1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Feedback/Reference: Just as written language arranges words with varied meanings into sentences, cinematic language arranges elements with varied meanings into shots (p. 60).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
TIL’S (Today I Learned)
Chapter 5: Charlie Chaplin was one of the first iconic actors to become famous in Hollywood for action and comedy movies like The Immigrant in 1917 and the Kid in 1921. Chaplin’s fame was primarily as a result of the characters that he played which resembled a comedic tramp who inherited contrasting ideals between good and evil in capitalist society. His films often championed workers rights and sympathized with the poor over the exploitation of big business corporations.
Chapter 6: The most famous and successful movie producers in Hollywood in the early 1910s and 1920s where film producers and studio moguls who controlled the entire production and distribution of movies. Many of the early first generation movie producers were Jewish immigrants who migrated from Germany, Russia and Poland to America in search for a better standard of living. Paramount Pictures was the most powerful film company during the Silent movie generation.
Chapter 7: Schufftan process allowed German filmmakers and actors to model movie sets to be photographed together simultaneously. This tactic of filmmaking was achieved by a mirror set at a 45 degree angle and the model set was off to the side reflecting itself in the mirror. Also the partial set would line up with the mirror creating the illusion of a full scale set of actors. Metropolis was one of the first films to incorporate the Science fiction genre and helped produce special effects in movie making.
Chapter 8: Director and Soviet producer Sergei Eisenstein helped produce montage where individual shots collide, crash and explode into each other on camera. Joining two or more shots helped to create this amazing visual set of composition and emotion that the audience felt in Sergei Einstein’s movies.
The 1921 movie the Kid was an outstanding movie because it showed the wit and satire Charlie Chaplin had to endure in raising a kidnapped child. Chaplin’s friendship with the child is heartwarming because he offers the child a place to stay. Sound editing and film composition was excellent because the music was well orchestrated for the 1920s silent film era. I found the Slapstick comedy especially hilarious because we got to see Chaplin’s character the Tramp and the child break windows in order to make a living. Fight scenes and musical events were well choreographed because we got to see how the special effects and costume design evolved in the early 20th century. This is an excellent movie and I would highly recommend it for all audiences and ages of people who enjoy classical movies from this age.
TIL’S
Chapter
5. Today I learned that the Sennet farces were innovative and set a comic standard canines, non sequitur, and physical activity. This comic standard became the model by which future directors would film comedies. Sennet realized that the tricks the camera could do with motion were suited for physical comedy.
6. In Hollywood the most famous of the movie moguls were those who controlled the actual production of the film. In New York was found the executives who budgeted and supervised the production of films. The most powerful film company of the silent film era was paramount.
7.Germany had a very short Golden Era which can be said that began with The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari to the absorption of the German film industry in 1933. The German films heavily focused on mise-en-scene and psychology.The German films of the era were either fantastic and mystical or realistic and psychological.
8.Lenin considered the cinema as the most influential art form. He used Cinema as a form of propaganda, using film to distract its viewers but also glorify the new. Kuleshov was experimental when filming and one of his experiments revealed that the impression of geographical unity in a film was unrelated to geographical unity in space.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Ervin Alcantara
Student’s email: alcantara.ervin2324@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space? Snapshot : view clipKleingeld : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clip
Student answered: c) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: c) Death to the Tinman
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
Question: What is a MacGuffin?
Student answered: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Correct answer is: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
The day that the class watched The Kid I was unable to make it to class but I was able to watch it on youtube. The version that I watched was completely silent which was a unique experience because I had never watched a completely silent film before. Even though the movie was silent I really enjoyed the lesson on morality and the overall story of the movie. I noticed how Chaplin used the same neighborhood to film most of the movie. He also used iris in and iris out, and I saw psychical comedy like the one developed by Sennet as well. The Kid did an excellent job at moving the plot with only the acting and editing. The editing of the movie was great for a movie made in the 1920’s which really surprised me.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Jesus Gonzalez
Student’s email: jesus.zalez18@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs:
Chapter 5: In this chapter, I learned much more of the famous Charles Chaplin, and how he viewed comedy. He saw comedy as a way to portray the seriousness and reality of the world around him.
Chapter 6: In this chapter, I learned that in 1912, once people began learning their favorite actors’ and actress’s names, the first motion picture magazine appeared and was called Photoplay.
Chapter 7: In this chapter, I learned about the German golden age and how German studios were different from the competing, successful factories of Hollywood. They were different in the sense that competition among artists was not much so to see who was better, but a combination of them working together to create a final product that displayed all of their individual talent.
Chapter 8: In this chapter, I learned that Sergei M. Eisenstein was considered the greatest master of montage of his time because he saw how the dynamic charge of one particular shot could transition with the visual charge of the next.
Reflections on The Kid:
The Kid has been considered to be a silent masterpiece since the 1920s. I really enjoyed this film for many reasons and I think Charlie Chaplin did an excellent job on this comedy-drama film. One of the aspects that really caught my attention was its impact that it had on society and culture. Chaplin was able to transmit an idea of humbleness and portray the sad reality of poverty that many Americans experienced during that time through this comical film. He used comedy as a way to show the world the seriousness of certain situations. This was something Chaplin really showed in this film. I also really enjoyed the aspect of Sound in the movie. Although the film contained no vocal dialogue, the music playing throughout the film really helped the audience understand what was going on in the movie. The music defined what would occur on the scene and guided the viewer to the next. Also, what really stood out was the sound effects that were implemented in certain scenes of the movie. For example, when John, the little kid, threw a rock at the neighbor’s window, we heard a ‘shattering’ sound included in the shot. This made the film seem even that more real. Another aspect that was well presented was the Speed and Length of certain shots. By recording specific actions, such as running or fighting, with less frames per second, Chaplin was able to show these actions in a quick, comical way. The final aspect that was great was the Acting of the actors. Charlie did an amazing job displaying his character and his emotions, as did everyone else in their specific roles. Overall, I really liked this movie and it continues to be a pioneer to present films.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Justin Michael Hines
Student’s email: jhines12@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs
Chapters
5. In Mack Sennett and the Chaplin Shorts, I learned that Sennet and Chaplin had different ideas of how comedy should be represented. For Sennett, the comic world was a realm of silly surfaces and for Chaplin, the comic world provided the means to examine world of human needs and societal structures.
6. In Movie Czars and Stars, I learned that there were a lot of movie stars in the early 1900s. I also learned that Thomas Ince, Griffith’s contemporary, had opposite ideals of Griffith. Griffith’s technique aimed at developing the characters, their emotions, and the metaphoric implications of the action, and Ince concentrated on the narrative flow.
7. In The German Golden Age, I learned that it had to do with fantasy and the movie Nosferatu: The Vampire (Max Schreck) was interesting, which had to do with horror and how the vampire looked unattractive, not like the modern way.
8. In Soviet Montage, I learned that the Soviet innovators concentrated on the effects of joining the shots together. The Soviets would have products of experience and experimentation.
The Kid Reflections:
The Kid, by Charlie Chaplin, was a silent film, which was my first silent film I ever watched. I had low expectations on the movie because there were no sound, however there were sound effects that helped the movie. The movie has a comedic feel to it because of the acting, facial expressions, and the pace of the movie and the music. Even though the movie had a comedic feel, but there was family bonding like the fight scene where the Tramp was supporting the boy, cooking and eating pancakes together, and the window breaking and fixing scene. In the movie Chaplin explained the life of low class society and how they lived. The cinematography of the movie wasn’t spectacular because I thought it wasn’t dynamic. The shots seem to be shot at one direction each scene with zooming in and out if it was necessary, however I really liked when Charlie Chaplin used repetition on certain scenes like walking back and forth, the window breaking and fixing scene, and when the Tramp was hitting the strong guy with a brick and dodging over and over again. Decreasing the frames per second seem to be making the film speed up, I believe, which made the movie more funny. The editing of the movie was good because the motion of the scene seem to be consistent. The ending was confusing because I didn’t know what was going on with the heaven scene. Also the ending was really sped up because after the tramp woke up the boy is reunited with him and his mother, I didn’t know what happen during the court when the mother saw her son again. I recommend this movie if anyone never a silent film before because it was enjoyable and funny.
Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Reflections on The Kid:
Charlie Chaplain’s “The Kid,” was a silent film from the 1920s. My first initial though upon the start of viewing this film was that I was going to immediately be bored due to it being in black and white, not to mention silent!!! Although I stereotyped this movie from the gate, I actually ended up liking it. It was very funny and did a great job of holding my interest and keeping me entertained. I found myself drawn into the film, wondering what would happen next. The humor involved in it, kept me laughing and I must say it was what I least expected from a film in black and white. Although much of the movie was humorous, I do want to touch on some of the sentimental aspects of the film. Being a mother myself, I found the bond that was shared between the kid and his parent to be very admirable and to have a touching effect. The Tramp took in an orphan and the bond that was created between the two was very touching. It hit a nerve, and not a happy one when the bond the two was attempted to be broken. I feel this sentiment factor gave the movie a great deal of suspense and was successful in drawing the audience in further. For me it gave the film a perfect contrast between sentiment and humor. For as old as the movie was, I feel that the editing was really good.
1. The three major types of movies are
Topic: n/a
a. Westerns, film noir, and musicals.
b. narrative, causal minimalism, and direct cinema.
c. narrative, experimental, and documentary.
d. narrative, animation, and hybrid films.
Feedback/Reference: Narrative, experimental, and documentary are the three major types of movies (p. 70). The other choices include a combination of types, techniques, and genres.
3. Hybrid films illustrate
Topic: n/a
a. the innovative spirit of experimental films.
b. the flexibility of film form by blurring boundaries of film categorization.
c. the use of all three primary film types in a systematic way in a single film.
d. the distinct borders among the three primary film types.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of hybrid films (pp. 82–83).
4. Documentary filmmaking, which uses actual people, places, and events as source material, is described by John Grierson as
Topic: n/a
a. an objective treatment reality.
b. a representation of truth.
c. a presentation of facts.
d. a creative treatment of actuality.
Feedback/Reference: See p. 71.
6. The founding purpose of the persuasive documentary was to
Topic: n/a
a. persuade the viewer to conform to the common interests of society.
b. entertain and instruct the audience.
c. address social injustice.
d. present deceptive or distorted information.
Feedback/Reference: See p. 72.
7. Direct cinema _______________ and _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. limits the use of narrators; allows the audience to observe events as they occur
b. allows the audience to observe events as they occur; provides insightful commentary
c. limits the use of narrators; includes a number of interviews
d. includes a number of interviews; provides insightful commentary
Feedback/Reference: These are defining characteristics of direct cinema (p. 73).
8. Experimental films frequently reflect the creative vision of a single artist. These films
Topic: n/a
a. should be interpreted according to the artist’s intentions.
b. experiment with film form but rarely critique culture or media.
c. provide the artist with reliable financial gain.
d. invite individual interpretation.
