Reflection 4: I Feel Pretty—Costuming in Film

As any actor will tell you, a character doesn't really come together until the right costume is in place. In fact, many films have become classics, in part, because of their unique costuming. That's because when done right, a costume can add an unexpected element to an actor's performance. In some cases, the right costume can tell us everything we need to know about a character in just seconds. And some characters and costumes are so intertwined that they're difficult to divorce, such as the tattered suit of Charlie Chaplin's Tramp or the leather and metal of Johnny Depp's Edward Scissorhands. For audiences, costumes can also become a sentimental part of a favorite film. One need only look at the robust movie costume auctions to see that collectors will pay top dollar for costumes they consider special or important—one of Dorothy's blue gingham dresses from the Wizard of Oz recently sold for a record $300,000. For your first reflection, you will consider the important role costuming plays in a scene. Below is a list of iconic films, each of which contains equally iconic costuming. Watch three of the scenes and analyze the function costuming plays in the role. Specifically, consider what the costume adds to the overall experience of the scene. For example, is the costuming subtle or does it make a statement? Does it utilize color? If so, how? How does the costume act as an extension of the character or actor? You may also consider hair and makeup in your analysis.

Choose three of the following scenes to explore:

• The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) in City Lights, 1931
• Jerry and Dale (Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) in Top Hat, 1935
• Gilda (Rita Hayworth) in Gilda, 1946
• Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) in A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
• Lisa (Grace Kelly) in Rear Window, 1954
• Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle (Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn) in My Fair Lady, 1964
• Tony Manero (John Travolta) in Saturday Night Fever, 1977
• Superman and Lois Lane (Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder) in Superman, 1978
• Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
• Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) in Risky Business, 1983
• Andrew, Brian, John, Claire, and Alison (Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy) in The Breakfast Club, 1985
• Vivian (Julia Roberts) in Pretty Woman, 1990
• Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) in Batman Returns, 1992
• Eva Peron (Madonna) in Evita, 1996
• Queen Elizabeth I (Tilda Swinton) in Elizabeth (1998)
• Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) in Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999 
• Velma and Roxie (Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger) in Chicago, 2002
• Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in Pirates of the Caribbean; Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003
• Nina (Natalie Portman) in Black Swan, 2010 
• Batman and the Joker (Christian Bale and Heath Ledger) in The Dark Knight Rises, 2012
• Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) in The Hunger Games, 2012
• Captain America, Iron Man, and Loki (Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Hiddleston) in The Avengers, 2012
• Fantine (Anne Hathaway) in Les Miserables, 2012 
• Baily Spry as Annie in It Follows, 2015 [Warning: Gore]

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
  

Due: We 10.7

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)
Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: eR—“Good Morning” from Singin' in the Rain (1952), “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born (1954), “America” from West Side Story (1961), "My Man" from Funny Girl (1968), “Mein Herr” from Cabaret (1972)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Upcoming:

Week 8: Dreamgirls (2006)
Tu 10.6/Th 10.8
Read: eR—“Summer Nights” from Grease (1978), "Elephant Love Medley" from Moulin Rouge! (2001), “We Both Reached for the Gun” from Chicago (2002), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" from Across the Universe (2007), “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables (2012)
Class: CLOSE READ; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“Close Reads: A How-To” Due: REFLECTION 4

Movie News 9.23.15

• Why Goodnight Mommy is so scary (Atlantic)
• Ridley Scott: Three more Prometheus films coming (Dark Horizons)
• Cherokee scholar gets Netflix to change its description of Pocahontas (MTV News)
• Philadelphia to screen three of Pope Francis' favorite films (Entertainment Weekly)
• Pierce Brosnan says don't hope you're breath for a female James Bond (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the Week: Rovio's The Angry Birds Movie

 

Week 6: Gravity (2013)

Week 6: Gravity (2013)
Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American), “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker), “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 7: Aladdin (1992)
Mo 9.28/We 9.30
Read: eR—“Good Morning” from Singin' in the Rain (1952), “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born (1954), “America” from West Side Story (1961), "My Man" from Funny Girl (1968), “Mein Herr” from Cabaret (1972)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness: Exercises”
Due: EDITORIAL (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH DRAFT 1 TO BACK AND A ONE PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT)

Editorial: On Hollywood and Film Privacy

We are in the midst of a great upheaval in the distribution of media, including films. The old model, in which media conglomerates controlled content, price, and access, is quickly being subverted. Despite legal threats, BitTorrent networking has emerged as the most popular form of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. For millions, these networks are an increasingly attractive option to bypass traditional media routes. In fact, Millennials, the generation born from 1980 – 2000, have not only grown accustomed to free content, but viewing it in nontraditional ways (e.g. computers, mobile devices). Thus far, media conglomerates have largely resisted change. But they have cried foul, citing significant losses to their bottom line as a result of BitTorrents. Not surprisingly, a coalition of Hollywood studios, governmental agencies, and Internet service providers (ISPs) have heavily cracked down on illegal downloaders—damages can now total up to $250,000 per case. But is free content the new normal? Who are the winners and losers in this new paradigm? Finally, if the legality or ethics of pirating hasn’t persuaded millions of users to stop, what can or will prompt them to return to paying for films? Can you provide a viable alternative to the current model that would curb, or eliminate, film piracy? In a clear and concise editorial, argue for or against the use of torrents in obtaining and viewing films.

