I Movie

Seasons

The Montage

Introduction: To begin the lesson, I would have students talk about what they know about montages. Depending on the responses, I would work them towards a definition that borders on being a bunch of short shots or clips put together in short amount of time to show a passage of time.

Show Clip: Rocky 

Background of the clip: This montage explicitly shows Rocky's training. Underlying the training going on, some would say that this is demonstrating "the American Dream" of coming from nothing and making it to the top. How does the film show this?

Questions

The clip starts with Rocky standing in a run-down industrial setting, with the a tracking view. The camera is moving along in front of Rocky but then stops and watches him runaway from the setting. What does this switch say to you? (He is leaving that place behind him and going to a better life, etc)

As he is running through the residential area, there is a constant dolly shot with the camera always in front of Rocky. Similar to question one, this shows that he is leaving the life he had to move up. However, is there anything going on in the background to suggest that he will always be apart of this lower class? (People turning to watch him run, the man giving him a piece of fruit, etc)


During the training session in the gym, there are others speaking to him. And although these men are helping Rocky, what are some clues to show that he is doing this for himself and on his own? (He doesn't make eye contact, he doesn't talk, their voices aren't heard, when doing sit-ups {forced  eye to eye contact} he keeps his eyes closed, etc)

When he finally does make eye contact with his trainer, what is it that shows he is in control? (His position on the right, fades to the left then back immediately, etc)

At the end of the clip, how do we know that Rocky is at his pinnacle shape? (He is at the top of the stairs, he is overlooking the city, the camera is angled upwards showing his superiority)

Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso

I feel that the overall cinematic quality of this clip from the film Cinema Paradiso clearing illustrates the pain/joy of young romance. The clip starts out with Salvatore in a dark street gazing up at the brightly lit window of his heart's desire. Camera angles upwards towards the window to show that he desires her and what she symbolizes. The music chosen underlines the romantic nature of the scene, while the changing weather and cut-ins of the calendar show that time is passing. The juxtaposition of the New Year's countdown compared to the excitement building on Salvatore's face demonstrates the rise before the fall of young love. His walking away from the camera shows that he is giving up on it. While he is in the backroom at the theatre, ripping the calendar apart, the camera is sneaking behind the frame created by the equipment. This is to show that he is not completely over his heart ache and the camera is gaining access to this secret by remaining in the background.



For some reason or another, I can only get the editable hyperlink. When I try clicking on the view only link, all my annotations disappear.

First Vlog

Joe's First Vlog

Sample Vlog Post Critique

Let the Jelly Roll

I chose this vlog of a husband and wife team baking a jelly roll. I liked the simplicity of this vlog and overall the message of cooking is a learning experience. They follow a recipe but still make mistakes and learn from them. This illustrates the intended audience in that it is not for expert cooks, but amateurs who enjoy easy, simple recipes. This far from pristine video does not have very extensive visual rhetoric. It uses simple fading out or cut outs, and then moves forward in time. Occasional zooming in is used to show a closer look at the food and process of baking it, which is ideal for the audience. The audience desires to see how to make the food, simply. They are not watching to be wowed by special effects or the celebrity of the cooks.