Feedback/Reference: Although experimental films are often made by a single artist, the form of these films invites various interpretations (p. 76).
11. In film noir, the protagonist is usually an antihero who
Topic: n/a
a. achieves leadership status.
b. rarely pursues or achieves leadership status.
c. pursues leadership status but fails to achieve it.
d. loses leadership status.
Feedback/Reference: Unlike the antihero in gangster films, the protagonist in film noir rarely pursues or achieves leadership status (pp. 93–95).
12. Film noir has a distinct visual style that includes ____________, ___________, and ___________.
Topic: n/a
a. deep shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed symmetrically in the frame
b. deep shadows; daytime exterior scenes; elements composed symmetrically in the frame
c. few shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed diagonally in the frame
d. deep shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed diagonally in the frame
Feedback/Reference: These are three visual qualities common to most film noir movies (pp. 93–95).
13. Horror films are often characterized by
Topic: n/a
a. a protagonist who saves a community that rejects her.
b. a protagonist who is a natural leader whom the community turns to for help.
c. a protagonist who definitively saves the community and prevents all future threats.
d. a protagonist who personifies death or insanity.
Feedback/Reference: See pp. 99–100.
14. Which of the following is NOT true of Westerns?
Topic: n/a
a. Westerns use landscape as an important visual and thematic element.
b. Westerns typically take place in the desert.
c. Westerns typically include a conflict between civilization and wilderness.
d. Westerns are a form of modern mythology.
TIL’s
Chapter 5: Chaplin was admit about going into the film business when offered to leave stage performing. When Keystone initially offered him 75 dollars a week Chaplin convinced him to pay 150 dollars a week and agreed to working in films.
Chapter 6: There are four Warner’s who founded the Warner Bros. company. Their names are Albert, Harry, Sam, and Jack Warner.
Chapter 7: In November of 1917 The Germen government created a private company tasked to buying out other studios in Germany until it became one film company. They would then produce films that had a positive look on Germans due to American films signifying Germans as being evil.
Chapter 8: No Russian film was produced in Russia or by a Russian company until 1908
The Kid (1921) Reflection:
I was very stunned after watching the kid. I took a History in Film class in high school and watched a plethora of old films. Many of them being old and hold up in modern critic incredibly well. Some however don’t fair to well over time. When I realized this was a silent film from 1921 I had my doubts. I was completely shocked to see how much story and comedy could be conveyed without any dialogue (unless you count the intertitles). You can tell this film holds up well because I herd many laugh coming from the classroom at multiple jokes. I was also very impressed with some affects used during the film. For example the scene when the bully’s big brother enters to fight the Tramp. When he throws a punch towards a nearby street light it bends halfway or when he punches a brick wall and it breaks. I also noticed how every actor seemed to exaggerate their movements or expressions to compensate for the lack of sound. That way the audience can better understand what’s going on in a scene and actually helped my viewing of the movie.
Chapter 5: In chapter 5 I learned that despite of Sennett not wanting Chaplain to develop his character, Chaplain did and developed the character of the “Tramp.” Chaplain became very recognized and he made many personal accomplishments. Chaplain came to be known as being a genius and influenced the film industry significantly. He was an influence to several intellectuals and artists and also became one of the first film industries crazes.
Chapter 6: I found it to be very interesting that when film first took off many of the actors in the films were kept anonymous. Their real names were not recognized and not given credit to. Instead, many of the people responsible for the characters in major screenplays were recognized via their stage names. It wasn’t until later that the people whom acted in films were recognized by their real names and given credit for. I also discovered the reasoning behind LA being so such a huge stomping grounds for the stars. It was initially a place that had vast lands, sunshine and oceans which made it a very ideal setting for making movies.
Chapter 7: In chapter 7 I learned of the evolvement of several new types of films, such as ones that delved into psychological aspects and fantasies. Many of the films during this era were constructive to the film industry. The Germans played a huge role in this era, and many of their films were deemed disturbing.
Chapter 8: In chapter 8, I learned that Einstein helped to shape the sound and color of the film industry. His ideas went against many of his colleagues during the era, but he helped to develop synchronization. HIs career helped to develop montage and helped to transition the sound er of films.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kaylana Bern
Student’s email: kaylanabern@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 90%
The Kid reflection:
I really enjoyed watching this film. Even though it was silent, the body language of the actors and the in-between texts helped bring dialog to the scenes. The persona of the father was comical and the child was adorable. The relationship between the two (father and adopted son) was a very strong bond. In the scene where the child was being taken away by force was terribly sad. However, the ambition the father had to get him back really emphasized his love for his son.
Being that his was a very old film, I was astounded that I even enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of older movies but this one in particular had a good story to it.
TIL M/K
Chapter 5: In this chapter i learned Chaplin & Sennett differed in terms of film making and Chaplin brought individuality & character to Sennett comedies.
Chapter 6: “Hollywood” has been discovered basically because of its beautiful setting & sunshine. But even at that time the actors/actresses weren’t acknowledged & their names weren’t listed for the public to see
Chapter 7: A new introduction to films, Genres & films with psychological ties & meaning became apparent to the film world.
Chapter 8: “Metropolis”(1927)”The most influential science-fiction film of all time” Einsteins influence on film
Fritz Lang.
“The Kid” Charlie Chaplin’s silent film was easily the most interesting films I’ve ever seen & one reason being because it was silent. Just like any other silent film it was hard to depict in the starting scenes, the title obviously gave away the movie would be based around “The kid” which had a great story line in my opinion. Chaplin was able to portray himself as someone who you couldn’t imagine having a kid themselves because of how careless he was in the beginning. Yet the story panned out of him being a god father for the most part with an underlying story of a woman who actually gave up the child & became successful. I thought the movie could’ve used a bit more of a destination or motive to go after.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Tony Rivera
Student’s email: rivera7o7@yahoo.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Is it shocking that I have never seen a Charlie Chaplin movie! Yes I’m sure it is especially because he is one of the biggest movie stars. I want to start off by mentioning how well put together this movie was I was engaged and it being a silent black and white film its shocking. The use of clothing and music helped this film be more enjoyable. Chaplin’s clothes represented how poor he was and how humble him and the little boy lived. in comparison to the actress she was quite fancy with her elegant clothing. The music used also made it so much more easy to follow. When the actress would come up we would tend to hear softer music representing her delicateness and elegance. On the other hand when Charlie Chaplin and the little boy were show we saw much more exciting music and music that representative there relationship which was fun and love. The scene that we saw about him being in “heaven” and all dresses in angel wings represented symbolism to me. We saw him dreaming about such a perfect life where everyone was angelic looking and all was joy and love especially with his kids. Then the devil starts creeping in representing the orphan workers that come and try to take the boy from him. They start making people turn on each other be jealous and start fighting. They all begging fighting and turn on Chaplin. Showing how the doctor, orphan workers all wanted that little boy to be taken away. When he is dreaming he dies showing how without his kid he fly empty alone and in a way dead inside. When he wakes up and is reunited he is once again alive and with the little boy.
TIL’s
B/M Ch.5: Learning about the principal of miss-en-scene where movies look like a stage set, the over powerful use of it through good set and costumes.
B/M Ch.6: Learn about different shot techniques like the tilt shots are movements with dynamic possibilities to create meaning
B/M Ch.7: Camera close up and how it has an effect on the actors role makes he or she more evident thats our main focus
B/M Ch.8: We learn more about match cuts and what we learned in class alos about how two shots are taken and we fill in the in between
M/K Ch.5: We see the comparison in two films one of Chaplin and the other of Sennett one learn more about how Chaplin uses physical things to make a comic effect
M/K Ch.6: i learn more about the Warner Brothers and they opened there first nickelodeon in 1905
M/K Ch.7: Learn about German films and how good they made them that most didn’t need inter titles we would just feel the mood , tone etc.
M/K Ch.8: Eisestein’s way of making films and use of montage
Quiz-
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Feedback/Reference: Just as written language arranges words with varied meanings into sentences, cinematic language arranges elements with varied meanings into shots (p. 60).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
TIL:
B/M Ch. 2- Film creates persistence of vision, which allows you to retain the information you just took in a fraction of a second longer than what your eyes just saw.
M/K Ch. 5- I didn’t realize that Charlie Chaplin had a prejudice against many stage performers who were working in film.
M/K Ch. 6- The United States of America were following the French and English in filmmaking, and following WWI American film became the dominate filmmaking of the world.
M/K Ch. 7- Many German films highlighted psychology and really showed German Expressionist, by filming inside studios it gave them more control of what the mood of the shot would be.
M/K Ch. 8- A major difference between German films and Soviet films during this time was that German films focused more on the psychology aspect of the film whereas the Soviets focused more on the effects of putting each shot together.
Reflection on The Kid
The only other silent film I’ve ever watched was The Red Balloon, so being able to see another silent film was eye-opening. Charlie Chaplin made this film very enjoyable to watch, and it was fairly easy to keep along with what was happening. As the film begins, you start to have an understanding that Chaplin is this carefree person, focused primarily on himself and others second. By setting up the film that way it sets the mood for when he come across John. Five years later John’s biological mother showed up and there was quite a juxtaposition between her and Charlie, and John. This can be seen in their clothing, the mannerisms, as well as their homes. I think Chaplin did a good job on really highlighting this difference when he cuts to show John’s biological mom.
TILS
Ch.5:Mack Sennett started recording action at 12 fps but projected it at 16 or 24 fps to make sped it up and create a more frantic comical feel.
Ch. 6 Adolph Zukor created Paramount Pictures and would buy out his competition so his company would have the power to hire the most popular stars.
Ch. 7: Many German films were inspired by the film “Broken Blossums”, as even though it looked realistic it was shot in studio with a free moving camera.
Ch.8: Alexander Dovzhenko’s work was mostly focused on Ukrainian life and folk legend spirit and poetry of the country.
Reflections on “The Kid”
What stood out to me initially was the use of the Iris in and iris out transitions. Since many of our exposure to film and television has been mostly modern, the Iris in and iris out come off as a bit cliché and silly. However in the early 1920s it was mostly fresh and used as a stylistic option rather than just cutting to the action. I think the iris in and out is more effective in films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” but works okay. I just can’t help but think Looney Toons with the iris in and out. One aspect I did particularly enjoy was the use of speed up footage of the little boy running away. It added to the more comical effect and frantic feel, Mack Sennett had set about creating. The action did a great job of propelling the film forward with not a huge use of title cards. In terms of the dream sequence that didn’t really add anything to the film and went on way too long and was pretty confusing. Perhaps to show of the “special effects” of flying? The score did an excellent job of adding to the emotion of the movie which is very important when dialogue can’t do that in a silent film. It does seem remarkable that Charlie Chaplin performed the score as well.
