The Artist on Film
FILM 379
Spring 2025
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01
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How can we get the essence of a painter, dancer, musician on film? The Artist on Film comes with the aesthetic challenge of translating artistic expression from one medium to another. Part of the problem is that the reason artists interest us in the first place is that they transmitted themselves so effectively into a different shaped box. We will consider what cinema shares with its neighboring arts, how it can evoke other media, and how distinctions between art forms shape our experience. Through creative assignments, this class will look at how filmmakers tackle the challenge of creatively representing artists and transforming their works into a new medium.
This course is taught in the Basinger tradition of combining filmmaking with film watching. It is taught by a writer/director and a particularly good course for those interested in screenwriting and/or directing, but all cinephiles are welcome.
The course is designed for majors but will consider sophomores who have completed 304 and 307. Assignments are screenplays and the course will not be covering basic screenwriting format, so some coursework or familiarity with screenwriting is recommended.
Class will consist of two screenings a week with lecture and discussion. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA FILM |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: FILM304 and FILM307 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FILM-MN)(FILM) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Screening films by the Coen Brothers, Oskar Fischenger, Norman McLaren, Karl Freund, Robert Wiene, Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, Clint Eastwood, John Carpenter, Shinichirou Ueda
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Examinations and Assignments:
One 3-5 page screenplay
One 12 page screenplay
Lead a Discussion |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
-This course does not accept unexcused absences and does not accept late work. All absences must be cleared before the beginning of class.
Excused absences equal family emergency, illness, or religious holiday.
***APPLICATION***
Submit responses to the following Application Questions to scollins@wesleyan.edu by the last day of pre-registration. Optional: Attend Professor Collin's office hours to introduce yourself. Application not required if you have already taken a class with Professor Collins.
Application Questions:
Class Year:
Classes taken in Film:
Major or intended major?
Intended thesis (if any)?
Career interest after school?
Screenwriting experience (if any)?
Creative Sample (preferably screenplay or film, but could be anything) |
| Instructor(s): Collins,Stephen Times: ..T.R.. 01:20PM-04:40PM; Location: CFS112; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 10 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 7 | 1st Ranked: 3 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 2 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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