Hello Everyone and Welcome to CP 460!
Please take time to familiarize yourself with the syllabus. I will be having virtual office hours tomorrow from 9am to 11am on Skype. Feel free to come by and say hello.
In the meantime, I would like everyone to introduce themselves. As part of your introduction, tell me what film you could watch over and over again.
So far, the screenings for Module 1 include: (these are located on SIU Online)
Blacksmithing (1893)
Luis Martinetti, Contortionist (1894) Edison Kinetoscope
Three American Beauties (1906)
Princess Nicotine (1909) The Vitgraph Company
White Fawn’s Devotion (1910) dir. John Deer (earliest surviving film directed by a Native American)
Stay tuned for additional films.
Here are a few other films available on youtube:
Electrocuting an Elephant (1903) Edison
The Kiss [May Irwin] (1896) Edison
A Trip Down Market Street (1906) Hales Tours
My introduction can be found on the About Dr. Leigh link on the Nav bar.
One film that I could easily watch many times and in fact have watched probably more than 30 times is the original 1939 Wizard of Oz ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU ) with Judy Garland.
I watched this film every year on television when I was growing up. For some reason, it was always played before Lent, which means it often played around my birthday. One year I was lucky enough for it to play on the night of my birthday party and my friends and I watched it as part of the party.
Now I have watched the film several times with my daughter. Even after all these years, I am still enchanted the minute Dorothy leaves her drab Kansas house and steps into the colorful, magical world of Oz. It is the film that first illustrated for me how important the small details are to telling a story (the character repetitions, the music, the set design, the small clues regarding the storm and those on Dorothy’s journey that fill in the backstory.) The Wizard of Oz is definitely one of the flms that solidified my love for cinema at a very early age.
My memory of The Wizard of Oz is quite different.
When I was young and DVD players became relatively inexpensive, my dad took me and my siblings to Best Buy and he said we could pick out any movie we wanted. I chose Recess School’s Out but my dad said I didn’t know what was good for me and bought Wizard of Oz instead. To this day I still haven’t seen Recess School’s Out.
I think it might be time to see Recess 😉
My name is David Martin and i’m a junior Cinema Production student . I grew up in Southern Illinois and enjoy watching films, working on film productions, talking philosophy, and skateboarding. I got into films and filmmaking during high school and have been excited and intrigued ever since.
One film I could watch over and over again would have to be the the 1997 film Boogie Nights, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. I first saw this film a little over a year ago and from the moment I watched it I became instantly entranced. From the way the camera moves, to the deeply disturbed characters within the film, it encompasses all that I love in cinema.
The film’s photography is what truly caught my eye. Shot by Roger Elswit, the camera’s fast movements and rich color palette really extenuate the period in which the characters live in. One of the clever themes throughout the movie is the love you have for these characters despite their involvement in the drug laced, San Fernando porn industry of the 1970s. This film is a masterpiece in my opinion and I highly recommend it, or any Paul Thomas Anderson films to any lover of cinema.
Hello David,
I saw the film when it came out and remember being awed by the set design and acting. I tihnk it might be time to revisit it.
My name is Jenny Machura and I’m a Senior majoring in Cinema and RTD. Besides school and movies, I enjoy reading, writing, painting, and training to become a skater with the Southern Illinois Roller Girls.
One movie that I can watch over and over is The Outsiders, Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of the novel by S.E. Hinton. When I was in junior high, I remember it was shown on TV one night. I recorded it on a VHS tape (I’m dating myself) and watched it so much that the tape was worn out in a matter of months. Now I have two copies of the movie on DVD (the regular version and the special “Complete Novel” edition).
I love this film for so many reasons. I really like the cinematography (especially the big, gorgeous shots of the church in the country), and the set design, props, and costumes all seem so authentic. You wouldn’t believe that this was filmed in the early 80’s and not the 1960’s because of how “in place” everything looks. The Outsiders definitely pushed my appreciation for realism in film one step further.
This is one of the films that helped me decide that I wanted to work in this industry.
I have seen it many times as well. This is a great film! One that, unfortunately, gets overlooked. Despite the young age of the cast, the acting is outstanding.
I’m Levi Brown. I’m a film and english major at SIU. I have a strong interest in cinematography and writing.