The Kid reflection:
I did not expect to like this movie at all but it really caught my attention. The Kid will have you laughing one minute but, crying the next. The Kid is about Charlie Chaplin finding a child in the backseat of a car with a note that tell him to love and care for the child. Not having much money, he has second thoughts on taking the baby but he knew he needed a home. Chaplin’s character proves to be unfit to take care of a child at first but, as the years go by, Chaplin proves to be a loving and caring father. When the orphanage tries to take the child back, Chaplin fights to keep his son. He ends up returning his son to his mom and they liveThe movements of the characters and the sped up scenes added a almost goofy affect to the movie. The combination of drama and comedy makes a for a good movie with or without sound.
TIL M/K
Chapter 5: Sennett and Chaplin both had different ideas of comedy. Even though they did not agree their comedy together turned out to be successful and influential for future movies.
Chapter 6: LA became the ideal place to shoot movies because of sunshine and beautiful scenery thus giving birth to Hollywood.
Chapter 7: German movies started becoming more sophisticated and started to have more of an affect on the viewers psychologically by filming in a closed studio. In a closed studio they could set whatever tone they wanted to the movie
Chapter 8: Einstein had a great influence on the film industry with his use of montage.
The Kid Reflections:
I liked Chaplin’s use of slapstick humor as a way to underline a more serious issue of homelessness and poverty. What was also interesting to me was that the story itself was the hero’s journey, where the kid is the hero, he starts with nothing, faces adversity, and then becomes the hero at the end of the movie saving not only his mother but chaplin’s character. I enjoyed the staging in the movie, there was a lot of careful thought in the way scenes were staged and the fights were staged.
TIL M/K
Chap. 5 : The production designer works closely with the director of photography, these two together are pretty much in charge of all design aspects in a film.
Chap 6: Black and white films though not used very often today offer a tonal range that can help a film maker tell a better story.
Chap 7 Screen acting has changed considerably since the first movies, where there weren’t any actors, just ordinary people protraying themselves. Now movie stars are highly trained professionals who need a deep understanding of different acting methods.
TIL: Chapter 5 – Charlie Chaplin didn’t want his movies to be solely slapstick comedy; each character and movie he created was made to target a specific social issue.
Chapter 6- Hollywood was established in California because it gave filmmakers access to diverse landscapes within the same region.
Chapter 7- What made the German Film Industry so successful was that it used mise-en-scene to create fantasy worlds for the audience in which they can use their imagination. This is different from Soviet Film whose purpose was to be used as propaganda to express a single idea.
Chapter 8- Because of Soviet Government control over cinema, many films were restrained from creativity and were only used to serve the government.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kelly Castillo
Student’s email: chica4496@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Reflection on The Kid: The actors’ portrayal of their characters were great because I could understand what was going on and what they were feeling. This was accomplished by great facial expression and emotion, which helped supplement the lack of dialogue. I also appreciated the use of costumes to better explain the traits of the actor’s character. For example, the bully’s brother wore stuffing underneath his shirt to portray a bigger chest and bigger muscles to make the character seem more intimidating. Finally, I particularly enjoyed the social commentary of how money can cause greed in people. One of the best instances of this was when the hotel clerk turned in the child to receive the reward. Despite the comedic overtone of the movie, the viewer can still see Chaplin’s character saddened by the loss his child.
M/K TIL
Chapter 5 – Charlie Chaplin’s films contain controversial themes such as drug addiction, poverty, hunger and religious hypocrisy portrayed through the action and characters.
Chapter 6 – American films were without competitors due to World War I. The chemicals that produced raw film stock were also the essential ingredients to gunpowder and given the choice between guns and movies, the European government chose guns.
Chapter 7 – Early German sound films were better than anyone else’s and Hitler’s political victory in 1933 killed a thriving film culture.
Chapter 8 – The scarcity of film stock led to the creation of the Kuleshov workshop (led by Lev Kuleshov). Each of the experiments furthered their control of the effects of editing and their conviction that editing was the basis of film art.
Quiz 2:
Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
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2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clip Death to the Tinman : view clip The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clip Bartholomew’s Song : view clip The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clip Bartholomew’s Song : view clip Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kimi Garcia
Student’s email: kimigarcia123@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Student answered: b) the lens; the camera
Correct answer is: b) the lens; the camera
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Student answered: a) succession; movement
Correct answer is: a) succession; movement
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
TILS:
Chapter 5-Chapter five discusses Charlie Chaplin’s colorful life and how his expression of comedy was not the general norm for everyone else in comedy films, Charlie Chaplin asserted his comedic actions by reflecting what he witnessed going on in the real world.
Chapter 6-Chapter six discusses that because films were coming out much faster than before, film industries were not so much invested in the content in their films rather they were invested in how many films they could release in a short amount of time.
Chapter 7-Chapter seven discusses how German films became well known for interesting views and takes on mystery and horror and how it had fallen out due to either Hitler’s terrible hatred of the arts or because of Hollywood’s welcoming of American films.
Chapter 8-Chapter eight discusses how Eisenstein was judged by political leaders because his films were not producing content that talked about political topics and therefore they saw his films as useless and money absorbed.
The Kid Reflection:
The Kid is a wonderful film and I do think the best part of the film is the introduction because it starts off by telling you basically your emotions for what you’re about to watch, when he states “A story with a smile perhaps, a tear”. It is a simple foreshadowing for the film and it’s a memorable introduction quote. The second best part of the film was when The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin’s famous character) had fallen asleep at the door step in front of his home and he had a so called crazy dream, but to me it was not crazy or strange because of all the movies I have seen before this one have some weird content too. I interpreted his dream as though he was in his happy place, like a safe haven where his son and him could have fun without having to worry about getting in trouble with the law or struggle to have the minimal of a comfortable living. When he woke up it was the realization that only those necessities could be reached in your dreams not so much in real life unfortunately, until he was reunited with his son at last. The ending was not really my favorite because I wish they had gone a little past the point of his reunion with his son but it’s also nice at the same time because it allows the audience to come up with an extra ending they’re happy with.
Ch 5: Chaplin and Sennett both went about making comedies different ways and brought in their own individual styles. They both ended up successful.
Ch 6: At that time Hollywood wasn’t even a popular like it is today. Many actors and actresses were there doing jobs but they weren’t popularized until much later in time.
Ch 7: Many of the films made at this time were about fantasies which was a new type of genre for that time. Germany was a place where a few of these films were made.
Ch 8: The Soviets experimented with films at this time. Also Einstein helped to develop color in films which was something that was new to the film industry.
The Kid Reflection: This movie was the first silent movie I had ever seen for starters. I didn’t know what to expect and how I was going to understand the movie without all of the dialogue. To my surprise the movie didn’t need much dialogue to convey what was going and in fact, I was happy there wasn’t much anyway. The actions of the characters and the little subtitles here and there were than enough for me to become invested in the money. The movie plot was good and seem to be one of the first movies to portray the classic leaving a baby somewhere for someone else to find. This movie was a great comedy in 1921 and still holds up to that for viewers of this time. I noticed how the movie really connected to its audience because our own class was very into it. Also the movie being black and white doesn’t take away from how good the content is. The suspense in the movie was very high for me when the mother and the son had seen each other outside the house but even when they didn’t recognize each other they had a special connection. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a silent film.
Relection on The Kid: First it was a really cute movie. The story was very heart warming and just all round nice. For the technical aspect, for this movie you could really feel the emotion between each character through their expressions and such, without needing dialouge to portray it. Another thing I found interesting but good is the fact that the snips that would show words weren’t frequent in the film. In fact I counted about 4 dialouge cards(I could be off though, so don’t qoute me). I guess the say less is more truly applies to this film.
TILs: To summerize, these chapters talk about film laguage and cinmeatogrophy. Mise-En-Scene, whose major elments are design and composistion, as well a lighting can make a huge difference in a movie. A shot is the basic unit of film language and the rule of thrids is important in a film. the rule of thirds is” applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section”. Lastly, the master shot is something filmmakers use to show the overall layout to the viewers.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kendall Carnell
Student’s email: Kenny2jay@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Iman Ereiqat
Student’s email: imanereiqat0@gmail.com
Number of questions: 13
Percent correct: 92%
TIL
Chapter 5: Charlie Chaplin is an important figure in the history of film.
Chapter 6: The film industry in the beginning was significantly different than it was now.
Chapter 7: German films were mostly about fantasy, which interested people especially during the hard times of the war.
Chapter 8: Albert Einstein contributed a lot to the film industry.
The Kid:
I had only seen one silent film before, & that was Nosferatu. I can’t say I was particularly a fan of that movie, but even though I didn’t like it, I’ve still always really admired silent films. I think it’s so cool that we can watch movies without any consistent dialogue, & just enjoy music & various title cards. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with The Kid, but I found myself really invested in the movie by the end of it. I was very attached to the characters, I just really liked how the kid & the tramp loved eachother. I think it’s cool how even with barely any dialogue at all, I find myself super attached to the characters. The same happened with Mad Max. Not too much dialogue in that film but I still really cared for the characters. Aaanyways, I really liked The Kid. I thought it was really funny, & I enjoyed how we got to see some poverty ridden lifestyles. Like we said in class, we usually don’t see that too much in movies.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Roberto Cortez
Student’s email:
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
Question: The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space? Snapshot : view clipKleingeld : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clip
Student answered: c) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: c) Death to the Tinman
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
Question: What is a MacGuffin?
Student answered: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Correct answer is: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Reflection on “The Kid”
I really enjoyed this very old piece of cinema.I have never watched an old fashion black and white silent film before, and after seeing this one I would like to watch more in the future. Charlie Chaplin’s famous character ( the tramp) who was only known for comedic films at the time, did an amazing job of making the movie both comedic and heartwarming. What most impressed me was how well the acting was done in a way of convincing the audience what exactly was going on without the need for extra cue cards. At the beginning of the movie we are kept laughing by the antics of a father and son. But then all of a sudden we are thrown back into reality when the men from the government come to take the Tramp’s son away. How the film is able to flow from comedy to a drama in a way that really works, shows how well this movie was really made.
TILs Chapters 5-8
Chapter 5- In chapter 5 I learned how Charlie Chaplin viewed comedy. He saw comedy as a way to show the seriousness and reality of the world at the time. Which was different from Mack Sennett’s view of comedy being all for fun.
Chapter 6- In chapter 6 I learned that in 1912, the first real motion picture magazine named Photoplay was created due to the increase in popularity of actors.
Chapter 7- In chapter 7 I learned how many new forms of movies were being made that focused on the psychological side and fantasy world which was called the golden age. many of which were made by the Germans.
