I Have An Idea

[slade]

BeanBandit requesting help for his paper on Hitchcock made me think of this.

I wanted to major in filmmaking in school, but it didn't work out that way (I won't bore you with the details). In the end, I never took one film class.

I'm trying to read through a film text book that I stole from my sister (she has a master of theater degree). It's interesting, but I learn much better through discussions.

So, I'm wondering how many people would be interested in having a scholarly discussion about film.

I would propose that we pick a new film to discuss each week. It would be a film on DVD so that we could all watch it prior to the discussion. Instead of focusing on such conversation as "it was crap" "it was the greatest" we would talk about such things as mise en scene, cinematography, and such. The point being--my film education from you all.

This would probably take place in the software section, but I put this inquiry in Off Topic because that seemed more appropriate at this stage.

So, anyone interested?

[BeanBandit]

Slade,
sounds like an awesome idea, and I would definitely participate, provided I have the time to rent and watch the movie during the week. Since I only have a little more than half a year of intro to film studies under my belt, this would be just as educational for me. Count me in.

Only thing: how do we decide what movie to watch? If everyone nominates one film, we're going to get nowhere.

[UserNameUndecided]

Sounds like a cool idea to me! It's like a book club, except... you know... with movies.

I am definately interested, and I promise to try not to crap-up the discussions with idiotic or unimportant comments.

Man... this would totally just... kick ass or something if it worked out.

[BeanBandit]

Originally posted by UserNameUndecided
...and I promise to try not to crap-up the discussions with idiotic or unimportant comments.

You see, this would be key to the success of such a discussion...

[Taxi]

Originally posted by UserNameUndecided
...I promise to try not to crap-up the discussions with idiotic or unimportant comments.

Yeah. I mean, that's for us Mods and Admins to do.

[fuser]

Sounds great to me... actually I've just finished my first DVD review "The Virgin Suicides", I didn't like the movie but I think I made very good points about it.

And to the mods... you're the key to make this idea work properly. Delete any post that just don't make a valid point, at least only in this "special" forum, we still can have fun in the other forums!

[Heckalaska]

Good idea...

We've almost proven we can discuss things maturely with the whole "indian" debate, so why not actually act like adults for more than 5 minutes a day? I'm game...

[Templar]

Sounds good to me...

[saraswati]

I also think this is a great idea. I think that, to learn about film (or to learn to make films), you really don't have to go to film school. all they do in film school is show you films and supply you with the equipment to make them. which means that, in this era of video and the internet (with a little help from libraries and DVD), anyone can learn these things on their own, cheaply. this isn't to say that people who go to film school are complete suckers; there are some obvious benefits of that experience (professors who really know what they're doing, cheap access to "real" film equipment, connections, etc.). but what i'm saying is that, if we get together, watch films, and talk about them aesthetically, we're really doing just what a film course does.

so what kind of films are we going to watch? the "classics"? well-reviewed new releases? the typical film 101 stuff? some specific genre?

[Underpants]

Yep, I'm in too. Neat idea. Although I fear my contributions may appear a bit weak compared to the higher educated lot of you

[Mr. Furious]

Wow! I love the idea. How are we going to agree on the films? I personally would like to see a wide breadth of films - not just artsy, but everything!

[Templar]

I, too, am interested in what type of films we will be discussing...

Perhaps we can each choose a film once around watch it and discuss...unless slade wants to be a dictator and choose his own curriculum.

The logisitics will be difficult if, for instance, Bean chooses some obscure region 0 anime feature he had imported from Shanghai via Taipei and bought from "Rocco" on the corners of Dupont & Dufferin Sts...or Sara uses some Region 3 release...but otherwise it should be just fine.

[saraswati]

I think it would obviously be best to stick to generally accessible titles. of course, this doesn't mean i want to discuss Swordfish or American Pie 2. But, I think we should start with generally acceptible moderately artsy films. stuff they'd make you watch in a film or media class. maybe some criterion releases, just because they're generally available, good transfers, and fairly standard (if we say "the criterion seven samurai" that's pretty clear, you're not going to accidentally go out and get a different version than everybody else, whereas if we say "the 25th anniversary special edition of caddyshack" some people might have trouble finding that one or telling the difference).

[BeanBandit]

I could post my film course's sylabus if you guys want to pick from standard film class movies. Most of the films I've seen, I've liked, even if they're movies that I never would have watched otherwise.

Originally posted by Templar
The logisitics will be difficult if, for instance, Bean chooses some obscure region 0 anime feature he had imported from Shanghai via Taipei and bought from "Rocco" on the corners of Dupont & Dufferin Sts...

Haha!
Did you just pick Dupont and Dufferin out of the blue? Or did you look at a map of Toronto? And how did you know that there are italians in that area?

[Triple HHH]

It's all right, everyone, I've already chosen our first film. It's easily accesible and universally-loved, not to mention a masterpiece of mise-en-scene:



Okay, seriously, I think it's a wonderful idea. So let's get rolling on choosing possible movies. (Start a poll?) What kind of movies: Foreign films? An old 1940s Hollywood classic?

[empire3219]

I'm kinda hoping "Finding Forrester" could be first. I got it last Saturday. One of those films you just remember.

