Information on the First Decade of Filmmaking.

1. Read one of the essays on this site. What did you learn about early filmmaking? How do James Walter's essays reflect the contemporary trends that have their roots in early cinema? What are contemporary views of early filmmaking?

2. Examine the a-to-z link on the site. How many terms were unfamiliar to you? Even though the descriptions were brief, was it useful to your understanding of film and film history? Which terms were most interesting to you? How can a glossary such as this aid filmmakers?

List of Links to Information on Early Cinema

1. Examine some of the website links. How does learning about the history of film help you to become a better film scholar? A better filmmaker? A better film viewer?

2. What does examining film history teach you about American history? How is film history shaped by American history? How is perception of American history shaped by our knowledge of film history?

Resource for Information on Silent Films.

1. What do you think accounts for the many groups and websites dedicated to silent films? Why do think silent films are still of such interest to people? Research some of the links of the silent film interest groups and discuss what aspects of the silent film industry are of interest.

2. How would a silent film made today be different from the originals? Why would a filmmaker want to make a silent movie today? Look at the Silent Movie link and discuss possible reasons for the 1976 film's success. Would most film audiences be interested in silent movies today? Why or why not?

The Silent Film Still Archive

1. Who were some of the famous silent film stars? How many of them were able to continue making films once talking pictures became popular? What are the differences in acting techniques between silent film and early talking picture stars? What careers did silent film stars pursue once silent pictures became obsolete?

2. What techniques of silent films are still used in cinema today? What elements of silent films would you like to see in commercial film today?

Various Articles on Silent Film.

1. Read about one of people who made their living from silent films. How did they get their start? What became of them once silent film was no longer popular? How did they view talking pictures?

2. How did Japanese silent film differ from American silent film? What are the similarities of the two nations’ films? Were they influenced by each other? Did they evolve the same way? Was the decline of both countries’ films caused by the same events? What does knowledge of Japanese silent films teach you about the Japanese culture? How does it help you to understand their films of today? Why is it important to learn about films from other countries?

Information on German Expressionism.

1. What are some characteristics of expressionist films? Why do you think filmmakers used such obvious shadows? How did filmmakers use symbolism in their films?

2. What was the purpose of expressionist films? How did they come about? What did they evolve into? What did the films have in common?

History of German Expressionism.

1. What was the purpose of expressionist films? What was the goal of the filmmakers? Who are some of the filmmakers? Examine their backgrounds and lives. What did they have in common? Why did they want to create a new style of film?

2. View the websites for The Cat and the Canary and Metropolis. Made in the same year, these films both reflect social ideologies of the time. What messages are the films trying to portray to audiences? What are the similarities of the films? Are there conflicting messages? How do they reflect social opinion of the day?

Essay on German Expressionism.

1. How did German political and social events affect German film? How did the art evolve? Did it start as a film movement? Where else is expressionism seen? What is the aim of expressionism? How does it relate to historical events of the time? How can we learn about German history through expressionist films?

2. In what ways does The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari categorize the expressionist movement? What characteristics does it contain that are found in most other expressionist films? How is it different from the others? Why is it considered the epitome of the movement?

Description of French Impressionism.

1. What are some characteristics of French impressionist films? What was the purpose of impressionism in film? How was the film movement influenced by impressionist art? How did the movement evolve historically?

2. How is this website a useful tool for film practitioners? What sorts of information is available on the website? How could filmmakers use it in creating their films? What categories on the website are the most interesting to you?

Description of Surrealism.

1. What are some characteristics of surrealist films and art? What was the purpose of surrealism in film? How was the film movement influenced by surrealist art? How did the movement evolve historically?

2. Contemporary television shows such as Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure are considered to be surrealistic. What characteristics from surrealist films do these shows contain? How are they different? Why do/don't you think they are considered surrealistic? Has the way the movement was historically categorized changed and been redefined?

Historical Perspective of Soviet Montage.

1. What are some characteristics of Soviet montage film? What was the purpose of the movement? How did the art form evolve? What was it trying to teach its audiences?

2. How was Soviet montage style political? How did the government influence the films? How was Eisenstein influenced by the government? What can you learn about the social and political conditions from watching his films?

Information on Sergei Eisenstein.

1. For what is Eisenstein most noted? How were his methods revolutionary? How have they influenced contemporary filmmaking? What are some of his most well-known films?

2. What was the purpose of the Eisenstein’s films? What film techniques made furthering a political agenda possible? What films are political today? How does film influence our political convictions?

Information about the Film The Jazz Singer.

1. For what is The Jazz Singer noted? What was revolutionary about it? How did it set the ball rolling for the golden age of Hollywood in the 1930s? Why is it considered one of the greatest films of all time?

2. How is The Jazz Singer an historical document? What does the use of white performers in black face in the film teach you about appropriate style conventions of the day? Do you think the film accurately reflects popular sentiment of the day? Or did the film define the sentiment of the time?