Chapter 8- In chapter 8 I learned how the Russians were performing experiments that involved combining individual shots, while one of the world’s most famous geniuses helped in creating color for cinema.
the 1921 silent film “The Kid” was extremely well made. the amount of emotion and story line makes the movie easy to understand, and easy to wacth. while watching the movie i noticed that in the beginning of the film, no one wants the little boy/baby. everyone seems to give him up not knowing what to do with him. as one of the main characters enters the film he can be seen just like the other people, not wanting anything to do with the child, later as the movie progresses the desire to have the boy grows immensely. towards the end everyone wanted the child in some way, whether it be in a harmful way or a loving way, the person whom initially gives the child up, gives some of her money to find him, and bring him back to her. i find it funny/ amusing that she only wants her son back, after she has become rich and famous. she did not want anything to do with him before she became who she was.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: marcus bravo
Student’s email: jbravo91697@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
my book is on back order for my tils
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Reyna Castaneda
Student’s email: rcastan9@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs
Chapter 5
Framing and kinesis are two aspects of the composition of a shot, and they mean what we see on the screen versus what moves on the screen in order to create an image that is either really flat or has a lot of depth by providing what on screen is relative to another.
Chapter 6
Film stock, lighting, and lenses are the basic components of what makes up the cinematic properties of a shot. Film stock determined the grain quality, tonal range, and whether the film was going to be in color. Lighting shapes the tone of a scene and suggests what is important to look at. Lenses use focal length to suggest the perception of the size, scale, or movement of what is shot in a scene.
Chapter 7
Though one would think the goal of a film would always have the suspense of disbelief in mind when watching the actors, there are two methods that distinguish between believable, natural roles, and over exaggerated, unnatural ones. Naturalistic roles are ones that are conceivable in reality, and the actors perform well enough that one could believe a person like the character on screen could exist. Nonnaturalistic roles, however, are reserved for characters usually found in horror, fantasy, or action films and are not relatable to the viewers, but are still able to convince them that a character like them would exist in the world they live in.
Chapter 8
An editor’s responsibilities consist of managing the spatial relationships between shots, the temporal relationships between shots, and the overall rhythm of the film.
I was absolutely astounded by The Kid. I knew about Chaplin’s shorts vaguely, as I had seen them in a Theater class, and seeing him do something more serious really enlightened me to recognize just how much more skill he had than I had already known. I was really charmed by The Kid, and I was pretty astounded by how great the child actor was and how expressive he was. Chaplin’s character really charmed me as well, and I was really endeared by him. Knowing that Chaplin defined the action-comedy genre heightens my respect for his filmmaking even further. He expressed fatherly domesticity that I actually hadn’t seen before, and his portrayal of the lower class in his film definitely made his characters more down to earth and made it easy to become invested in them as they faced struggle. Even though it was a silent film and I expected myself to find a lull in it, despite it being a Chaplin film, I was interested from beginning to end and I wouldn’t just recommend it as a way to inform people of the cinematography of the time, but I would recommend it just for enjoyment as well because of how well made it is and how endearing it is. 10/10 would watch again.
I completely agree with your thoughts about the child actor. For being in a silent film, his acting skills were impressive. His facial features constantly highlighted the scene immensely. HIs character brought so much to not only the plot of the story, but also the making of the film. Their was one scene where he was running from the police officer, and they sped his running up. I thought that was a very nice addition to the film, especially for the age that the film was made in.
TIL’s:
Chapter 5: Opposed to today’s Hollywood stars, actors who were in the business around Chaplin’s time, chose to remain anonymous, or use stage names. Seems very different, compared to all the actor’s who look for fame and glory these days.
Chapter 6: I finally learned what brothers make up “Warner Bros.” They are: Sam, Harry, Albert, and Jack Warner.
Chapter 7: Germany was the birth place of a new genre of film, fantasy.
Chapter 8: Sergei Eisenstein helped produce montage and helped develop synchronization.
I have to start out by saying that I have never seen a Charlie Chaplin film before. I have definitely heard his name, and have heard of, “the kid,” but never took the time to watch them. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the film. The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that you didn’t actually need sound, or really subtitles, to understand what was going on. The plot of the movie was straightforward enough, that the viewer pretty much always knew what was going on. I thought about movies in today’s era, and if they would be able to be viewed silently, and for the most part I don’t think they could. As a society we demand so much action, and plot twists in a movie that we have to hear what’s going on to follow, but, “the kid,” didn’t need all those elements to make it a great film. I think the scenes were planned perfectly. Each scene helped the viewers to really understand what was going on. I loved the scenes involving the windows being broken. A few times they sped up the characters running, which I think was a nice, advanced touch for the time that the movie was made. A few scenes that were very interesting and slightly confusing, were the dream scenes Chaplin had in the end. It was interesting to watch, but I can not quite figure out what was trying to be conveyed in those scenes. It simply could be a weird dream, that we all have sometimes, or possibly a dream alluding to his desire for happiness, and even maybe his desire to be forgiven for his transgressions…i.e. having the child break windows, just so he could sloppily fix them. I’m not sure that their is an answer to that scene, but either way I found it entertaining, and thought provoking.
TIL: Chapter 5 is all about Charlie Chaplin and how he came to fame.
Chapter 6 in between 1910 and 1920 it determined the direction the American film industry would take.
Chapter 7, was about the German movie era and how it evolved.
Chapter 8, was about the Russian movie era and it changed throughout 25 years.
Quiz Results: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Cheyenne Ford
Student’s email: cford20@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 50%
Reflection:
I found this movie very funny as well as quite emotional. This movie was made without sound and yet you could understand what was happening without any words. The way that the movie was shot you could completely understand what was happening and what was going on. The fact that he raised the child even though it was not his, was inspiring how he raised the kid and did the best with what he had doing so. The movie was portrayed in a way that showed it was meant to be funny as well as serious.
TIL:
5: Chaplin came to rule the film industry with his comedy, for which he believed was a method to portray the world as it is.
6: The film industry gained steam around this time, shaping what is now a century old entertainment empire.
7: Germany began a film revolution, beginning with avante garde film and expanding into (and inadverdantly creating) the genre we now call fantasy.
8: While Germany focused on storytelling and different genres, Russians tinkered with the cameras and created all new methods of getting shots.
Reflection: After seeing a much more extended session of Chaplin than I was previously familiar with, I must say I find myself enthralled by the film. It remains entertaining even after nearly a century in a time of disposability, even with a child actor, infamously a weight in most triple A media. Chaplin is truly deserving of his place in 10s and 20s cinema.
Your Score: 70 % (7 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Francisco Garcia
Student’s email: garciafrancisco458@yahoo.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Chapter 5: I learned that Charles Chaplin and Mack Sennett have different ideas of how comedy should be represented.
Chapter 6: I learned that three most important figures of the moving pictures of the second major period from 1908-1919 were Griffith, Sennett, and Chaplin.
Chapter 7: I learned that the German Golden Age of film was a very short one. Also the German filmmaker realized that the camera, was like a pen, it could narrate a story in the first person as well as the third.
Chapter 8: I learned that the first fil that was produced by a Russian company or in Russia was in 1908.
The Kid Review
The Kid by Charlie Chaplin was the first silent film I ever watched. This film had some comedy scenes in it but it also had some real emotional ones. I think that the music helped to make the film more enjoyable. I also thought that the face expressions of the actors helped the audience understand all the scenes, which to me was very interesting because when I heard that this film was in black and white and it was a silent film I wasn’t expecting much. I never thought I would enjoy a black and white movie and especially if it’s silent because I always had a mindset that all black and white movies were boring. I also think that this film is showing how Charlie Chaplin takes care of a kid he found next to a garbage bin even though he didn’t have much financially. He protected the kid like if he was his own blood. I highly recommend people to watch this film. It was a real eye-opener to me.
introductiontocinema 
Quiz: Your Score: 92 % (12 out of 13)
1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Feedback/Reference: Just as written language arranges words with varied meanings into sentences, cinematic language arranges elements with varied meanings into shots (p. 60).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
TIL’S (Today I Learned)
Chapter 5: Charlie Chaplin was one of the first iconic actors to become famous in Hollywood for action and comedy movies like The Immigrant in 1917 and the Kid in 1921. Chaplin’s fame was primarily as a result of the characters that he played which resembled a comedic tramp who inherited contrasting ideals between good and evil in capitalist society. His films often championed workers rights and sympathized with the poor over the exploitation of big business corporations.
Chapter 6: The most famous and successful movie producers in Hollywood in the early 1910s and 1920s where film producers and studio moguls who controlled the entire production and distribution of movies. Many of the early first generation movie producers were Jewish immigrants who migrated from Germany, Russia and Poland to America in search for a better standard of living. Paramount Pictures was the most powerful film company during the Silent movie generation.
Chapter 7: Schufftan process allowed German filmmakers and actors to model movie sets to be photographed together simultaneously. This tactic of filmmaking was achieved by a mirror set at a 45 degree angle and the model set was off to the side reflecting itself in the mirror. Also the partial set would line up with the mirror creating the illusion of a full scale set of actors. Metropolis was one of the first films to incorporate the Science fiction genre and helped produce special effects in movie making.
Chapter 8: Director and Soviet producer Sergei Eisenstein helped produce montage where individual shots collide, crash and explode into each other on camera. Joining two or more shots helped to create this amazing visual set of composition and emotion that the audience felt in Sergei Einstein’s movies.
The 1921 movie the Kid was an outstanding movie because it showed the wit and satire Charlie Chaplin had to endure in raising a kidnapped child. Chaplin’s friendship with the child is heartwarming because he offers the child a place to stay. Sound editing and film composition was excellent because the music was well orchestrated for the 1920s silent film era. I found the Slapstick comedy especially hilarious because we got to see Chaplin’s character the Tramp and the child break windows in order to make a living. Fight scenes and musical events were well choreographed because we got to see how the special effects and costume design evolved in the early 20th century. This is an excellent movie and I would highly recommend it for all audiences and ages of people who enjoy classical movies from this age.
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TIL’S
Chapter
5. Today I learned that the Sennet farces were innovative and set a comic standard canines, non sequitur, and physical activity. This comic standard became the model by which future directors would film comedies. Sennet realized that the tricks the camera could do with motion were suited for physical comedy.
6. In Hollywood the most famous of the movie moguls were those who controlled the actual production of the film. In New York was found the executives who budgeted and supervised the production of films. The most powerful film company of the silent film era was paramount.
7.Germany had a very short Golden Era which can be said that began with The Cabinet of Dr. Calagari to the absorption of the German film industry in 1933. The German films heavily focused on mise-en-scene and psychology.The German films of the era were either fantastic and mystical or realistic and psychological.