One film that I’ve seen many times and haven’t gotten bored of is Inception. I saw that movie the summer before I came to SIU and I felt intimidated by the movie, enough so that I considered not pursuing film as a major.
At the time I saw the movie, I was unaware of experimental and a majority of world cinema and so I viewed Inception as something that was the pinnacle of cinema and that there was no reason to to keep making movies. Having decided to pursue film, the film classes have made me realize how ridiculous a statement like that was at the time. But there are still a lot of aspects about Inception that I admire.
I remember watching the first trailers for the movie and thinking “What on Earth is this movie about?” After seeing the movie I was extremely impressed with how Nolan was able to take an intriguing concept and work it into a summer blockbuster. That made me realize that it was possible to make complex stories that still appeal to a wide audience, something I would love to attempt in the future.
Hopefully, I will be ready if that opportunity ever presents itself.
Great film. Nolan is an excellent filmmaker, though I think one problem with Inception is that too many people left the theater confused.
Hi everyone,
I’m Landon. I’m a senior, CP major, and RTD/creative writing double minor. I can think of about five different movies that I could (and already did) watch over and over again. The one that I have probably watched the most is Home Alone. It was released the year before I was born and my older siblings watched it over and over again. Growing up it was our annual “Christmas family movie” but we still watched it every month leading up to Christmas. It’s one of those movies that I can watch over and over again and still catch something I missed. Whether it’s a joke I finally understood or the way something was shot, I’m always able to find something different.
Hello Landon! You have figured out the secret to good film scholarship (wether it be for study or production purposes) – the way in which multiple viewings encourages you to notice new things, new details and better understanding.
I am Shenese D. Doll. I’ll be a senior after the Summer semester. I found out that I wanted to be a filmmaker when I started writing, and continued reading novels. I think most people can visualize stories they read in their head as they read, and I am one of those people. When I read a story, it plays out in my head so vividly and if the story is really good, I used to think about what actor/actress I would want to see as the main characters. I also decided to become a filmmaker because I said when I write stories, I also want to be the one to make it a film, instead of someone else.
A movie I could watch over and over again is Wicker Park, directed by Paul McGuigan. I fell in love with this movie because of the twists in the plot, and the mystery. I loved that it is a love story and thriller at the same time. It’s not a romantic comedy or a drama love story, it is the type of movie that makes you start screaming at the characters as if they can hear you. I can still watch this movie, though I’ve seen it several times. It just gets better and better everytime I watch it. I won’t talk about it the plot, because if anyone decides to watch, I don’t want to spoil anything. But I highly suggest that you watch it and other films by Paul McGuigan, another favorite by him is Lucky Number Slevin.
I will admit that I have not seen Wicker Park. I will definitely add it to my must see list.
I would agree that in the case of Harry Potter, the books are better than the movies. However in regard to the Hunger Games, The language of the book is not really that visually descriptive, So it involves a lot of extra imagination on the part of reader. The movie takes this visual ambiguity and fills it in with the right detail to give it more depth. In short, I think the book tells whereas the movie shows (not just literally).
My name is Nick Neal. I’m a senior majoring in Cinema.
A film I could watch over and over again would be the The Hunger Games. I think it’s paced well and edits its violence in away that doesn’t glorify it, giving it’s message more sincerity. I actually think it’s better than the book.
I enjoyed watching the Hunger Games, though I am not convinced it is better than the book. Like Harry Potter, because of the popularity of the print version, it was a difficult film to make.
Hello – I am Renee Ingram (Schuyten). I left SIU 20 years ago without finishing my senior thesis (what’s that you now ask!) with the best of intentions to write that screenplay and just mail it in. Well, Hollywood was calling. I worked for 10 years as a camera assistant, a member of the International Cinematographers Guild – working mostly feature films when I finally left to get married, have babies, and become a Real Estate Broker in Seattle. Yes, a lot of days I feel like Ann Bening in ‘American Beauty’.