Notes on Italian Neorealism

1. Although not meant to be political, most Italian neorealist films are categorized by Christian and Marxist ideals. Why do you think this is? Where are these dogmas seen in the neorealist films of Italy? What effect do you think this would have had on the audiences?

2. What are the characteristics of Italian neorealist films? What influenced the filmmakers? What do the films and filmmakers have in common? What was the intent of neorealist artists?

Information on Major Films and Filmmakers of Italian Neorealism.

1. What are some common themes found in the films on this website? What message do you think they were trying to teach? What does this tell you about the social and political climate of Italy at the time?

2. What are some names in Italian neorealist films? Do the filmmakers have anything in common? Which ones do you think set the standard for the movement? Which ones seem the most innovative?

Definition of Italian Neorealism.

1. Is Italian neorealism still found today? How is it seen in contemporary Italian film and television? Is it found in film or television outside of Italy? Why do you think the movement is still appealing to contemporary audiences? What can you learn about Italian ideals and sentiment from watching neorealist films?

2. How do the films use elements of the European and the American realist movement? What are the similarities between the two movements? How did World War II influence the movement?

Essay by Steve Nottingham on the French New Wave.

1. What were some characteristics of French new wave cinema? What was the purpose of the movement? What are some names and titles associated with these films? What elements of the French new wave films found their way into mainstream films in Hollywood?

2. How did the movement come about? What was the intent of the filmmakers? Why was location shooting so important? What did the movement evolve into? Are there remnants of new wave cinema today?

Overview of the French New Wave

1. French new wave film was the first to resurrect mise-en-scene. How was it used in the French films? How has it evolved into a Hollywood standard today?

2. How is French new wave cinema different from Polish, Japanese, Iranian, and Hong Kong new wave? What are the similarities? Did they evolve the same way? Do they have the same purpose? Who is responsible for the start of the new wave art? Do these countries and styles borrow from each other? Is new wave a universal film form?

Links to Information on French Directors

1. Examine several of the links on this website. How did the directors get their start in the film industry? For what are they known? Why is their work revolutionary? What influences their work? How are their works similar? How are their works different? Who do you think is the most well-known director?

2. How did Jean Cocteau and Jean-Luc Godard influence contemporary French filmmakers? Where is their influence seen? How did Cocteau and Godard build their reputations? For what are they best known?

Information on the Film Easy Rider

1. Why is Easy Rider considered one of the greatest films of all time? What makes it innovative? What traditional conventions does it utilize? What new ideas or techniques does the film contain?

2. How does the film reflect American sentiment of the time? What political and social implications does it contain? How do you think this film shaped public opinion of the time?

Article about the Career of Director Francis Ford Coppola

1. Why is Francis Ford Coppola considered one of the most brilliant directors today? What is his film background and training? What are his aims as a director? How do audiences perceive his films? Why is his work important?

2. What characterizes the films of Francis Ford Coppola? What makes his films innovative and unique? Are all his films easily identifiable as his work? How are his films controversial? What other directors’ styles are similar to Coppola's? How have his films impacted the film world?

Information on Director Martin Scorsese

1. Why is Martin Scorsese and his work important to film scholarship? What has he contributed to the film world? Why is he revered as an innovative and daring director?

2. Martin Scorsese is a director, actor, producer, writer, and editor. Why do you think he has been involved in all aspects of filmmaking? What advantages/disadvantages does that give him in the film industry? How does knowing firsthand about all aspects of filmmaking create a better filmmaker? How was he able to get involved in so many different areas of film?

Information on the Film American Graffiti

1. Why is American Graffiti considered one of the greatest films of all time? What makes it innovative? What traditional conventions does it utilize? What new ideas or techniques does the film contain? Why do you think it did not win any of the Academy Awards for which it was nominated?

2. How does the film reflect American sentiment of the time? What political and social implications does it contain? How do you think this film shaped public opinion of the time? How has the film become legendary?

Information on the Film The Conversation

1. Why does Brenda Austin-Smith say The Conversation is one of the most brilliant and innovative films of its time? Do you agree or disagree? Why do you think it's not recognized by many critics as such? What makes the film unique? Why is this an important film?

2. How much validity do you give to scholars’ opinions? This website is an article giving one woman's opinion of a film. Do you consider her analysis a valid commentary on the film? Does her commentary influence the way you feel about the film? What validates our opinions of film reviewers’ credibility? Is your opinion just as valid as Austin-Smith's? Why or why not? What does it take to become a film critic and scholar?

Information on the Director Jim Jarmusch

1. Examine the website links for Ghost Dog. Six countries have created websites devoted to the film. Why do you think this is an important film? How does the film build upon Jim Jarmusch's other films? How is this film unique? Is it a brilliant film? How does it utilize traditional film conventions? What gives this film universal appeal?

2. Jim Jarmusch has established himself as director, actor, writer, editor, producer, composer, and cinematographer. Why do you think he has been involved in so many aspects of production? Why is Jarmusch an important figure in the film world? What are his goals as a filmmaker? What has influenced his work?