8.Lenin considered the cinema as the most influential art form. He used Cinema as a form of propaganda, using film to distract its viewers but also glorify the new. Kuleshov was experimental when filming and one of his experiments revealed that the impression of geographical unity in a film was unrelated to geographical unity in space.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Ervin Alcantara
Student’s email: alcantara.ervin2324@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space? Snapshot : view clipKleingeld : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clip
Student answered: c) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: c) Death to the Tinman
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
Question: What is a MacGuffin?
Student answered: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Correct answer is: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
The day that the class watched The Kid I was unable to make it to class but I was able to watch it on youtube. The version that I watched was completely silent which was a unique experience because I had never watched a completely silent film before. Even though the movie was silent I really enjoyed the lesson on morality and the overall story of the movie. I noticed how Chaplin used the same neighborhood to film most of the movie. He also used iris in and iris out, and I saw psychical comedy like the one developed by Sennet as well. The Kid did an excellent job at moving the plot with only the acting and editing. The editing of the movie was great for a movie made in the 1920’s which really surprised me.
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Jesus Gonzalez
Student’s email: jesus.zalez18@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs:
Chapter 5: In this chapter, I learned much more of the famous Charles Chaplin, and how he viewed comedy. He saw comedy as a way to portray the seriousness and reality of the world around him.
Chapter 6: In this chapter, I learned that in 1912, once people began learning their favorite actors’ and actress’s names, the first motion picture magazine appeared and was called Photoplay.
Chapter 7: In this chapter, I learned about the German golden age and how German studios were different from the competing, successful factories of Hollywood. They were different in the sense that competition among artists was not much so to see who was better, but a combination of them working together to create a final product that displayed all of their individual talent.
Chapter 8: In this chapter, I learned that Sergei M. Eisenstein was considered the greatest master of montage of his time because he saw how the dynamic charge of one particular shot could transition with the visual charge of the next.
Reflections on The Kid:
The Kid has been considered to be a silent masterpiece since the 1920s. I really enjoyed this film for many reasons and I think Charlie Chaplin did an excellent job on this comedy-drama film. One of the aspects that really caught my attention was its impact that it had on society and culture. Chaplin was able to transmit an idea of humbleness and portray the sad reality of poverty that many Americans experienced during that time through this comical film. He used comedy as a way to show the world the seriousness of certain situations. This was something Chaplin really showed in this film. I also really enjoyed the aspect of Sound in the movie. Although the film contained no vocal dialogue, the music playing throughout the film really helped the audience understand what was going on in the movie. The music defined what would occur on the scene and guided the viewer to the next. Also, what really stood out was the sound effects that were implemented in certain scenes of the movie. For example, when John, the little kid, threw a rock at the neighbor’s window, we heard a ‘shattering’ sound included in the shot. This made the film seem even that more real. Another aspect that was well presented was the Speed and Length of certain shots. By recording specific actions, such as running or fighting, with less frames per second, Chaplin was able to show these actions in a quick, comical way. The final aspect that was great was the Acting of the actors. Charlie did an amazing job displaying his character and his emotions, as did everyone else in their specific roles. Overall, I really liked this movie and it continues to be a pioneer to present films.
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Justin Michael Hines
Student’s email: jhines12@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs
Chapters
5. In Mack Sennett and the Chaplin Shorts, I learned that Sennet and Chaplin had different ideas of how comedy should be represented. For Sennett, the comic world was a realm of silly surfaces and for Chaplin, the comic world provided the means to examine world of human needs and societal structures.
6. In Movie Czars and Stars, I learned that there were a lot of movie stars in the early 1900s. I also learned that Thomas Ince, Griffith’s contemporary, had opposite ideals of Griffith. Griffith’s technique aimed at developing the characters, their emotions, and the metaphoric implications of the action, and Ince concentrated on the narrative flow.
7. In The German Golden Age, I learned that it had to do with fantasy and the movie Nosferatu: The Vampire (Max Schreck) was interesting, which had to do with horror and how the vampire looked unattractive, not like the modern way.
8. In Soviet Montage, I learned that the Soviet innovators concentrated on the effects of joining the shots together. The Soviets would have products of experience and experimentation.
The Kid Reflections:
The Kid, by Charlie Chaplin, was a silent film, which was my first silent film I ever watched. I had low expectations on the movie because there were no sound, however there were sound effects that helped the movie. The movie has a comedic feel to it because of the acting, facial expressions, and the pace of the movie and the music. Even though the movie had a comedic feel, but there was family bonding like the fight scene where the Tramp was supporting the boy, cooking and eating pancakes together, and the window breaking and fixing scene. In the movie Chaplin explained the life of low class society and how they lived. The cinematography of the movie wasn’t spectacular because I thought it wasn’t dynamic. The shots seem to be shot at one direction each scene with zooming in and out if it was necessary, however I really liked when Charlie Chaplin used repetition on certain scenes like walking back and forth, the window breaking and fixing scene, and when the Tramp was hitting the strong guy with a brick and dodging over and over again. Decreasing the frames per second seem to be making the film speed up, I believe, which made the movie more funny. The editing of the movie was good because the motion of the scene seem to be consistent. The ending was confusing because I didn’t know what was going on with the heaven scene. Also the ending was really sped up because after the tramp woke up the boy is reunited with him and his mother, I didn’t know what happen during the court when the mother saw her son again. I recommend this movie if anyone never a silent film before because it was enjoyable and funny.
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Your Score
Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Reflections on The Kid:
Charlie Chaplain’s “The Kid,” was a silent film from the 1920s. My first initial though upon the start of viewing this film was that I was going to immediately be bored due to it being in black and white, not to mention silent!!! Although I stereotyped this movie from the gate, I actually ended up liking it. It was very funny and did a great job of holding my interest and keeping me entertained. I found myself drawn into the film, wondering what would happen next. The humor involved in it, kept me laughing and I must say it was what I least expected from a film in black and white. Although much of the movie was humorous, I do want to touch on some of the sentimental aspects of the film. Being a mother myself, I found the bond that was shared between the kid and his parent to be very admirable and to have a touching effect. The Tramp took in an orphan and the bond that was created between the two was very touching. It hit a nerve, and not a happy one when the bond the two was attempted to be broken. I feel this sentiment factor gave the movie a great deal of suspense and was successful in drawing the audience in further. For me it gave the film a perfect contrast between sentiment and humor. For as old as the movie was, I feel that the editing was really good.
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Your Score: 90 % (9 out of 10)
1. The three major types of movies are
Topic: n/a
a. Westerns, film noir, and musicals.
b. narrative, causal minimalism, and direct cinema.
c. narrative, experimental, and documentary.
d. narrative, animation, and hybrid films.
Feedback/Reference: Narrative, experimental, and documentary are the three major types of movies (p. 70). The other choices include a combination of types, techniques, and genres.
3. Hybrid films illustrate
Topic: n/a
a. the innovative spirit of experimental films.
b. the flexibility of film form by blurring boundaries of film categorization.
c. the use of all three primary film types in a systematic way in a single film.
d. the distinct borders among the three primary film types.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of hybrid films (pp. 82–83).
4. Documentary filmmaking, which uses actual people, places, and events as source material, is described by John Grierson as
Topic: n/a
a. an objective treatment reality.
b. a representation of truth.
c. a presentation of facts.
d. a creative treatment of actuality.
Feedback/Reference: See p. 71.
6. The founding purpose of the persuasive documentary was to
Topic: n/a
a. persuade the viewer to conform to the common interests of society.
b. entertain and instruct the audience.
c. address social injustice.
d. present deceptive or distorted information.
Feedback/Reference: See p. 72.
7. Direct cinema _______________ and _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. limits the use of narrators; allows the audience to observe events as they occur
b. allows the audience to observe events as they occur; provides insightful commentary
c. limits the use of narrators; includes a number of interviews
d. includes a number of interviews; provides insightful commentary
Feedback/Reference: These are defining characteristics of direct cinema (p. 73).
8. Experimental films frequently reflect the creative vision of a single artist. These films
Topic: n/a
a. should be interpreted according to the artist’s intentions.
b. experiment with film form but rarely critique culture or media.
c. provide the artist with reliable financial gain.
d. invite individual interpretation.
Feedback/Reference: Although experimental films are often made by a single artist, the form of these films invites various interpretations (p. 76).
11. In film noir, the protagonist is usually an antihero who
Topic: n/a
a. achieves leadership status.
b. rarely pursues or achieves leadership status.
c. pursues leadership status but fails to achieve it.
d. loses leadership status.
Feedback/Reference: Unlike the antihero in gangster films, the protagonist in film noir rarely pursues or achieves leadership status (pp. 93–95).
12. Film noir has a distinct visual style that includes ____________, ___________, and ___________.
Topic: n/a
a. deep shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed symmetrically in the frame
b. deep shadows; daytime exterior scenes; elements composed symmetrically in the frame
c. few shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed diagonally in the frame
d. deep shadows; nighttime exterior scenes; elements composed diagonally in the frame
Feedback/Reference: These are three visual qualities common to most film noir movies (pp. 93–95).
13. Horror films are often characterized by
Topic: n/a
a. a protagonist who saves a community that rejects her.
b. a protagonist who is a natural leader whom the community turns to for help.
c. a protagonist who definitively saves the community and prevents all future threats.
d. a protagonist who personifies death or insanity.
Feedback/Reference: See pp. 99–100.
14. Which of the following is NOT true of Westerns?
Topic: n/a
a. Westerns use landscape as an important visual and thematic element.
b. Westerns typically take place in the desert.
c. Westerns typically include a conflict between civilization and wilderness.
d. Westerns are a form of modern mythology.
TIL’s
Chapter 5: Chaplin was admit about going into the film business when offered to leave stage performing. When Keystone initially offered him 75 dollars a week Chaplin convinced him to pay 150 dollars a week and agreed to working in films.
Chapter 6: There are four Warner’s who founded the Warner Bros. company. Their names are Albert, Harry, Sam, and Jack Warner.
Chapter 7: In November of 1917 The Germen government created a private company tasked to buying out other studios in Germany until it became one film company. They would then produce films that had a positive look on Germans due to American films signifying Germans as being evil.
Chapter 8: No Russian film was produced in Russia or by a Russian company until 1908
The Kid (1921) Reflection:
I was very stunned after watching the kid. I took a History in Film class in high school and watched a plethora of old films. Many of them being old and hold up in modern critic incredibly well. Some however don’t fair to well over time. When I realized this was a silent film from 1921 I had my doubts. I was completely shocked to see how much story and comedy could be conveyed without any dialogue (unless you count the intertitles). You can tell this film holds up well because I herd many laugh coming from the classroom at multiple jokes. I was also very impressed with some affects used during the film. For example the scene when the bully’s big brother enters to fight the Tramp. When he throws a punch towards a nearby street light it bends halfway or when he punches a brick wall and it breaks. I also noticed how every actor seemed to exaggerate their movements or expressions to compensate for the lack of sound. That way the audience can better understand what’s going on in a scene and actually helped my viewing of the movie.