[Mr. Furious]

Damn it - I was looking forward to an in depth discussion of caddy shack.

Damn damn damn.

[slade]

Wow! I'm glad that others are as excited about this as I am.

well, I did post a few ideas about how to pick films. But, I guess I'm just going to decide instead because it will be easier than trying to get consensus. (I deleted those other fine ideas).

What we'll do is have everyone post no more than two films in this thread that they would like to discuss and why they picked those films. I'll just pick a film from those suggestions.

I'll make the pick on Thursday and start a new thread in Software stating the pick. Actual discussion, however, would not start until Sunday. This way everyone will get a chance to watch the film before the discussion begins (I know I wouldn't want to be 50 posts behind in the discussion before I even got a chance to watch the movie).

Every Thursday I'll start a new thread in Software from the nominations in this thread.

If anyone thinks this idea for picking films is completely awful, and has a better suggestion post it here as well.

I'm also open to having someone else be the film picker (i.e. someone with schooling and/or experience with film).

What do you all think?

[Wirehed]

Maybe we can have another thread where we discuss Beans obscure anime. I'm all for that.

[BeanBandit]

Originally posted by Seamonkey
Maybe we can have another thread where we discuss Beans obscure anime. I'm all for that.

I'm actually not into "obscure anime". I don't know where you guys are getting this. "Porn", yes. "Obscure anime", no.

[SolidSnakeASS]

I think that this would be a great idea too. Although I recommend that we have a poll for what film we all watch, and that we all have to submit at 1500 word eassy on the film. Ok, maybe not that much... Anyway, I recommend that the films be ones that are easily accessable, and actually good (ie. no Finding Forrester :p ). Personnaly I'd like to see Citizen Kane and the Godfather on that list, as well as some of the other films that are considered classic. Well at least those types of films to start of the discussions.

[Templar]

Interesting...

Well if this is slade's idea and he wants us to submit two films to watch and discuss:

I will pick Rushmore (b/c I'm on a Wes Anderson kick since I saw The Royal Tenenbaums)

and

Double Indemnity (b/c I'm on a film-noir kick too...)

Rushmore is a little more accessable than DI, you're not likely to find the latter at the video store, but it is worth a purchase if you don't have it...if you like that kind of film.

[saraswati]

i propose that we try to keep "untouchable" films out of discussion, just because it will inevitably end in one of 2 ways: a) no one will have anything to say because they don't want to say anything bad about the film; or b) there'll be war, because those who agree with the status quo will be contantly trying to put down the rebellion of the detractors, etc.

so i think we should keep stuff like Citizen Kane and the Godfather out of the running.

or really what i'm saying is that maybe we should start small, then build up to the big ones once we've figured out the dynamic of the group.

and can we please NOT debate the merits of Dancer in the Dark?

my 2 suggestions:

Vertigo

or

Hedwig and the Angry Inch


I just realized, this would be a great way to introduce to each other new and interesting things.

[Wirehed]

Originally posted by saraswati
iI just realized, this would be a great way to introduce to each other new and interesting things.

That's actually what interests me the most. Of course that's pretty much what we do here anyway.

[slade]

I've picked Vertigo for this week and started this thread for it's discussion.

I picked Vertigo because I'm reading the chapter on editing in the film text that I stole from my sister (I mentioned it above). That chapter talks about Hitchcock's unique and elaborate storyboarding process and how it affected the editing of his movies. So, I wanted to watch a movie that would help me apply what I had read.

I checked with my local Hollywood Video and they have Vertigo, Double Indemnity, The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and Rushmore. They don't have Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I know of a store in Portland I could go to that I'm sure has it, but, I'm wondering if there are people who want to participate in these discussions who are limited to video stores with meager selection (i.e. Blockbuster)? If not, we can do titles like Hedwig, but if so, perhaps you could make another pick saraswati. What do you guys think?

And, again, I'm open to someone with better experience than myself picking the movies. I'm also open to any other ideas about how to make this work well.

[Templar]

This is awesome, it's gonna force me to buy at least one movie a week. Cool shit.

[saraswati]

so what kind of selection does everybody have access to?

i get pretty spoiled living in new york, where you can get anything imaginable.

i imagine, though, that, with everyone here's aversion to cockbuster, most people don't have to depend on it for video selection.

i think it would be good to limit our picks to blockbuster-esque selections ONLY if more than a couple of people don't have easy access to much.

oh, and BLOCKBUSTER DOESN'T have Hedwig?!?!?! wasn't that like a major dvd release?

[BeanBandit]

That's weird. My Blockbuster has Hedwig and the Angry Itch. In fact they even have the director's cut of Requiem. Maybe it's a Canadian thing.

Vertigo is fine I guess, I just saw it recently. But I may be too busy to participate much for the next week or so.

[Templar]

If only you people could read

He said Hollywood Video. And ours doesn't have it either, but Blockbuster Video does have it.

I have access to a bunch of video rental stores and specialty shops, so unless its something really obscure I'm OK.

[SolidSnakeASS]

I second Rushmore because I've already written essay's on it, and it is probably my favorite film. My second recommendation would be Boogie Nights and