Italian Neorealism and Independent Cinema

Here are a few common elements of American Independent Cinema:

1. Do not have a clear beginning, middle and end. Ending can be ambiguous.

2. Characters tend to be more complex or ambiguous.

3. Downplays narrative drama in favor of undramatic present.

4. Relies more heavily on dialogue than Hollywood films.

5. Often uses multi-strand narratives.

6. Not afraid to make the audience aware they are watching a film.

7. Visions of society not usually found in the mainstream.

Do Brick or Do the Right Thing have any of these elements?

Read this information about Italian Neorealism. Write down three facts about the movement.

After watching The Bicycle Thief and reading about Italian Neorealism, how do you think Italian Neorealism inspired American Independent cinema?

Review of Characterization

Write a summary of your concept.

Row 1- Concept 16- Create characters you can relate to.

Row 2- Concept 17- Characters come from everywhere.

Row 3- Concept 35- Have to achieve goals by end of story.

Row 4- Concept 38- Have characters in opposition (foils)

Row 5- Concept 39- Characters should face their fears, change over time

Row 6- Concept 40- Hero's Journey- call to adventure, first threshold, meeting

with goddess, belly of the whale, refusal of the call,

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

How are African-Americans represented in movies or television today? Has the representation of African-Americans improved or stayed the same?

Identify Suspense Techniques in Script for Rear Window

Define the terms first:

Dialogue Means Nothing-

Keep the Story Simple-

Characters Must Break Cliche-

Use Humor to Add Tension-

Two Things Happening at Once-

Suspense is Information-

Surprise and Twist-

Warning May Cause MacGuffin-

Part II: Label which techniques are used in scene from Rear Window-

Hitchcock's Techniques for Suspense

Go to this site.

Find three techniques that are mentioned that are used in Rear Window or Psycho. Give the technique and explain how it's used in the film. Try to describe the specific scene he uses the technique in.

Rio Bravo Reflection

Answer these questions about the film.

1. Did the movie follow the conventions of a Western?

2. What is the Call to Adventure? Is there a refusal?

3. Describe the main characters? Are they stereotypical Western characters? What makes them unique?

4. Describe the pace of the movie. Does it work or not work for you?

5. Describe the action sequences in the movie.

6. Describe the love story in the movie.