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TILs from chapters 5-8:
Chapter 5: In chapter 5 I learned that despite of Sennett not wanting Chaplain to develop his character, Chaplain did and developed the character of the “Tramp.” Chaplain became very recognized and he made many personal accomplishments. Chaplain came to be known as being a genius and influenced the film industry significantly. He was an influence to several intellectuals and artists and also became one of the first film industries crazes.
Chapter 6: I found it to be very interesting that when film first took off many of the actors in the films were kept anonymous. Their real names were not recognized and not given credit to. Instead, many of the people responsible for the characters in major screenplays were recognized via their stage names. It wasn’t until later that the people whom acted in films were recognized by their real names and given credit for. I also discovered the reasoning behind LA being so such a huge stomping grounds for the stars. It was initially a place that had vast lands, sunshine and oceans which made it a very ideal setting for making movies.
Chapter 7: In chapter 7 I learned of the evolvement of several new types of films, such as ones that delved into psychological aspects and fantasies. Many of the films during this era were constructive to the film industry. The Germans played a huge role in this era, and many of their films were deemed disturbing.
Chapter 8: In chapter 8, I learned that Einstein helped to shape the sound and color of the film industry. His ideas went against many of his colleagues during the era, but he helped to develop synchronization. HIs career helped to develop montage and helped to transition the sound er of films.
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ah, ok, ignore earlier comment
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kaylana Bern
Student’s email: kaylanabern@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 90%
The Kid reflection:
I really enjoyed watching this film. Even though it was silent, the body language of the actors and the in-between texts helped bring dialog to the scenes. The persona of the father was comical and the child was adorable. The relationship between the two (father and adopted son) was a very strong bond. In the scene where the child was being taken away by force was terribly sad. However, the ambition the father had to get him back really emphasized his love for his son.
Being that his was a very old film, I was astounded that I even enjoyed it. I’m not a fan of older movies but this one in particular had a good story to it.
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TIL M/K
Chapter 5: In this chapter i learned Chaplin & Sennett differed in terms of film making and Chaplin brought individuality & character to Sennett comedies.
Chapter 6: “Hollywood” has been discovered basically because of its beautiful setting & sunshine. But even at that time the actors/actresses weren’t acknowledged & their names weren’t listed for the public to see
Chapter 7: A new introduction to films, Genres & films with psychological ties & meaning became apparent to the film world.
Chapter 8: “Metropolis”(1927)”The most influential science-fiction film of all time” Einsteins influence on film
Fritz Lang.
“The Kid” Charlie Chaplin’s silent film was easily the most interesting films I’ve ever seen & one reason being because it was silent. Just like any other silent film it was hard to depict in the starting scenes, the title obviously gave away the movie would be based around “The kid” which had a great story line in my opinion. Chaplin was able to portray himself as someone who you couldn’t imagine having a kid themselves because of how careless he was in the beginning. Yet the story panned out of him being a god father for the most part with an underlying story of a woman who actually gave up the child & became successful. I thought the movie could’ve used a bit more of a destination or motive to go after.
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Tony Rivera
Student’s email: rivera7o7@yahoo.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
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Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Is it shocking that I have never seen a Charlie Chaplin movie! Yes I’m sure it is especially because he is one of the biggest movie stars. I want to start off by mentioning how well put together this movie was I was engaged and it being a silent black and white film its shocking. The use of clothing and music helped this film be more enjoyable. Chaplin’s clothes represented how poor he was and how humble him and the little boy lived. in comparison to the actress she was quite fancy with her elegant clothing. The music used also made it so much more easy to follow. When the actress would come up we would tend to hear softer music representing her delicateness and elegance. On the other hand when Charlie Chaplin and the little boy were show we saw much more exciting music and music that representative there relationship which was fun and love. The scene that we saw about him being in “heaven” and all dresses in angel wings represented symbolism to me. We saw him dreaming about such a perfect life where everyone was angelic looking and all was joy and love especially with his kids. Then the devil starts creeping in representing the orphan workers that come and try to take the boy from him. They start making people turn on each other be jealous and start fighting. They all begging fighting and turn on Chaplin. Showing how the doctor, orphan workers all wanted that little boy to be taken away. When he is dreaming he dies showing how without his kid he fly empty alone and in a way dead inside. When he wakes up and is reunited he is once again alive and with the little boy.
TIL’s
B/M Ch.5: Learning about the principal of miss-en-scene where movies look like a stage set, the over powerful use of it through good set and costumes.
B/M Ch.6: Learn about different shot techniques like the tilt shots are movements with dynamic possibilities to create meaning
B/M Ch.7: Camera close up and how it has an effect on the actors role makes he or she more evident thats our main focus
B/M Ch.8: We learn more about match cuts and what we learned in class alos about how two shots are taken and we fill in the in between
M/K Ch.5: We see the comparison in two films one of Chaplin and the other of Sennett one learn more about how Chaplin uses physical things to make a comic effect
M/K Ch.6: i learn more about the Warner Brothers and they opened there first nickelodeon in 1905
M/K Ch.7: Learn about German films and how good they made them that most didn’t need inter titles we would just feel the mood , tone etc.
M/K Ch.8: Eisestein’s way of making films and use of montage
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Quiz-
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
12. Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Topic: n/a
a. scenes
b. films
c. shots
d. texts
Feedback/Reference: Just as written language arranges words with varied meanings into sentences, cinematic language arranges elements with varied meanings into shots (p. 60).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
TIL:
B/M Ch. 2- Film creates persistence of vision, which allows you to retain the information you just took in a fraction of a second longer than what your eyes just saw.
M/K Ch. 5- I didn’t realize that Charlie Chaplin had a prejudice against many stage performers who were working in film.
M/K Ch. 6- The United States of America were following the French and English in filmmaking, and following WWI American film became the dominate filmmaking of the world.
M/K Ch. 7- Many German films highlighted psychology and really showed German Expressionist, by filming inside studios it gave them more control of what the mood of the shot would be.
M/K Ch. 8- A major difference between German films and Soviet films during this time was that German films focused more on the psychology aspect of the film whereas the Soviets focused more on the effects of putting each shot together.
Reflection on The Kid
The only other silent film I’ve ever watched was The Red Balloon, so being able to see another silent film was eye-opening. Charlie Chaplin made this film very enjoyable to watch, and it was fairly easy to keep along with what was happening. As the film begins, you start to have an understanding that Chaplin is this carefree person, focused primarily on himself and others second. By setting up the film that way it sets the mood for when he come across John. Five years later John’s biological mother showed up and there was quite a juxtaposition between her and Charlie, and John. This can be seen in their clothing, the mannerisms, as well as their homes. I think Chaplin did a good job on really highlighting this difference when he cuts to show John’s biological mom.
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Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
TILS
Ch.5:Mack Sennett started recording action at 12 fps but projected it at 16 or 24 fps to make sped it up and create a more frantic comical feel.
Ch. 6 Adolph Zukor created Paramount Pictures and would buy out his competition so his company would have the power to hire the most popular stars.
Ch. 7: Many German films were inspired by the film “Broken Blossums”, as even though it looked realistic it was shot in studio with a free moving camera.
Ch.8: Alexander Dovzhenko’s work was mostly focused on Ukrainian life and folk legend spirit and poetry of the country.
Reflections on “The Kid”
What stood out to me initially was the use of the Iris in and iris out transitions. Since many of our exposure to film and television has been mostly modern, the Iris in and iris out come off as a bit cliché and silly. However in the early 1920s it was mostly fresh and used as a stylistic option rather than just cutting to the action. I think the iris in and out is more effective in films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” but works okay. I just can’t help but think Looney Toons with the iris in and out. One aspect I did particularly enjoy was the use of speed up footage of the little boy running away. It added to the more comical effect and frantic feel, Mack Sennett had set about creating. The action did a great job of propelling the film forward with not a huge use of title cards. In terms of the dream sequence that didn’t really add anything to the film and went on way too long and was pretty confusing. Perhaps to show of the “special effects” of flying? The score did an excellent job of adding to the emotion of the movie which is very important when dialogue can’t do that in a silent film. It does seem remarkable that Charlie Chaplin performed the score as well.
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Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
The Kid reflection:
I did not expect to like this movie at all but it really caught my attention. The Kid will have you laughing one minute but, crying the next. The Kid is about Charlie Chaplin finding a child in the backseat of a car with a note that tell him to love and care for the child. Not having much money, he has second thoughts on taking the baby but he knew he needed a home. Chaplin’s character proves to be unfit to take care of a child at first but, as the years go by, Chaplin proves to be a loving and caring father. When the orphanage tries to take the child back, Chaplin fights to keep his son. He ends up returning his son to his mom and they liveThe movements of the characters and the sped up scenes added a almost goofy affect to the movie. The combination of drama and comedy makes a for a good movie with or without sound.
TIL M/K
Chapter 5: Sennett and Chaplin both had different ideas of comedy. Even though they did not agree their comedy together turned out to be successful and influential for future movies.
Chapter 6: LA became the ideal place to shoot movies because of sunshine and beautiful scenery thus giving birth to Hollywood.
Chapter 7: German movies started becoming more sophisticated and started to have more of an affect on the viewers psychologically by filming in a closed studio. In a closed studio they could set whatever tone they wanted to the movie
Chapter 8: Einstein had a great influence on the film industry with his use of montage.
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Your Score: 80 % (8 out of 10)
The Kid Reflections:
I liked Chaplin’s use of slapstick humor as a way to underline a more serious issue of homelessness and poverty. What was also interesting to me was that the story itself was the hero’s journey, where the kid is the hero, he starts with nothing, faces adversity, and then becomes the hero at the end of the movie saving not only his mother but chaplin’s character. I enjoyed the staging in the movie, there was a lot of careful thought in the way scenes were staged and the fights were staged.
TIL M/K
Chap. 5 : The production designer works closely with the director of photography, these two together are pretty much in charge of all design aspects in a film.
Chap 6: Black and white films though not used very often today offer a tonal range that can help a film maker tell a better story.
Chap 7 Screen acting has changed considerably since the first movies, where there weren’t any actors, just ordinary people protraying themselves. Now movie stars are highly trained professionals who need a deep understanding of different acting methods.
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TIL: Chapter 5 – Charlie Chaplin didn’t want his movies to be solely slapstick comedy; each character and movie he created was made to target a specific social issue.
Chapter 6- Hollywood was established in California because it gave filmmakers access to diverse landscapes within the same region.
Chapter 7- What made the German Film Industry so successful was that it used mise-en-scene to create fantasy worlds for the audience in which they can use their imagination. This is different from Soviet Film whose purpose was to be used as propaganda to express a single idea.
