So that you are not pressed to write a lot of entries in your Viewing Journal at the end of the course, I suggest that you pay attention to it weekly. You can follow the template I have provided for any film that you watch and trust that you will be current. We will take time in our next class to work on your journals.
Here an example of how you might list a film.
The Great Train Robbery
Edwin S. Porter 1903, 12 minutes
Written by Edwin S. Porter
Actor(s); Gilbert Anderson as escaping passenger. (later known as Bronco Billy)
Made in 1903
Western/narrative
Synopsis- A tragic narrative in 14 scenes. Bandits Hold up a train by forcing a telegraph operator to make the train stop at the station. They board the train at gunpoint when it stops. The bandits split up. One group robs the passengers, killing one who tries to escape The other group gains control of the engine and they all escape leaving the passenger cars behind. Meanwhile, The telegraph operator is untied and runs to warn the other townsfolk who are at a dance hall. The robbers leave the train outside of town and take the loot to their waiting horses. A chase ensues. Towns people and bandits ride through the trees shooting at each other. Thinking they have eluded the posse, the bandits stop and begin dividing the loot. They are confronted and killed by the posse. The final shot shows the head bandit in medium closeup aiming a gun at the camera and audience. He fires one shot directly at the audience. The film ends.
Edwin S. Porter was employed by Edison to build cameras, make projectors. In 1897 he traveled in the West Indies and South America projecting Edison Films.
Very early use of cuts only editing for continuity. Also the employment of double exposure or matte shots for several scenes.
Shot in Milltown New Jersey for the Edison Film company. This film was noted in 1904 as "the most popular film that has ever been made". It is one of many films that Edwin S. Porter made for Edison and other companies.
In addition, since we now often view films in DVD or web formats, It should be noted what format the film was originally produced in. For instance 35mm or 16mm color or black and white. If you see it in a movie theater make note of whether you saw it as analog or digital. Some films start out as video and are converted to film for projection. Some films go the other way. You can find this out at the theater or on IMDB.
Good viewing.
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