Me and Orson Welles

Now that we've finished Citizen Kane I thought I'd share this film clip from the film Me and Orson Welles which comes out later this year. The film was directed by Richard Linklater who we spoke about earlier this year and stars Zac Efron as an up and coming actor that works with Welles in the early days in theater.

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane sélectionné dans Cinéma et Ciné Documentaire

Citizen Kane
Due: Tuesday April 22
The paper should be two pages.

In this paper you should explore the making of Citizen Kane and how it reflects upon the film. What was your reaction to the film? Orson Wells adapted the life of William Randolf Herst and mixed it with his own to create the title character. What do you think about the character of Kane? What about the supporting characters? Critique the cinematography and technical aspects of the film- how do they support the film? What about the film was groundbreaking in cinema? Do you agree with its place in the “film canon” or do you think it’s overhyped? Use the nine different elements of film we discussed in the last project and use them to critique the film.

In order to support your criticism you must site scenes from the films. If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include a bibliography. You may also use films that you have seen outside of class to help discuss these works. If you have any specific questions please ask me or e-mail me at the school (tneedles@smithtown.k12.ny.us)

Orson Welles: the man, the myth, the brain

I hope everyone learned something about William Randolf Hearst and Orson Welles this week. Here's a clip of the classic Pinky and the Brain reference to Citizen Kane (of course the Brain is based mostly on Welles). Have a great vacation!

Film History: Modern Times

Modern Times- Paper (2 pages, typed, double-spaced)
Due: Tuesday March 31 2009

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician."

In this paper you should address two major topics:
• The physical comedy of Charlie Chaplin and how it translated to different audiences
• The political and social effects and repercussions of the film.

Discuss these two topics to the best of your knowledge using the sources viewed in class as well as any outside sources you want to include. Why did Chaplin decide to use sound the way he did in the film? What is the theme of the film, and how was it shown? Why do you think Chaplin wanted to address the social themes and industry? Please do not include a great deal of plot outline, rather tackle the two topics at hand and give your comment on them in an intelligent way.

If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include quotes and a bibliography. The paper should be two pages, typed, and double-spaced.

Film History: The Jazz Singer

"Toot, Toot, Tootsie" Al Jolson 1927


Paper due: Tuesday March 24, 2009 (2 pages, typed, double-spaced)

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothin' yet!"

In this paper you should focus on discussing the core themes of the Jazz Singer in addition to critiquing the basic elements of the film. Please discuss the main themes of the film and give your comment on them in an intelligent way making sure to talk about the filmmaker’s choice of using blackface for the main character at times. The film was as big a technological achievement as the film was a commercial and critical success- how did you feel about the film? In modern day elements how might the film be handled? What type of performer would the main character be? Is the theme still relevant today?

If you base any of your information on outside sources (including the internet) you must include quotes and list your sources in a bibliography.

Strictly Students Film Festival Call for Entries 2009

Typography Animation

This week we will be working on an animation using only typography. Each of you will create your own font and use it to create an animated 30 second film. Here are a few films for inspiration.


Kinetic Typography created by Johnny Lee


Haiku- "The Morning Paper Harbinger of good and ill I step over it"


Ratatat music video by Olivier Beaudoin


"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" by Roel Wouters