I’m taking this class to graduate! (my mom is so happy)
You can laugh – but one movie I can watch over and over is Armageddon, directed by Michael Bay. It’s not my favorite all time movie, or the smartest, but it grabs your feelings and brings you on a wild ride which is what I love about film. Emotional manipulation. From the sets to the music, the campy humor, the romance, the little imitations of other films (All the Right Men) all set against an end of the world situation. I laugh, I cry, I envy, I cheer…
Ah, the root of cinema’s power – its ability to grab your attention, to move despite your resolve not to be moved – One of the reasons I love what I do!
Hello, sorry for being a day late, but I was having login troubles.
My name’s Michael Ashby, and I am a senior CP major. Picking a favorite movie is tough, but one that I definitely could (and have) watch over and over is The Lion King. If an animated movie isn’t allowed, then I would go with Dumb and Dumber. These are both purely nostalgic picks, but this is probably what makes them endlessly rewatchable for me.
Of course animation is allowed! The Lion King was an important film for Disney to make, one of the first that broke the princess mold and pull them out of the fairy tale mire (though not too far out – they needed Pixar for that.)
Lion King is my favorite animated movie of all time!!! Not just the story and the music!!! But I love the sound effects of that movie!! I didn’t know when I was a kid what I loved so much about the movie, but that is what it is. Also the art in general of that film.
Hi! My name is Christophe Freeman. I am senior majoring in Cinema and minoring in Psychology and English. I got into filmmaking because I’ve always had a passion for stories and storytelling and I thought films are a great way of visually telling stories.
One movie that I watch over and over again is The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese. I love crime thrillers because of their complex plots but I continue to watch this film because of the character development. We watch as a crooked cop rises through the ranks while an undercover deals with the mental issues of his job. Every time I watch the film I find more subtle clues to the ending that continues to blow my mind.
Excellent film. I too like thrillers that encourage active viewership.
Yes Departed was terrific and I don’t even go far gory films, but I loved Departed and have seen it multiple times.
Hi I’m Nick Mertens a senior Film, History double Major. One film that has always been one of my favorites is, The Godfather. It’s a film that when I was younger I liked it because it was about gangsters and now I admire it for it’s writing, characters, acting, and cinematography. I can jump in to it at anytime when its on tv and I’ll watch it all the way through. I don’t know if I would go as far as some, calling it a “perfect” movie but I certainly enjoy it.
The Godfather should definitely be on everyone’s To Watch list, if for no other reason than because it is one of the most reference film in film history.
Hi my name is Chris O’Malley and I’m a senior majoring in Cinema and Photography. The film I could watch more than any other would likely be Fellini’s 8 1/2. It was the film that sparked my interest in cinematography. It was one of the earliest foreign films that I watched and I was amazed by what they were able to achieve in the early 1960’s. I’m especially interested in the use of camera movement. It helps immerse the viewer in the beautiful sets and locations as well as adding a surreal feeling to many scenes. Whenever I become bored of my own work I often watch 8 1/2 to find some sort of inspiration.
8 1/2 is truly amazing. The way it draws you in… I never fail to feel claustrophobic during the traffic scene.
Andrew Wire here. I’m a Cinema student.
As a lad, I would watch certain movies ad nauseam: Wayne’s World, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, etc… High-School-me loved to come home pop in Rushmore or Pulp Fiction, rewatching the same scenes because I had them stuck in my head all day, like a song that just plays over and over.
Presently, I’m a sucker for Kubrick films. For here, let’s just narrow it down to Dr. Strangelove. It is funny, tense, and smart as a whip. It looks freaking gorgeous and the performances are so nuanced. What I see when I watch it is a film where no aspect (technical or otherwise) is taken for granted. Every millimeter is precisely pressed and shaped. The themes and iconography remain relevant. George C. Scott chews gum.
My favorite Kubrick film is Lolita. He is a directly who understands subtlety.
My name is Ben Romang and I will be graduating with a cinema degree after this summer. It was tough for me to narrow down one film I could watch over and over again. It came down to O Brother Where Art Thou? and 8 1/2. 8 1/2 had a strong impact on me after my grandfather showed it to me some years back, it was hands down his favorite movie. But I would have to claim O Brother Where Art Thou? as the film I could watch over and over again.