Chapter 8- Because of Soviet Government control over cinema, many films were restrained from creativity and were only used to serve the government.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kelly Castillo
Student’s email: chica4496@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Reflection on The Kid: The actors’ portrayal of their characters were great because I could understand what was going on and what they were feeling. This was accomplished by great facial expression and emotion, which helped supplement the lack of dialogue. I also appreciated the use of costumes to better explain the traits of the actor’s character. For example, the bully’s brother wore stuffing underneath his shirt to portray a bigger chest and bigger muscles to make the character seem more intimidating. Finally, I particularly enjoyed the social commentary of how money can cause greed in people. One of the best instances of this was when the hotel clerk turned in the child to receive the reward. Despite the comedic overtone of the movie, the viewer can still see Chaplin’s character saddened by the loss his child.
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M/K TIL
Chapter 5 – Charlie Chaplin’s films contain controversial themes such as drug addiction, poverty, hunger and religious hypocrisy portrayed through the action and characters.
Chapter 6 – American films were without competitors due to World War I. The chemicals that produced raw film stock were also the essential ingredients to gunpowder and given the choice between guns and movies, the European government chose guns.
Chapter 7 – Early German sound films were better than anyone else’s and Hitler’s political victory in 1933 killed a thriving film culture.
Chapter 8 – The scarcity of film stock led to the creation of the Kuleshov workshop (led by Lev Kuleshov). Each of the experiments furthered their control of the effects of editing and their conviction that editing was the basis of film art.
Quiz 2:
Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
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2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clip Death to the Tinman : view clip The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clip Bartholomew’s Song : view clip The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
9. Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clip Bartholomew’s Song : view clip Snapshot : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. Snapshot
Feedback/Reference: This clip from Bartholomew’s Song illustrates the manipulation of time through editing. See pp. 53–54 for more examples.
10. Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Topic: n/a
a. representation; the actual
b. reality; the speculative
c. representation; the fantastic
d. reality; the abstract
Feedback/Reference: These are two central concerns of realism. The other options include concerns of realism AND antirealism (pp. 56–57).
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kimi Garcia
Student’s email: kimigarcia123@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Student answered: b) the lens; the camera
Correct answer is: b) the lens; the camera
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Student answered: a) succession; movement
Correct answer is: a) succession; movement
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
TILS:
Chapter 5-Chapter five discusses Charlie Chaplin’s colorful life and how his expression of comedy was not the general norm for everyone else in comedy films, Charlie Chaplin asserted his comedic actions by reflecting what he witnessed going on in the real world.
Chapter 6-Chapter six discusses that because films were coming out much faster than before, film industries were not so much invested in the content in their films rather they were invested in how many films they could release in a short amount of time.
Chapter 7-Chapter seven discusses how German films became well known for interesting views and takes on mystery and horror and how it had fallen out due to either Hitler’s terrible hatred of the arts or because of Hollywood’s welcoming of American films.
Chapter 8-Chapter eight discusses how Eisenstein was judged by political leaders because his films were not producing content that talked about political topics and therefore they saw his films as useless and money absorbed.
The Kid Reflection:
The Kid is a wonderful film and I do think the best part of the film is the introduction because it starts off by telling you basically your emotions for what you’re about to watch, when he states “A story with a smile perhaps, a tear”. It is a simple foreshadowing for the film and it’s a memorable introduction quote. The second best part of the film was when The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin’s famous character) had fallen asleep at the door step in front of his home and he had a so called crazy dream, but to me it was not crazy or strange because of all the movies I have seen before this one have some weird content too. I interpreted his dream as though he was in his happy place, like a safe haven where his son and him could have fun without having to worry about getting in trouble with the law or struggle to have the minimal of a comfortable living. When he woke up it was the realization that only those necessities could be reached in your dreams not so much in real life unfortunately, until he was reunited with his son at last. The ending was not really my favorite because I wish they had gone a little past the point of his reunion with his son but it’s also nice at the same time because it allows the audience to come up with an extra ending they’re happy with.
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Student: Nathaniel Wil Clarke
Chapter Number: 2
Quiz: Your Score: 10 out of 10 (100%)
TIL M/K
Ch 5: Chaplin and Sennett both went about making comedies different ways and brought in their own individual styles. They both ended up successful.
Ch 6: At that time Hollywood wasn’t even a popular like it is today. Many actors and actresses were there doing jobs but they weren’t popularized until much later in time.
Ch 7: Many of the films made at this time were about fantasies which was a new type of genre for that time. Germany was a place where a few of these films were made.
Ch 8: The Soviets experimented with films at this time. Also Einstein helped to develop color in films which was something that was new to the film industry.
The Kid Reflection: This movie was the first silent movie I had ever seen for starters. I didn’t know what to expect and how I was going to understand the movie without all of the dialogue. To my surprise the movie didn’t need much dialogue to convey what was going and in fact, I was happy there wasn’t much anyway. The actions of the characters and the little subtitles here and there were than enough for me to become invested in the money. The movie plot was good and seem to be one of the first movies to portray the classic leaving a baby somewhere for someone else to find. This movie was a great comedy in 1921 and still holds up to that for viewers of this time. I noticed how the movie really connected to its audience because our own class was very into it. Also the movie being black and white doesn’t take away from how good the content is. The suspense in the movie was very high for me when the mother and the son had seen each other outside the house but even when they didn’t recognize each other they had a special connection. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a silent film.
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Relection on The Kid: First it was a really cute movie. The story was very heart warming and just all round nice. For the technical aspect, for this movie you could really feel the emotion between each character through their expressions and such, without needing dialouge to portray it. Another thing I found interesting but good is the fact that the snips that would show words weren’t frequent in the film. In fact I counted about 4 dialouge cards(I could be off though, so don’t qoute me). I guess the say less is more truly applies to this film.
TILs: To summerize, these chapters talk about film laguage and cinmeatogrophy. Mise-En-Scene, whose major elments are design and composistion, as well a lighting can make a huge difference in a movie. A shot is the basic unit of film language and the rule of thrids is important in a film. the rule of thirds is” applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section”. Lastly, the master shot is something filmmakers use to show the overall layout to the viewers.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Kendall Carnell
Student’s email: Kenny2jay@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Iman Ereiqat
Student’s email: imanereiqat0@gmail.com
Number of questions: 13
Percent correct: 92%
TIL
Chapter 5: Charlie Chaplin is an important figure in the history of film.
Chapter 6: The film industry in the beginning was significantly different than it was now.
Chapter 7: German films were mostly about fantasy, which interested people especially during the hard times of the war.
Chapter 8: Albert Einstein contributed a lot to the film industry.
The Kid:
I had only seen one silent film before, & that was Nosferatu. I can’t say I was particularly a fan of that movie, but even though I didn’t like it, I’ve still always really admired silent films. I think it’s so cool that we can watch movies without any consistent dialogue, & just enjoy music & various title cards. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with The Kid, but I found myself really invested in the movie by the end of it. I was very attached to the characters, I just really liked how the kid & the tramp loved eachother. I think it’s cool how even with barely any dialogue at all, I find myself super attached to the characters. The same happened with Mad Max. Not too much dialogue in that film but I still really cared for the characters. Aaanyways, I really liked The Kid. I thought it was really funny, & I enjoyed how we got to see some poverty ridden lifestyles. Like we said in class, we usually don’t see that too much in movies.
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Roberto Cortez
Student’s email:
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Question: Realism is concerned with ______________ and ______________.
Student answered: a) representation; the actual
Correct answer is: a) representation; the actual
Question: The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space? Snapshot : view clipKleingeld : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clip
Student answered: c) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: c) Death to the Tinman
Question: Which clip illustrates a parallel action? Spam-ku : view clipDeath to the Tinman : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: b) Death to the Tinman
Correct answer is: b) Death to the Tinman
Question: Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipThe Big Charade : view clip
Student answered: c) The Big Charade
Correct answer is: c) The Big Charade
Question: What is a MacGuffin?
Student answered: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Correct answer is: a) It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
Question: A movie is verisimilar if it
Student answered: c) has the appearance of truth.
Correct answer is: c) has the appearance of truth.
Question: Filmmakers may use various techniques to manipulate time such as slow/fast motion, freeze frame, split screen, chronology, and editing, among other techniques. Which clip is an example of manipulating time through editing? Spam-ku : view clipBartholomew’s Song : view clipSnapshot : view clip
Student answered: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Correct answer is: b) Bartholomew’s Song
Question: Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Student answered: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Correct answer is: b) the means of expression; the subject of a movie
Question: Cinematic language combines various elements such as lighting, movement, sound, and camera effects into single _______________ that create meaning analogous to a sentence.
Student answered: c) shots
Correct answer is: c) shots
Question: Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Student answered: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Correct answer is: d) the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Reflection on “The Kid”
I really enjoyed this very old piece of cinema.I have never watched an old fashion black and white silent film before, and after seeing this one I would like to watch more in the future. Charlie Chaplin’s famous character ( the tramp) who was only known for comedic films at the time, did an amazing job of making the movie both comedic and heartwarming. What most impressed me was how well the acting was done in a way of convincing the audience what exactly was going on without the need for extra cue cards. At the beginning of the movie we are kept laughing by the antics of a father and son. But then all of a sudden we are thrown back into reality when the men from the government come to take the Tramp’s son away. How the film is able to flow from comedy to a drama in a way that really works, shows how well this movie was really made.
TILs Chapters 5-8
Chapter 5- In chapter 5 I learned how Charlie Chaplin viewed comedy. He saw comedy as a way to show the seriousness and reality of the world at the time. Which was different from Mack Sennett’s view of comedy being all for fun.
Chapter 6- In chapter 6 I learned that in 1912, the first real motion picture magazine named Photoplay was created due to the increase in popularity of actors.
Chapter 7- In chapter 7 I learned how many new forms of movies were being made that focused on the psychological side and fantasy world which was called the golden age. many of which were made by the Germans.
Chapter 8- In chapter 8 I learned how the Russians were performing experiments that involved combining individual shots, while one of the world’s most famous geniuses helped in creating color for cinema.
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the 1921 silent film “The Kid” was extremely well made. the amount of emotion and story line makes the movie easy to understand, and easy to wacth. while watching the movie i noticed that in the beginning of the film, no one wants the little boy/baby. everyone seems to give him up not knowing what to do with him. as one of the main characters enters the film he can be seen just like the other people, not wanting anything to do with the child, later as the movie progresses the desire to have the boy grows immensely. towards the end everyone wanted the child in some way, whether it be in a harmful way or a loving way, the person whom initially gives the child up, gives some of her money to find him, and bring him back to her. i find it funny/ amusing that she only wants her son back, after she has become rich and famous. she did not want anything to do with him before she became who she was.
Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: marcus bravo
Student’s email: jbravo91697@gmail.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 80%
my book is on back order for my tils
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no TILs?
