Friday, September 3

Students received the closest thing to a textbook we will have in the course: a packet entitled "Classical Hollywood Cinema: Style," which explains fundamental techniques of filmcraft in the classic era of American film.

We watched three amusing short films: a 1906 special effects masterpiece "The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend," based on a comic strip by Winsor McCay; a film of Winsor McCay himself demonstrating the making of an early animated film; and "Onesime the Clockmaker," a French film from 1912 showing life in fast forward.

HW due Wednesday:
Read (if you're wise, well before Tuesday night) today's packet and come to class prepared to take a quiz over it.