Ms.

Hansen Film Appreciation

Phone: 826-3261 x1032 Fall/Spring
Email:[email protected] Period: _____
[email protected] Room 9

Course Syllabus

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome to Film Appreciation! This class will introduce students to the film industry and history of
cinema through the study of classic and contemporary films. Emphasis will be placed on exposing
the class to a wide variety of styles and genres as well as formulating and justifying criticisms of the
works. Participation in class discussions, journal responses and written analyses will be
requirements for successful completion of the course.

COURSE GOAL
Students will gain a deeper understanding of the world of film and be able to review and analyze
various film style and genres.

SUPPLIES
● A pen or pencil every class for note-taking and journal response.
● A notebook will be supplied to you and kept in the classroom to be used each time we meet.
● Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Public Library Card or any other instant video streaming
device is not required but may be useful for makeup screenings or further film exploration.
○ If you miss a screening it is YOUR responsibility to watch that part of the film on
YOUR time.

ATTENDANCE/TARDY POLICY
Attendance is extremely important in this class. You must be on time and prepared when the bell
rings.
First tardy is free; every subsequent tardy requires 30 minutes after school. Each tardy not made up
will result in loss of participation points by 2. 6 absences will result in a loss of one credit
earned (Exception: School Activity).
It is YOUR responsibility to collect any makeup work you may have missed. You have one week
from the date you return to complete any makeup work.
If you miss a film screening, you will be given an alternate assignment to complete to
makeup for that film’s screening

GRADING
Grades will be calculated as follows:
● 25% Film Screening Participation and Notes
● 25% Written Responses
● 25% Projects
● 25% Unit Tests
 ● If you miss a film screening, you will be given an alternate assignment to complete to
makeup for that film’s screening in order to earn back credit for that films
'participation' grade.
● Written responses will be assigned in a variety of methods including journal
response and formal essay.
● Projects will mostly be group or partnered assignments that introduce
various movie genres or film-making careers. These include a variety of
computer software projects and presentations.
● At the end of each unit of study, students will respond to a writing prompt
via blogger.com (Google) accounts.
● At the end of each unit of study, a comprehensive multiple choice test will be
given over the material presented during that unit. A semester final exam
will also be given.
Students are permitted to retake a test or quiz (excluding the final), before or after
school, for full credit within 1 week if they are dissatisfied with their grade.

Please see following pages for the units of study and list
of movies we will be viewing, then both student and
parent/guardian sign the last page and turn in only
the signed section.
Units of Study1:
Genre Movies and Clips Points of Focus Possible Projects

Sports Genre Rocky (1976) ● Triumph of the Present a classic

and the underdog underdog story
Underdog The Karate Kid ● Sports as using still
(1984) motivation for photos/slides
character
The Blindside growth
(2009) ● Importance of
the sport in
film-could the
story work in
another
setting?
● Story tropes
and
conventions/th
e sports film
‘formula’
● Characters
who seek
redemption

Comedy Genre City Lights (1931) ● Types of Write a comedy

Comedy sketch
Dr. Strangelove ○ Physical Research careers
(1964) ○ Satire/ of Charlie Chaplin/
Parody Jerry Lewis
Monty Python and ○ Verbal/
the Holy Grail Spoken word
(1975) ○ Dark
● How has
‘funny’ changed
through the
generations?
● Importance of
character and
situations to
generate
humor
● Careers of
Charlie
Chaplin, jerry
lewis
● Sketch comedy

Monster Movies King Kong (1933) ● Focus on Study of special

1 List is subject to change and all movies and clips listed may not be shown.
and Special special effects effects and
Effects Jurassic Park including stop makeup
(1993) motion Study of stop
puppetry, motion vs.
makeup and computer
costuming, animation
computer Monster movie
generated poster creation
images using students and
● Willis O’Brien ‘monsters’ from
● Ray community
Harryhausen Photoshop, digital
● Industrial Light camera, green
and Magic screen
● Universal
Studios classic
monster series

Western The Searchers ● The allure of a Directors and

Genre/Icons of (1956) lawless ‘wild’ Actors careers and
Film west as setting relationships in
The Good, The ● Who are the westerns
Bad, and The Ugly ‘good guys’?
(1966) ● Film icons:
John Wayne &
True Grit (1969) John Ford, Clint
Eastwood &
Sergio Leone
● Italian/
European
‘spaghetti
western’ vs.
Hollywood
westerns
● Location
shooting/
authenticity
● The close-up

Science Fiction Star Wars: A New ● Filmmakers’ Study on film

Genre Hope (1977) use of sci-fi to editing
make
Planet of the Apes observations on
(1968) humanity and
society
The Matrix (1999) ● Escapism: the
need for
audiences to
escape into
 fantasy worlds
● Trilogies and
Series
● Progression of
sci-fi concepts

Action and Raiders of the Lost ● The hero in film Study on sound
Adventure Ark (1981) ● Joseph engineering
Campbell’s Audio
The Adventures of function of the Replacement-
Robin Hood (1938) hero within rewrite/record
myth dialogue for a
The Three ● Are movies scene from the
Musketeers modern day films
myths?
● What is an anti-
hero?
Everyman?
● Location
shooting

The Golden Age Citizen Kane ● Historical, Study on Golden

of Hollywood (1941) cultural Age Hollywood
context, Actors
Casablanca (1942) accuracy
● Hollywood
Gone with the Studio System
Wind (1939) ● Rise of the
movies as a
pastime

Musical Genre Singin’ in the Rain ● Integration of View the ppt:

(1952) plot and Codes and
musical Conventions of Film
The Sound of numbers into Musicals - North
Music (1965) the narrative of Seattle College
the film
LaLaLand (2016) ● Using song and
dance to
express
emotion and
thought

Animation Genre Snow White and ● History of Study of animators

the Seven Animation Create an online
Dwarves (1937) ● Walt Disney, flipbook animation
Pixar, Miyazaki
Toy Story (1995) ● Hand drawn
and computer
Fantasia (1940) animation
● Japanese
‘anime’ style
● Story
development,
voice acting