O Brother never fails to entertain me, I see it as the perfect “film experience.” It intertwines amazing music with beautiful cinematography and displays some of the best comedic writing I’ve ever experienced. The Coen Brothers prove that they are masters with their ability to take The Odyssey, Sullivan’s Travels and the American South and create something unique and special. I also love how they integrate real people and events into the story, such as Baby Face Nelson and Robert Johnson’s legendary crossroads.
Excellent film, one of my favorite Coen brother’s films. Many of their films encourage multiple viewing. I used to have Raising Arizona memorized.
Hello I am Savannah Steiner. I just technically graduated from SIU in cinema and photography. This is the last class I must take. I am in love with the movie Finding Nemo ( I know I know). I am a huge fan and I think it is because of the story line. My minor is creative writing and I am always looking for creative stories. I also want to do something in animation after school.
Finding Nemo was so unique when it first came out and people of all ages enjoyed the film. It was also one of the first big animated movies to really follow the footsteps of Toy Story. I could watch this film over and over again and never get bored. When I watch a movie I notice the art department, set design and cinematography almost immediately. This movie was an animation that hit all of those areas creatively. Story is always important to me because you can have a beautiful movie but not be successful because there was no story. I have seen low budget movies with a low key style but the story is what made it work.
In addition to their innovation with animation, those guys at Pixar know a good story when they find it
Hello, My name is Steven Colonero I am also a senior in Cinema here at SIU. While I can think of many films that I can watch over and over one has already been mentioned, that would be the Godfather, great choice if I do say so myself. My personal favorite would have to be Forrest Gump. I dont really know what it is about the film but the way they blend history with the storyline is fantastic not to mention the soundtrack is one of the best I can think of. I always seem to catch it on TNT and I will always find myself watching it, I just love it.
Robert Zameckis is very good at combining solid engaging stories with technological innovation.
Forest Gump is brilliant. I think a subtle skill in film is how do you gain access to people’s emotions? If you come off too strong, too fast, too violent, too preachy – people will shut down and close themselves off. Forest doesn’t threaten anyone, you open your heart to him, and then a social zinger gets shot straight in. Then, a little comic relief, you open back up, zinger. Over and over in this film. I love it.
My name is Alex Wilson, and I am in my 4th year of college, although I guess technically I am only a Junior. I still have a year of school left because I used to attend Western Illinois University, and was majoring in Computer Science when I decided to switch majors and transfer to SIUC. Most of my credits did not transfer considering the classes I was taking at the time. I am currently on vacation in Florida writing this, and am quite tired so I apologize if any of this looks like rambling or gibberish.
Anyways, a movie that I can watch over and over is Avatar. I know a lot of cinema “purists” do not like the movie for a multitude of reasons, but I absolutely love it. I love everything about it from the animation to the story. When I am watching it I would give anything to be on the planet with all of those creatures because it is so amazing and beautiful, and I guess that’s why I enjoy it so much (how beautiful it is). Even though it is a fairly lengthy movie, whenever I am bored or looking for something to watch and just can’t decide, I always find that I can fall back on Avatar, and thus far it hasn’t let me down.
Ah well, as many who have taken classes with me know, I am not a huge James Cameron fan. That said, I applaud his pushing the limits of what cinema can do.
You would have quite a powerful combo with computer science and cinema….
Hello everyone! My name is Seth Lesemann and I am a senior studying Cinema. I really love watching and making movies and it’s what I hope I spend the rest of my life doing.
I would say a film I could watch over and over again would be Pirates of Silicon Valley. It’s a narrative film film based on the rise of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and how they both formed their companies and their rivalries against each other. Each time I watch it I realize different aspects of both characters that draws me to one or the other at the end of the movie and my opinion changes every time. Definitely worth a watch (or two or three or…) so check it out! I think Morris has it on shelf!
Ok, a film I have not seen. I will be sure to check it out.
Hello. I’m Keum Joo Bae just call me as Debby. I am Junior in Cinema and Philosophy. I am Korean and staying in Korea right now. I love to write or read anything and watching still or moving image always inspire me to have fever.
Because of my nationality, when I was young I watched many Asian movie. However, my mother was huge fan of movie, so naturally I could experience all different kinds of movies. When I was 7, mother bought me first video tape for me. It was “Sound of Music (1965)”. It was my mother’s favorite movie so she bought for me. As it touched my mother’s heart, it touched mine also. Until it was broken (because I watched so often), I watched everyday. I could not count how much time that I watched, but i could draw the scene of movie. Recently I watched again, and realized that great movie has special mood or power which could give impression no matter what year or age viewer live.
