An intermediate exploratory seminar in film study. Topics may include: the creative process, film and politics, directors, genres, and periods. NOTE: Open to FMA majors and non-majors.

In Rome, this course will focus on Cinema as the director's medium: exploring the art and craft of film directing What is filmic mise en scène? How do directors convey their distinctive worldviews and visionary approaches through cinema's versatile and expressive tools such as casting, blocking, editing, visual and sound design? What characterizes the unique styles of world-renowned directors including Hitchcock, Tarantino, Fellini, Wes Anderson, Agnes Varda or Bong Joon Ho? What specific strategies are developed by documentarians in a non-fiction film? What does directing a genre movie ? for instance a horror flick ? entail? In order to tackle all these questions, the course will delve into close examinations of selected classical and contemporary film-texts. Clip-analysis, readings, masterclasses by guest filmmakers and film festival screenings will complement focused seminar sessions that will expand the knowledge of students with a previous academic background in film. The class can also provide a solid introduction to film studies for students who have never investigated this medium.