Events
We are delighted to announce that due to incredible demand our upcoming screening of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (6 April) has moved to the Filmhouse’s Screen 1, ensuring that more of you can join us for this deep dive into the metaphysics of love and the ethics
Essays
Introduction: The Desire for Normality What does it mean to be "normal"? In a sane world, normality implies a balance, a healthy integration with one’s community. But what happens when the world itself goes mad? In Bernardo Bertolucci’s masterpiece The Conformist (Il Conformista, 1970), "normality&
Introduction to Film Studies
Synthesis is the realization that cinema is a Gesamtkunstwerk - a "total work of art" where every element operates in simultaneous harmony.
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 12: Ideology Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Politics of the Image Introduction: "It’s Just a Movie" The most common defense of cinema—and the most dangerous one—is the phrase, "Relax,
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 11: Genre Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Rituals of Storytelling Introduction: The Contract of Expectation When you walk into a library, you don't just look for "a book." You look for
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 10: Documentary Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Creative Treatment of Actuality Introduction: The Fiction of Non-Fiction We tend to divide cinema into two neat, opposing boxes: Fiction (made up) and Documentary (real). This is a
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 9: Realism vs. Formalism Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Hidden Narrative Introduction: The Window vs. The Frame Every filmmaker must answer one philosophical question before they pick up a camera: What is the purpose of
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 8: Auteur Theory Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ Who is the Author? Introduction: The Director as God When we discuss a novel, we say, "This is a book by Hemingway." When we discuss a
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 7: Sound Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Hidden Narrative Introduction: The Forgotten Sense We call it "watching" a movie, but we should call it "experiencing" a movie. While the eyes are
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 6: Editing Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Invisible Art Prerequisite: Lesson 5: Cinematography Introduction: The Third Meaning In the previous lessons, we discussed the "Raw Materials" of cinema – the script, the set, the
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 5: Cinematography Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Camera’s Consciousness Prerequisite: Lesson 4: Mise-en-scène Introduction: The All-Seeing Eye In the previous lesson, we looked at what was in the room (Mise-en-scène). Now, we turn our
Introduction to Film Studies
Introduction to Film Studies Lesson 4: Mise-en-scène Part of the Introduction to Film Studies course. ⬅️Previous Lesson | Course Syllabus | Next Lesson ➡️ The Psychology of the Room Prerequisite: Lesson 3: The Principles of Form Introduction: The Director as Architect In the previous lesson, we analyzed the abstract rules of Form and