Hello Debby,
I almost wrote about The Sounds of Music, it has the same place in my heart at The Wizard of Oz.
Hello all! My name is Clark Faust and I will be a senior in this upcoming fall semester.
A film that I can watch over and over again is The Big Lebowski (1998). I have probably seen it over 30 times, but each time I watch it I find something new that makes it even more special. I love how the Coen brothers fused the genres of the detective mystery and stoner comedy. I truly believe that The Dude is an American hero and is a symbol of the what 1960s counterculture became in the 1990s.
I know that it’s kind of cliche to say that I like The Big Lebowski, but I truly love this film. I quote it all the time and I think it is a great display of the Coen brothers subtle genius.
Not a cliche at all! The Dude abides!
Hey, I’m Allison Hudson, call me Allie if you like. I’m a senior Cinema major and will be done after the summer. I would like to do either post-production or development. I also enjoy writing. I love watching any movie, particularly old westerns.
I hate questions like what is your favorite film/what could you watch over and over because I can’t choose one. I’ll make it a tie between True Grit (Coen Bros.) and Titanic. When I saw TItanic in theaters, I loved everything about it. Given that I was 10, a lot of the story was taken in a different context than it is now. One thing I love about films is watching them as I grow up. I originally loved Titanic because Leo was hot and I loved the history behind the ship itself. Now, I have come to accept some of the acting was bad but the story and the cinematography in particular make it a wonderful film to view. I think a lot of people didn’t love True Grit as much as other Coen films, but I loved the dry humor. I noticed most people in the theater with me did not laugh, but I thought Jeff Bridges was perfect as Marshall Cogburn. Some of the story changed from the original, but I really like the remake much better. There were a lot of beautiful landscape shots.
Hello Allie,
To be honest, I hate those kind of questions as well. There are MANY films I would and have watched over and over again. Perhaps the better question would be what film would you NEVER want to see again, or less strongly, you wish you had those hours back after viewing?
Hello! My name is Shelby Brown and I am currently a senior majoring in Cinema and minoring in TV studies. But, once the summer semester is over, I will officially be done with being an undergrad. I love media, everything about media! From films, television, radio, journalism, photography, and more. Im currently interning with a teen magazine but after I graduate I am very open to just dipping my hands in everything.
A film that I could watch over and over again is probably ” COFFY, ” made in 1973 directed by Jack Hill. Loving this film, you probably can tell that I’m a huge fan of the Blaxploitation movement. I really can look at all the films that was made in that period everyday. Even though, some of the films does not hit the standards of film makers likings, it’s still entertaining and a learning experience.
Hello Shelby,
Coffy, is a great film. Not only is it a fabulous example of Blaxploitation, but it is also an example of how you can have a film with a woman who kicks some major butt and people will still want to see it.
Hello, my name is Alexandra Freda, and now Alexandra Rumsey as I was married the first of this month. I am a Graduate Assistant and Masters of Fine Arts candidate at SIUC with a concentration in Printmaking and 2D art. I am entering into my third and last year of the program. I am very interested in a wide range of cinema including but not limited to foreign films, cerebral dramas, independent films, new extreme cinema, horror and exploitation films, etc. In my own artwork I work with a lot of concepts and themes inspired by Julia Kristeva’s Powers of Horror and Barbara Creed’s The Monstrous Feminine.
One film I could watch over and over would be No Country For Old Men. I am a huge fan of the film and also of the book by Cormac McCarthy.
Hello Alexandra and congratulations!
NCFOM, is one of the films that has been on my to watch list for some time. Must see it!
The favorite movie I would watch over and over again would be Lord of the RIngs The Return of the KIng because it shows how complete and well thought a movie in a fantasy genre can be. I also love the humongous sets that were used while filming the production. My dad actually let me know about Lord of the RIngs when The Fellowship of the RIng came out. Since then I have been astonished by the cinematography that is shown throughout all three movies especially the third in the trilogy.
