Diversity in film, a huge controversy now, recent academy awards discussion?

After the film • This is one of those movies I think you should talk about after it’s done. What did you think about the treatment of Washington’s character throughout the film? Did you like the film? One complaint I have about the film is that it is too simplistic for such a grim, complex subject. Can we make a comparison here between Life is Beautiful and Schindler’s List? , My niece is currently doing her culminating task in English, she has to create a comparison essay between TWO works by the same author. (Animal Farm and 1984) this is where film club can help. . As an elementary school teacher it is helpful that I can show a film that has limited swearing and violence but I encourage you to watch more challenging films as you get older. Malcom X is highly recommended.

A few suggestions • DVD versus streaming. One benefit to DVD is bonus footage (documentary about the real life coaches) • We can also connect this to sports movies. How does this film compare to Field of Dreams? Other recommended sports movies; • Hoosiers, Mc. Farlane, Miracle, Rocky… • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=x. B 1 M 9 iv 3 LOE

The next film: • The next film is not fictional, it is a difficult, unflinching documentary about the mistreatment of Aboriginal people. As developers attempt to build condominiums on ancient burial grounds, a protest becomes very intense… this is the least known title on our syllabus and therefore I think it is imperative that people come to see it. Our growth as filmgoers is built on stuff like this. • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Lt. PNq. Lt. R 4 BI

Casablanca • The film from out of nowhere: • The film was based on a play that was never brought to the stage. The director and screenwriters quit and when it opened it was not considered great. • Why: Some people say it was bc attitudes about the war were changing, some people say it was because people just loved Humphrey Bogart, I say it’s just a really cool film with great lines, “Here’s looking at you kid” “Round up the usual suspects” “I stick my neck out for nobody”

I stick my neck out for nobody • As of 1942, the USA had not entered the war. They wanted to remain neutral and let Europe sort it out. This film represented a growing sentiment that this was the wrong thing to do. You stick your neck out for your friends became the argument of many Americans. Casablanca is an actual city, located in Morocco. The French did own it but then were forced to give up control of it when they surrendered to the Nazis in June of 1940. Because it was such a remote city in the middle east, Casablanca also became a place where the Nazi reach could not find them and thus many were either put in limbo waiting there or went there trying to escape.

The Resistance/The Underground. • The film is also about the idea of resistance and revolution. The French resistance was a covert operation in which writers, journalists, activists and politicians attacked the Nazis in secrets by revealing the truth about the horrors they were committing. Rick is seeing as America in this film…why?

Famous scenes of discussion • Elsa (Ingmar Bergman) and the most famous entrance in film history. • Show, discuss camera angles. “As time goes by” an early example of a movie making a song famous. (Titanic). The idea of a shifting timeline, (earlier made famous in the great film, Citizen Kane). Influences: Citizen Kane • Trailer: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 dxh 3 lwd. OFw • The Third Man • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=F-QWLAnd. D 1 E

Gone With The Wind • Based on Margaret Mitchel’s famous book, “Gone With the Wind” was to be the most expensive and expansive motion picture ever made. Produced by David O’Selznick (the James Cameron of his day). It was to be grand, technicolour (a new art form) spectacle. The lead actor was not in doubt. Clark Gable was the biggest star of the day and was certain to play Rhett Butler. The lead actress was the focus of a nation wide talent search that turned up no one. Finally, the girlfriend of an actor visiting the set was noticed by O’Selznick and Vivien Leigh was cast. . (A star was born). Despite the perfect casting, the film was so grand that it encountered several problems and had three directors before Victor Flemming finished the film.

Gone With the Wind • The film was a huge success and was considered one of the greatest American movies ever made. . It won several Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best actress and best supporting actress (Hattie Mc. Daniel, the first African American to win such an award) • Although still beloved today, GWTW, is more controversial today. Although once considered a triumph of the feminist movement with a strong, independent leading lady, women today consider her character too reliant on the affections and attention of men…Also, recent screenings have been banned b/c they consider the film a compliment to the south and an insult to African Americans…so…

Your Opinion • Did you like the film? Why/Why not? • Does the film discriminate against women? • Is it important to recognize the prejudices of the past when judging a film or should we be forgiving of material from the past due to the context of the times? • How does this film deal with the issue of racism? • What did you think of the technical features of the film? The score, the cinematography, the special effects. • Is there anything in the film you didn’t understand?

If you liked this film… • Civil War Movies • Glory, Ken Burns Civil War documentary. • Epic Films: Titanic, Avatar, The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur

Up Next… • “My Fair Lady” a musical based on the famous book, Pygmalion, about a young flower girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is made into an upper class princess by a snooty professor as part of a bet. Will they fall in love? . . . • Best picture winner, MFL is another epic film with legendary lead performances. Audrey Hepburn does not sing her own songs but she was more famous than the stage actress who originated the part (Julie Andrews) and was given the part, Julie Andrews starred in another movie that year instead…Marry Poppins. Also starring Rex Harrison who hated singing, hated actors (they never stopped acting) but still gives one of the most famous performances in film history.

MFL Trailer • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ez. Auf. G 9 z. FSk