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Reyna Castaneda
Student’s email: rcastan9@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
M/K TILs
Chapter 5
Framing and kinesis are two aspects of the composition of a shot, and they mean what we see on the screen versus what moves on the screen in order to create an image that is either really flat or has a lot of depth by providing what on screen is relative to another.
Chapter 6
Film stock, lighting, and lenses are the basic components of what makes up the cinematic properties of a shot. Film stock determined the grain quality, tonal range, and whether the film was going to be in color. Lighting shapes the tone of a scene and suggests what is important to look at. Lenses use focal length to suggest the perception of the size, scale, or movement of what is shot in a scene.
Chapter 7
Though one would think the goal of a film would always have the suspense of disbelief in mind when watching the actors, there are two methods that distinguish between believable, natural roles, and over exaggerated, unnatural ones. Naturalistic roles are ones that are conceivable in reality, and the actors perform well enough that one could believe a person like the character on screen could exist. Nonnaturalistic roles, however, are reserved for characters usually found in horror, fantasy, or action films and are not relatable to the viewers, but are still able to convince them that a character like them would exist in the world they live in.
Chapter 8
An editor’s responsibilities consist of managing the spatial relationships between shots, the temporal relationships between shots, and the overall rhythm of the film.
I was absolutely astounded by The Kid. I knew about Chaplin’s shorts vaguely, as I had seen them in a Theater class, and seeing him do something more serious really enlightened me to recognize just how much more skill he had than I had already known. I was really charmed by The Kid, and I was pretty astounded by how great the child actor was and how expressive he was. Chaplin’s character really charmed me as well, and I was really endeared by him. Knowing that Chaplin defined the action-comedy genre heightens my respect for his filmmaking even further. He expressed fatherly domesticity that I actually hadn’t seen before, and his portrayal of the lower class in his film definitely made his characters more down to earth and made it easy to become invested in them as they faced struggle. Even though it was a silent film and I expected myself to find a lull in it, despite it being a Chaplin film, I was interested from beginning to end and I wouldn’t just recommend it as a way to inform people of the cinematography of the time, but I would recommend it just for enjoyment as well because of how well made it is and how endearing it is. 10/10 would watch again.
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I completely agree with your thoughts about the child actor. For being in a silent film, his acting skills were impressive. His facial features constantly highlighted the scene immensely. HIs character brought so much to not only the plot of the story, but also the making of the film. Their was one scene where he was running from the police officer, and they sped his running up. I thought that was a very nice addition to the film, especially for the age that the film was made in.
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Your Score: 100 % (10 out of 10)
TIL’s:
Chapter 5: Opposed to today’s Hollywood stars, actors who were in the business around Chaplin’s time, chose to remain anonymous, or use stage names. Seems very different, compared to all the actor’s who look for fame and glory these days.
Chapter 6: I finally learned what brothers make up “Warner Bros.” They are: Sam, Harry, Albert, and Jack Warner.
Chapter 7: Germany was the birth place of a new genre of film, fantasy.
Chapter 8: Sergei Eisenstein helped produce montage and helped develop synchronization.
I have to start out by saying that I have never seen a Charlie Chaplin film before. I have definitely heard his name, and have heard of, “the kid,” but never took the time to watch them. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the film. The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that you didn’t actually need sound, or really subtitles, to understand what was going on. The plot of the movie was straightforward enough, that the viewer pretty much always knew what was going on. I thought about movies in today’s era, and if they would be able to be viewed silently, and for the most part I don’t think they could. As a society we demand so much action, and plot twists in a movie that we have to hear what’s going on to follow, but, “the kid,” didn’t need all those elements to make it a great film. I think the scenes were planned perfectly. Each scene helped the viewers to really understand what was going on. I loved the scenes involving the windows being broken. A few times they sped up the characters running, which I think was a nice, advanced touch for the time that the movie was made. A few scenes that were very interesting and slightly confusing, were the dream scenes Chaplin had in the end. It was interesting to watch, but I can not quite figure out what was trying to be conveyed in those scenes. It simply could be a weird dream, that we all have sometimes, or possibly a dream alluding to his desire for happiness, and even maybe his desire to be forgiven for his transgressions…i.e. having the child break windows, just so he could sloppily fix them. I’m not sure that their is an answer to that scene, but either way I found it entertaining, and thought provoking.
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TIL: Chapter 5 is all about Charlie Chaplin and how he came to fame.
Chapter 6 in between 1910 and 1920 it determined the direction the American film industry would take.
Chapter 7, was about the German movie era and how it evolved.
Chapter 8, was about the Russian movie era and it changed throughout 25 years.
Quiz Results: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Cheyenne Ford
Student’s email: cford20@students.solano.edu
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 50%
Reflection:
I found this movie very funny as well as quite emotional. This movie was made without sound and yet you could understand what was happening without any words. The way that the movie was shot you could completely understand what was happening and what was going on. The fact that he raised the child even though it was not his, was inspiring how he raised the kid and did the best with what he had doing so. The movie was portrayed in a way that showed it was meant to be funny as well as serious.
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TIL:
5: Chaplin came to rule the film industry with his comedy, for which he believed was a method to portray the world as it is.
6: The film industry gained steam around this time, shaping what is now a century old entertainment empire.
7: Germany began a film revolution, beginning with avante garde film and expanding into (and inadverdantly creating) the genre we now call fantasy.
8: While Germany focused on storytelling and different genres, Russians tinkered with the cameras and created all new methods of getting shots.
Reflection: After seeing a much more extended session of Chaplin than I was previously familiar with, I must say I find myself enthralled by the film. It remains entertaining even after nearly a century in a time of disposability, even with a child actor, infamously a weight in most triple A media. Chaplin is truly deserving of his place in 10s and 20s cinema.
Your Score: 70 % (7 out of 10)
Wrong Answer is highlighted in Red.
Correct Answer is highlighted in green.
1. A movie is a coordinated synthesis of performance, composition, sound, and editing that creates meaning to tell a story. When we analyze this synthesis we are analyzing
Topic: n/a
a. a film’s content.
b. a film’s mise-en-scène.
c. a film’s form.
d. a film’s narrative.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of film form (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
2. Form describes _____________, while content describes _____________.
Topic: n/a
a. the subject of a movie; the means of expression
b. the means of expression; the subject of a movie
c. the overall effect of mise-en-scène; the elements contained in the mise-en-scène
d. the elements contained in the mise-en-scène; the overall effect of mise-en-scène
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic distinction between form and content (p. 36). See also the “Form and Content” tutorial on Looking at Movies DVD (Disc 1, Chapter 2).
3. Addressing the relationship between form and expectations, this chapter illustrates how a movie’s structure is organized around
Topic: n/a
a. the viewer’s desire to see a film that meets the expectations they had before entering the theater.
b. the viewer’s desire to escape the “normal” world.
c. the viewer’s desire to encounter special effects.
d. the viewer’s desire to learn the answers to questions posed by story elements.
Feedback/Reference: In this chapter, form and expectations are discussed in terms of narrative structure. The chapter describes how narrative sets up expectations to be met later in the film (p. 39).
4. What is a MacGuffin?
Topic: n/a
a. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be less significant to the overall narrative than first expected.
b. It is something of vital importance to the characters in a film that ends up providing closure to the narrative by the end of the film.
c. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that actually symbolizes the film’s overall theme.
d. It is something of seemingly little importance to the characters in a film that turns out to be the thing that was motivating their action all along.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of the MacGuffin described by Alfred Hitchcock (p. 41).
5. Which clip illustrates a parallel action?
Spam-ku : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Death to the Tinman
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Parallel action is achieved by parallel editing—a technique that makes different lines of action appear to be occurring simultaneously. See p. 42 for more examples.
6. Light is a key formal element that film artists and technicians carefully manipulate to create mood, reveal character, and convey meaning. Analyzing only the lighting, which clip do you think creates an ominous mood?
Spam-ku : view clip
Bartholomew’s Song : view clip
The Big Charade : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Spam-ku
b. Bartholomew’s Song
c. The Big Charade
Feedback/Reference: Much like the example from Grapes of Wrath in Chapter 2 of Looking at Movies (p. 47), this clip creates mood and meaning without words and primarily through light and shadow.
7. The interaction between two optical and perceptual phenomena makes moving pictures possible. The persistence of vision provides the illusion of ______________ while the phi phenomenon provides the illusion of ____________.
Topic: n/a
a. succession; movement
b. movement; succession
c. continuous light; succession
d. continuous light; movement
Feedback/Reference: See p. 49.
8. The scene from The Gold Rush analyzed in Chapter 2 creates the illusion that the space inside the cabin and the space outside the cabin form a complete space. Which of the following clips manipulates space to similarly create the illusion of a complete space?
Snapshot : view clip
Kleingeld : view clip
Death to the Tinman : view clip
Topic: n/a
a. Snapshot
b. Kleingeld
c. Death to the Tinman
Feedback/Reference: This scene creates the illusion that the space occupied by the burning building and the space where the other fireman wait form a complete space. However, the scene may have been shot in completely different locations on different days. See pp. 52–53 for a similar analysis of The Gold Rush.
11. A movie is verisimilar if it
Topic: n/a
a. realistically represents reality.
b. portrays an unreal world.
c. has the appearance of truth.
d. is a documentary.
Feedback/Reference: This is the basic definition of verisimilitude (p. 58).
13. Viewers identify with _______________ as filmmakers use ____________ to make meaning.
Topic: n/a
a. characters; actors
b. the lens; the camera
c. the camera; lighting
d. patterns; editing
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Quiz name: Looking at Movies, 4e
Chapter Number: 02
Student’s name: Francisco Garcia
Student’s email: garciafrancisco458@yahoo.com
Number of questions: 10
Percent correct: 100%
Chapter 5: I learned that Charles Chaplin and Mack Sennett have different ideas of how comedy should be represented.
Chapter 6: I learned that three most important figures of the moving pictures of the second major period from 1908-1919 were Griffith, Sennett, and Chaplin.
Chapter 7: I learned that the German Golden Age of film was a very short one. Also the German filmmaker realized that the camera, was like a pen, it could narrate a story in the first person as well as the third.
Chapter 8: I learned that the first fil that was produced by a Russian company or in Russia was in 1908.
The Kid Review
The Kid by Charlie Chaplin was the first silent film I ever watched. This film had some comedy scenes in it but it also had some real emotional ones. I think that the music helped to make the film more enjoyable. I also thought that the face expressions of the actors helped the audience understand all the scenes, which to me was very interesting because when I heard that this film was in black and white and it was a silent film I wasn’t expecting much. I never thought I would enjoy a black and white movie and especially if it’s silent because I always had a mindset that all black and white movies were boring. I also think that this film is showing how Charlie Chaplin takes care of a kid he found next to a garbage bin even though he didn’t have much financially. He protected the kid like if he was his own blood. I highly recommend people to watch this film. It was a real eye-opener to me.
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