Introduction to the Art of the Silver Screen

Professor Williams introduces his passion for film, explaining what makes movies magical. He provides a brief history and previews elements like music, framing, and the three-act structure, focusing on the crucial element of tension.

Duration: 34 min

Universal Stories and Their Heroes

Explore the concept of universal stories through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey.” Discover how this narrative structure appears across various films and genres.

Duration: 31 min

Understanding Movie Genres

Delve into the definitive list of film genres based on intrinsic elements and audience emotions, moving beyond arbitrary categories.

Duration: 32 min

Genre Layers and Audience Expectations

Learn about genre variations—super, macro, and microgenres—and how they shape audience expectations through elements like atmosphere, character, and story.

Duration: 33 min

Story Shape and Tension

Understand the relationship between story shape and rhythm, and how tension keeps audiences engaged and returning for more.

Duration: 33 min

Themes on Screen

Examine how themes are presented through various storytelling methods, creating a matrix to break down and analyze popular movies.

Duration: 32 min

Paradigm Shift with Citizen Kane and Casablanca

Study the historical context and lasting influence of iconic films like Citizen Kane and Casablanca, focusing on their groundbreaking techniques and memorable elements.

Duration: 32 min

The Language of Visual Storytelling

Learn to appreciate film visually by understanding elements like color, space, line, and shapes, and how different camera moves affect perception.

Duration: 32 min

Building Screen Space: Blocking and Framing

Discover how blocking and framing can subconsciously impact the viewing experience through elements of lines, shape, and scale, using examples from classic films.

Duration: 32 min

Powerful Editing in the Cutting Room

Understand the complex process of film editing, including its three stages, and how it shapes the final product to resonate with audiences.

Duration: 33 min

Sound Design and Acoustic Illusion

Explore the four approaches to film sound and how it creates memorable scenes, tuning into what characters hear to add depth beyond background noise.

Duration: 35 min

Masterful Set Design

Investigate how set design and props tell deeper stories before any dialogue is spoken, using films like Apollo 13 and The Shining as examples.

Duration: 34 min

Special Effects in the 20th Century

Learn the history and science behind special effects, distinguishing between practical and CGI effects and their impact on storytelling.

Duration: 32 min

Special Effects in the 21st Century

Discover modern special effects techniques and how they interact with reality, revealing surprising picks for greatest special effects movies.

Duration: 35 min

Music in Film: Scoring the Story

Understand how music enhances the story through diegetic and non-diegetic sound, motifs, and leitmotifs, affecting emotions and expectations.

Duration: 35 min

Color and Light: Atmosphere Elements

Learn how color and light add emotional and intellectual depth to films, using examples like Do the Right Thing and Schindler’s List.

Duration: 32 min

Characters from the Inside Out

Explore the concept of public, private, and personal masks characters wear, and how these layers help audiences connect with them.

Duration: 33 min

Characters from the Outside In

Challenge yourself to read a screenplay like a detective, learning about characters from their words and portrayals.

Duration: 31 min

Supporting Actors and Their Roles

Consider how supporting roles influence opinions about the protagonist and define motives, using films like The Godfather.

Duration: 33 min

Lead Actors and Star Power

Appreciate the nuances of acting and preparation for roles, examining portrayals in films like Psycho and Get Out.

Duration: 30 min

Audience Empathy and Character Relationships

Understand complex relationships in film and how they create tension, using movies like Precious and The Piano.

Duration: 33 min

Creating Great Antagonists

Discover the difference between villains and antagonists, and how they are utilized thematically in films.

Duration: 36 min

Point of View in Script and on Screen

Learn how point of view enhances storytelling and how it’s crafted through decision trees and central questions.

Duration: 34 min

Filmmaker’s Voice and Audience Choice

Break down the filmmaker’s voice into six parts and see how audience expectations play a role, introducing films that challenge comfort zones.

Duration: 40 min