Joseph Macbride: an academic on film and an authority on several key film directors

Joseph Macbride's work is certainly worth looking into. His updated autobiography on Steven Spielberg, released earlier this year, is possibly the key text for understanding the contexts against which Spielberg created his films.

http://www.josephmcbridefilm.com/

The Wicked Flee - The Score from the new version of "True Grit'

I have not posted here for some time as I am not teaching Film Studies at present. However,  I intend to do so in future and produce teaching and student resources next year. My intention is to produce a wide ranging website for English Media and Film and place decent resources on it for several exam boards.

In the meantime, here's Carter Burwell's memorable score from "True Grit", something all teachers need these days. The tune is a rendition of the old gospel hymn, "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms." The following video is also an interesting example of exchange, what ordinary folks do with films using WEB 2.0 once they have been released.

The Score from True Grit
Iris DeMent sings "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms". The Song is played at the end of the film.

Carter Burwell writes on his own website about why his music was not eligible for the Oscars because of his inclusion of adapted gospel hymns from the nineteenth century.
http://www.carterburwell.com/projects/True_Grit.html

Here is Carter Burwell discussing his use of music in the new film in both an interview and  in the film below.
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/19/133877190/true-grit-a-new-score-from-old-familiar-tunes

Practice questions for "Spectatorship: Popular Film and Emotional Response

Robert , Shaun and Doug and anyone else who might find this post helpful.
These are questions are from Dave's Paper. It is worth 35 marks. ( The Single Film: Close Critical Study ( Fight Club ) is worth 30 marks. )


In the old exam this paper was known as "Shocking Cinema". But YOU need to be aware that THE RANGE of spectator's emotional responses will be WIDER than that.


1.  Explore possible reasons to explain why a second or third viewing of a film can actually increase the emotional response rather than lessen it.


2.  How far is the emotional response to mainstream films triggered by specific techniques used by filmmakers?


To answer either of these questions you will need to have:

• an understanding of how cinema produces a range of emotional responses in the spectator, using both macro and micro features.
• an appreciation (knowledge) of how spectators seek a range of different experiences when watching films, including experiences that may challenge and disturb.
• an appreciation ( knowledge) of cinematic contexts - including the significance of audience viewing situations, fandom and 'cultism' - in contributing to spectator response.

Remember to analyse each questions' key words and phrases first and make a brief plan.
(As we did in class, perhaps even using a dividing line with several arguments on each side.)


Use words and phrases from the question in your essay's introduction to show how you intend to shape your argument.


Write clear, introductory sentences for each point or argument in your essay.  (Topic Sentences). 
The rest of your paragraph(s) should then fill out your point with examples and argumentative comment on your examples.


Refer to those words regularly in your essay to show the relevance of your points and argument(s).


Come into College if you need to discuss your practice essays or need to marked.


Good luck for each of the three Papers: Patty's Dave's and mine.

"Fight Club' and the Ikea information consumerism scene

The scene is self-referential as well as critical of consumerism. David Fincher draws attention to the fake reality of the film as well as the Ikea catalogue that seems to fill Jack's room, and rooms in ours lives, too.
Fight Club's Ikea Catalogue scene

An interview with David Fincher from Slant Magazine

Scroll down to find his comments on "Fight Club". They are well worth reading.
http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2009/01/the-conversations-david-fincher/

David Fincher as an auteur

Director as auteur
Watch David Fincher’s earlier, more mainstream film, "The Game" (1997); you can begin by reading about it on Wikipedia or fan-sites devoted to David Fincher.

David Fincher's "The Game" (1997) on Wikipedia
What similarities in themes and style can you identify with Fight Club?

Here's a trailer from the film
The trailer for "The Game"
What similarities in themes and style can you identify with "Fight Club"?

Producer as auteur
Art linson was the producer of Fight Club; look up his filmography on IMDB.

To get a clearer sense of the work of a Hollywood producer read Linson’s book “What Just Happened?” which includes material on Fight Club.

Here are a few interesting reviews from Amazon USA

Amazon US Reviews of Linson's book

"Flashes of Tyler Durden - a YouTube video on "Fight Club"

This useful You Tube video was found by, Sean, one of my students studying "Fight Club" as a single focus study film. It's a useful video for studying David Fincher's experimental visual  and narrative style in "Fight Club" and for the split identity of the film's main character and narrator Jack.
Flashes of Tyler Durden in "Fightclub"