Baraka: Pure cinema at the core of remarkable film

Baraka: Pure cinema at the core of remarkable film

“Baraka” It isn’t a travelogue. It isn’t a documentary. It isn’t a feature film. It doesn’t have any dialogue. There are no star actors. There isn’t even a plot.Yet, this remarkable film goes straight to your heart and intellect in a uniquely compelling way.Here are...
Interviewing Basics

Interviewing Basics

One of the most important skills each journalist needs to develop is how to conduct successful interviews. There’s nothing quite like getting primary source material for a story. Even if you’re a photographer, a salesperson, a graphic artist, or a...
Warming up with short films, part two

Welcome to Film Analysis

Get ready to have some cinematic fun – and be prepared to do a great deal of thinking, viewing, listening, talking, writing – and maybe even some producing. This course addresses the fundamental vocabulary, artistry and technology of film and basic film production. In...
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. short stories

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. short stories

We’ll read “The Lie” and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. And we’ll also watch “Examination Day” – an episode of “The Twilight Zone” – and “2081” – an adaptation of “Harrison Bergeron.”

Warming up with short films, part two

“The Man in the Moon”

As a film instructor, I’m often asked what my favorite films are. Frankly, I don’t have a favorite, but I do have a pretty short list of movies that I consider to be important contributions to the art form, and in some cases nearly flawless. “The Man in the Moon” is...
Richard Kelly’s dark(o) debut

Richard Kelly’s dark(o) debut

“Donnie Darko” I’ve seen this film at least two dozen times and I still find new things to examine, question and ponder. Shoot, I still stumble and mumble whenever anyone asks me, “What’s ‘Donnie Darko’ about?” Frankly, I’m really not 100 percent sure. So, when I...
Found Poetry

Found Poetry

Found poetry can be as profound as original, traditional poetry. The difference? The words are found in existing texts, then edited and arranged in new, poetic ways by the poet. Confused? No worries. Read this excerpt from Poets.org: Found poems take existing texts...