SUMMER+ASSIGNMENT

This might look like a lot of work, but it shouldn't be - you should find a little time to watch films, come up with some ideas, and take down ideas. That's basically it. **1. Watch Films** For the first summer project your assignment is to watch films. Lots of films. If your parents complain that you are watching too many films, you can tell them that it is for class. However, I will not vouch for Michael Bay films. And you'd better have a good number of foreign and independent films. And some classics.
 * SUMMER ASSIGNMENT HAPPY FUN FUN YEAH**

Film Journal? Movie club?

**2. Brainstorm ideas for your final films.**

At the beginning of next quarter, you should have at least 3 //good// ideas for your final films. **NOT** any 3 ideas- 3 //good// ideas. How should you get these ideas?

1. Plan a film you could work on for the SWAN project. This must be a love story set in Shanghai (but this can and should be open to interpretation). After watching parts of //Paris, Je 'Taim// and //New York, I Love You,// think about a film that embodies ideas of love, hope, and the culture and community around the city.

2. Read the newspaper. They always say that good stories are //'ripped from the headlines'.// **I don't think this is true.** I think that a good story is often //inspired// by an event that was unusual enough to //make headlines// - but then it becomes about adding your own **what if?** For example - how would that story play out **if** it were a postmodern film? **If** it had an element of science fiction? **If** it were in a different setting?

3. Use writing prompts. For example, we've looked at Andrew Bosely's [|Brainstormer], my own collection of images on this [|Pinterest Site] **.** You could try Reddit's sub on [|Writing Prompts], or find your own source of inspiration in the world around you! However, you have to make sure that your idea is **film-able!**

4. **Most importantly-** I think this is the best approach - take Roberto Rodriguez's advice. Make a list of //what you have// //or have access to,// and make a film around it. The idea from //El Mariachi// came out of a guitar, a turtle, and a doorway.

**3. Genre Presentation** You may choose one of the genres below or **ask me** about a different genre. You may **not** choose a **genre, country,** **or time period** in which the director you have studied is connected with in any way.
 * Step One: CLAIM YOUR GENRE**

Do this over the summer! You can watch as many as you'd like! The more the better. However, you **MUST** watch **4 films in your genre at HL** or **2 films in your genre at SL.** You must also watch **one additional film** that was inspired by your genre, or related to your genre in some way - but not directly associated with your genre (for example, //Blade Runner// was considered a 'neo-noir', inspired by the Film Noir genre. //Moulin Rouge// was inspired by classical hollywood musicals).
 * **GENRE** || **YOUR NAME** || **SUGGESTED FILMS (from me)** ||
 * Italian Neorealism || Billy || //The Bicycle Thief, Rome Open City// ||
 * French New Wave || Jade || //Breathless, The 400 Blows// ||
 * German Expressionism ||  || //The Cabinet of Dr. Caligary, Vampyr, Nosferatu// ||
 * Bollywood || Vivian || //Lagaan, Sholay// ||
 * 5th Generation Chinese Cinema || Mulan || //Yellow Earth, Raise the Red Lantern, King of Masks// ||
 * 6th Generation Chinese Cinema || Peter || //Still Life, Devils at the Doorstep// ||
 * Jidaigeki (Samurai Films) ||  || //Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Lone Wolf & Cub Series, Sansho the// //Bailiff// ||
 * Contemporary Korean Horror ||  || //The Host, Mother, Chan Wook Park's Vengeance Trilogy// ||
 * American New Wave || Rico || //Apocalypse Now, Bonnie and Clyde// ||
 * Soviet Montage || Madeline/Joy || //Man with a Movie Camera, Battleship Potemkin// ||
 * Spaghetti Western || Leon || //The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West// ||
 * Kung Fu ||  || //Enter the Dragon, Kung-Fu Hustle// ||
 * Magic Realism || Derek || //Pan's Labyrinth, The City of Lost Children// ||
 * Classic Hollywood Musical ||  || //Singin' In The Rain, 42nd Street, Duck Soup// ||
 * 50s Sci Fi || Jason || //Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, The Day the Earth Stood Still// ||
 * Film Noir ||  || //The Maltese Falcon, Dark Passage// ||
 * Postmodern Film || **already covered** || //Synecdoche, New York, Being John Malkovich, Inglorious Bastards// ||  ||
 * Screwball Comedy || Jeremy || //To Be Or Not To Be, Some Like It Hot, It Happened One Night// ||  ||
 * Step 2: WATCH FILMS**

Do yourself a favor and **save time**. //Do your research first.// Read what you must include in your presentation below. After you watch each film, add information to your keynote presentation, including screenshots from your film.


 * Step 3: PRESENTATION**
 * This will be due TWO WEEKS after we get back, so plan accordingly.** The due date will be on **August 27th.**

This presentation will be on your genre. It should be a **keynote presentation** unless you've got some great alternate idea you want to run by me. You must cover all the films that you were assigned and explain how your additional film was inspired by your genre. Y**our only words should be titles and names**. You should make notecards or use the note section of the keynote. You should include: Your whole presentation should not exceed 15 minutes (including your two selected scenes).
 * Slides that show the characteristics of your genre.
 * Slides that show the major films of your genre.
 * Slides that show major directors associated with your genre.
 * Slides that explain the themes of your genre.
 * Slides that explain how elements of: mis-en-scene/cinematography/editing/sound are used to show theme & tone in your genre
 * End with two selected scenes that you feel are "essential viewing" for your genre (limit to 3 minutes max each).
 * || **Accomplished** || **Improving** || **Satisfactory** || **Beginning** ||
 * **Familiarity with Subject** || There is an excellent understanding of the genre and it's //context in film history//. All of the above topics are covered thoroughly. || There is a good understanding of the genre and it's //context in film history//. All of the above topics are covered. || There is an fair understanding of the genre and it's //context in film history//. Most of the above topics are covered. || There is an poor understanding of the genre and it's //context in film history//. Few of the above topics are covered. ||
 * **Analysis** || There is an insightful analysis as to how the elements of film have shaped, or taken form, in your genre. || There is a good analysis about how the elements of film taken form in your genre. || There is a fair analysis about how the elements of film taken form in your genre. || There is little analysis about how the elements of film taken form in your genre. ||
 * **Presentation** || The presentation is clear and concise. The slide shows are well organized, designed well, and the presenters are clear and confident in their speaking voices || The presentation is clear and concise. The slide shows are mostly well organized, designed well, and the presenters are relatively clear and confident in their speaking voices || The presentation mostly clear and/or concise. The slide shows are somewhat organized, sometimes designed well, and the presenters are occasionally clear and confident in their speaking voices || The presentation is not clear clear or concise. The slide shows are not well organized, designed well, and the presenters are not clear or confident in their speaking voices ||
 * **Research** || There is ample evidence that research has been done in academic journals and books to bolster the arguments made about the genre. || There is evidence that research has been done in academic journals and/or books to bolster the arguments made about the genre. || There is some evidence that research has been done to bolster the arguments made about the genre. || There is little evidence that research has been done. ||