Hello Angelo,
LOR brings up an interesting phenomena – making films from book series. The various approaches to turning books into films is complicated by multiple books (i.e. do you films them all at once like LOR or do you take time in between like Harry Potter.)
I think it is better to film them all at once because then the viewers viewing it do not have to wait so long. Another plus to that is that the cast and crew become closer in a relationship stand point to have more time so they can act more comfortably around other actors and on set. This also allows less time for actors to get older.
Hello Patrons of 460! My name is Stefan, by day I am a junior of Carbondale’s SIU Cinema program, by night I’m still a Junior of Carbondale’s SIU Cinema program. My all time favorite movie I can watch over and over until the universe collapses in on itself into a turmoil of destruction,chaos, and undoubtedly the extinction of mankind, or until I pass away…which ever comes first? Well I will have to say Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail.
Stefan, all I have to say is your film choice explains a lot 😉 Just kidding, I love Monty Python. In high school my friends and I had The Meaning of Life memorized.
I found three American beauties to be the best video out of all five videos because of the dynamic portrayal of the three beauties of America. The way the flower was shown first and then with a zoom out on to the beautiful women holding the flower was perfection. Also with the third and most important shot change of the American flag which shows what really matters to us as an individual in America.
The second most enjoyable video that I viewed was the contortionist which made me think if the filmmaker was filming shot by shot with a continuous shot setting or if the shots of the contortionist completing different positions on the bar was separate shots. I also noticed that each position was in a different direction than the shot before it which I found interesting as well.
Hey virtual classmates, I’m Kendrick. I’m a senior Cinema Production student who will be graduating after this summer. My minor is Journalism, and my degree specialization is photography.
There are a few films that I could watch repeatedly, but the one that comes to mind first is “Breathless” by Jean-Luc Godard.
I think what attracts me to film is the rhythm that is allowed through editing. In ‘Breathless,’ Godard innovated several aspects of filmmaking, in the same way Jazz innovated music. My favorite films have a strong connection to music and photography. I could talk about this movie endlessly, and were it not a French film, I would feel obliged to. I become more interested in the film as I come to understand more reasons the cinematography and directing of ‘Breathless’ was so revolutionary.
Breathless is a fabulous film, though I have to say Shoot The Piano Player is one of my favorite New Wave films.
Hello everyone! My name is Evan Halleck I am a senior studying cinematography. This is my last class I am taking at Siu and I graduate after it. I specialize in after effects, post work, and have a great love for doing production design. Their are two films that I could watch over and over again both of them being foreign.
Battle Royale is my first one. it is a japanese film that manages to be a touching romance film and at the same time is a hyper violent futuristic critic of a psychotic future. I really like that the film decides to be extremely violent but it takes a different approach to violence and does really in a artistic way. it is weird to say this but every single death in the movie is beautifully done and is cinematically amazing. I also like that 99% of directors if they made this movie would hold back on a lot of scenes and hide the violence and with the plot of the movie that would totally ruin the film as a whole. This director does not hold back and managed to make a extremely violent , over the top, romance film that is hard to look away from. No wonder it is one of Quentin tarantino’s favorite films of all time!
The other film that I can watch over and over is City of God. It is a brazilian film that is like nothing at all in American Cinema. The film is just so eye opening and well made that it is truly a masterpiece in my eye. The film doesn’t use the extreme amount of violence for shock value but rather it uses the violence to further the beautiful story and really show that these characters are horrible people.
Wow, both heavy films, but amazing in their own right.
Hello everyone!! My name is Parrish Colbert and I apologize for my late introduction. As much as I’ve used a computer I’m just now figuring all this stuff out with this being the first time I have ever taken an online class. Dr. Leighs class has always opened my mind up to films and ideas that later would leave me thinking about why the movie played out the way it did and what the writer wanted you to ask yourself. Academically I’m taking this course to fulfill My CT/RT Bachelors major requirments. Personally because I aspire to one day be the guy sitting in the director’s chair having wrote and helped musically produce my own film. I like to skateboard make music (rap) and obviously make films.
Some films I could watch over and over again that I have already began to write about in my paper is Eterenal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind, Peewee’s Great Adventure and Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Welcome Parrish,
Nice to know I get you thinking 😉
I like your list, very ecclectic.