OLLI0082 - Film Art: An Introduction to the Formal Elements of Film

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the elements of film form - mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound - and to how these formal elements visually or aurally communicate story details while also contributing to the expression of concepts and development of themes. We will primarily focus on “eye training.” Through a series of lectures and guided clip analyses, you will become more aware of the individual formal elements and how they function. We will also take some initial steps toward film analysis by: 1) extrapolating concepts and themes from how the elements function in particular scenes and 2) thinking about how those scenes contribute to our overall understanding of the film. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply your awareness of these elements, their function, and their contributions to any film you watch. Watch video