As the daughter of a film critic, I used to be annoyed when going to the movies with my dad. I would love the movie, and he would give it a C or a D, saying it was “just average” or “nothing new.” Taking a film criticism class has given me a fresh perspective. I’ve morphed into that person that I swore I'd never be - the one who notices the bad qualities in movies that most of my friends don’t see. However, let me clarify, I also notice great qualities that others don't. I’m also gaining a greater appreciation for the career of a film critic. It’s not easy. You can enjoy a movie, but you can’t sit back and relax. Your mind is always on, thinking about the character developments, the writing, the strengths and weaknesses. Then, there’s the writing process as you craft your review, the deadlines you have to meet, the obstacles you might have to go through to get people to actually read your work.
I’ve also learned a lot more about screenwriting, directing, and cinematography. For our first review, we had to look at a movie that had won an Oscar for best screenplay. Before taking this class, I knew the importance of dialogue, but I didn’t know the reasons behind its importance. I didn’t understand why some movies spoke to me more than others. After reading material about screenwriting and listening to an interview about it, I began to understand more and more. It also helped as I began watching movies that had been nominated for or had won awards for screenwriting.
I’ve learned so much more about directing. I knew plenty of directors’ names, but I had no idea what they actually did. After reading material about it and doing an entire project on director Garry Marshall, I feel that I have a lot more knowledge of directors and their many responsibilities. Now, as I see movies, I will be more likely to look for the director’s name, understand their impact, and research other projects they have been a part of.
Finally, I’ve learned more about cinematography. Last year, I took a class on digital media convergence, and we did an entire unit on photography and videography. We learned about different techniques and perspectives. I also enjoyed class reading on the topic. It was neat to see some of what I learned actually put into practice in the movies. I felt fancy when I could say, “oh, I loved how he used that action/reaction shot” or “that low angle shot was perfect.”
While I could go on and on about the things I’ve learned or the skills I’ve sharpened, I will leave it here. I believe that everyone should take a class on film criticism or at least be familiar with it. Through this class, I’ve gained so much knowledge and had some pretty incredible opportunities to put it into practice.
I’ve also learned a lot more about screenwriting, directing, and cinematography. For our first review, we had to look at a movie that had won an Oscar for best screenplay. Before taking this class, I knew the importance of dialogue, but I didn’t know the reasons behind its importance. I didn’t understand why some movies spoke to me more than others. After reading material about screenwriting and listening to an interview about it, I began to understand more and more. It also helped as I began watching movies that had been nominated for or had won awards for screenwriting.
I’ve learned so much more about directing. I knew plenty of directors’ names, but I had no idea what they actually did. After reading material about it and doing an entire project on director Garry Marshall, I feel that I have a lot more knowledge of directors and their many responsibilities. Now, as I see movies, I will be more likely to look for the director’s name, understand their impact, and research other projects they have been a part of.
Finally, I’ve learned more about cinematography. Last year, I took a class on digital media convergence, and we did an entire unit on photography and videography. We learned about different techniques and perspectives. I also enjoyed class reading on the topic. It was neat to see some of what I learned actually put into practice in the movies. I felt fancy when I could say, “oh, I loved how he used that action/reaction shot” or “that low angle shot was perfect.”
While I could go on and on about the things I’ve learned or the skills I’ve sharpened, I will leave it here. I believe that everyone should take a class on film criticism or at least be familiar with it. Through this class, I’ve gained so much knowledge and had some pretty incredible opportunities to put it into practice.
Thanks for reading!
~Kathryn (The Redhead Behind the Reviews)
12/4/16