Introducing Film into the Classroom
Film workshop/visiting lecturer by Basil Al-Rawi a Director/Producer and Cinematographer.
This workshop dealt with film and how it can be used in the classroom, looking at different
This workshop dealt with film and how it can be used in the classroom, looking at different
film clips, trailers, advertisements and film posters. The main idea around the day was getting
an understanding and appreciation for film and how various methods and techniques used in
film can be used in the art room.
Film Studies
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Develop critical media literacy/visual literacy
- Foster appreciation of film making as an art form
- Awareness
Film as a Complement
- Looking at how art has been the influence of many great films.
Left: Vermeer's painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" circa 1665-67Right: Film "Girl with a Pearl Earring" 2003 directed by Peter Webber starring Scarlett Johansson
Vincent Van Gogh: "The Starry Night" June 1889
Two films inspired by Van Gough
Left: "Lust for Life" by Kirk Douglas 1956
Right: "Midnight in Paris"directed by Woody Allen 2011
Salvador Dali
Screenshot of Film "Spellbound" by Hitchcock 1945
Documentary Film:
Waste Land is a 2010 documentary directed by Lucy Walker, João Jardim and Karen Harley. The film documents two years of work of Brazilian contemporary modern artist Vik Muniz in creating art with the cooperation of scavengers of recyclables working at Jardim Gramacho, one of the world's largest landfills, serving the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Together with people employed to pick out recyclable material from garbage, Muniz creates from actual landfill trash large-scale mosaic portraits that are sold at art auctions in London and exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo.
The film portrays the lives of the garbage pickers and their working conditions as well as Muniz's efforts to help them to gain recognition and better living conditions.
Film Studies can be viewed differently:
- Film as Language
- Film as historical cultural document
- Film as art form
Things to take into account about film:
- Camera (framing, focus, character position, shot size, angles)
- Light (mood, atmosphere, emotion) good film for lighting "Night of the Hunter" 1955
- Setting (location, era, narrative)
- Costume & Make Up (costumes/props) good film for costume/props "The Red Ballon" 1956
Practical Film Methodologies:
- Using/Exploring Title, Sequences and Credits
Looking at film credits/titles etc for inspiration in the art room. Looking at classic posters for films, poster
design, dvd covers and typography.
design, dvd covers and typography.
Good examples of different typographies in films would be:
"Catch Me If You Can" (2002) Stephen Spielberg
"North by Northwest" Alfred Hitchcock 1956
Looking at film titles/sequences in graphic design looking at logo ideas, typography for logos or for posters.
Poster Design: In modern day films or modern day remakes of films, the poster tend to be a photographic image. The film "Black Swan" has had several posters for the film.