Cite from the following texts below to support your thesis:

• “Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech)
• “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant)
• “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today)
• “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes)
• “How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American)
• “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker)
• “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
• "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian)
• "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)

 All article are available in the eR.

Remember, an editorial expresses an opinion on a current issue. It may take a formal or informal tone, but its primary goal is always to persuade readers. Because editorials were born in newspapers, they are traditionally succinct in form and can often carry the "voice" of the author. 

Sample editorials from around the country:

• "Donald Trump is an Aimless, Angry Leader" (Washington Post)
• "Refusal to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses is Not an Expression of Religious Liberty" (New Haven Register)
• "A Shameful Response in Europe to the Refugee Crisis in North Africa and Mideast" (Los Angeles Times)
• "Overreaction in Clock-Bomb Mix-Up has Chilling Effect" (Dallas Morning News)

The best papers will:

• Have a title that articulates its point of view
• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which outlines a clear position
• Be written in a voice that is casual, yet informed
• Clearly support their theses with solid evidence and a logical structure, thoughtfully citing from the articles above
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Requirements:

• 2-3 pages in length
• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Wed 9.23 (Draft 1: Bring 2 copies); Wed 10.30 (Final draft: Attach draft 1 to back AND a one paragraph summary on the changes between drafts)

Movie News 9.16.15

• Jamie Lee Curtis recreates her mother's famous shower scene in Psycho for TV's Scream Queens (ABC News)
• The Hunger Games' Elizabeth Banks in talks to direct a Charlie's Angels reboot (Dark Horizons)
• Why 2015's disastrous Fantastic Four might still get a sequel (Forbes)
• In another hit to Netflix, Epix follows Amazon's lead and will allow downloading of films for offline viewing (TheVerge)
• First look: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dark Horizons)
• Trailer of the Week: Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book (YouTube)

 

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)
Mo 9.14/We 9.16
Read: eR—“Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech), “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant), “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today), “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes), "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian), "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 6: Gravity (2013)
Mo 9.21/We 9.23
Read: eR—“How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American), “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker), “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations; Writers workshop
Due: EDITORIAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

Movie News 9.8.15

• Summer '15 was a blockbuster for Hollywood (Digital Trends)
• Sam Smith lands the coveted theme for the next James Bond film, Spectre (CNN)
• Also ... Is Tom Hardy the front-runner to be the next James Bond? (Entertainment Weekly)
• First look: Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne (Latino Review)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens coming one day early to the UK (Entertainment Weekly)
• Trailer of the week: Jake Gyllenhaalin in Demolition (Variety) 

Reflection 3: Locked in the Closet—Being Out on (and Off of) the A-List

In 2010, Newsweek columnist Ramin Setoodeh argued that, "While it's okay for straight actors to play gay (as Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger did in Brokeback Mountain), it's rare for someone to pull off the trick in reverse." He further argued that unlike straight actors who play gay, the sexuality of gay actors who play straight is an issue because "the fact is, an actor's background does affect how we see his or her performance." Not surprisingly, the column resulted in a sharp rebuke from the gay community. Later, author Bret Easton Ellis also stirred up controversy when he argued that openly-gay Matt Bomer wouldn't be convincing playing straight hunk Christian in the then upcoming Fifty Shades of Gray adaptation—a role that eventually went to straight actor/model Jamie Dornan. Is an actor's sexuality really only an issue for audiences when he or she is gay, but playing straight? When you are watching a gay actor play straight, does his or her sexual orientation factor into the believability of the performance? While gay actors playing straight on television have made major strides in recent years (e.g. Jim Parsons on The Big Bang Theory, Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother), why are there currently no openly gay A-list actors or actresses in movies?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "By the Way, We're Gay: The New Art of Coming Out" (Entertainment Weekly)
• "Is It a Big Deal That the Actor Playing the Flash Isn't Straight?" (Vice)
• "Why Gay Movie Stars are Staying Locked in the Closet" (Variety)
• "Homophobia in Hollywood: Why Gay Movie Stars Still Can't Come Out of the Closet" (Independent)
• "Study: Audiences Buy Gay Actors Playing It Straight" (Queerty)
• "Why the World is Not Ready for a Gay James Bond" (Daily Telegraph)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one full page in length
• Works cited page
  

Due: We 9.16

Week 4: Rocky (1976)

Week 4: Rocky (1976)
Mo 9.7 (LABOR DAY—NO CLASS)/We 9.9
Class: Reading discussion; Lecture—“Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process”

Upcoming:

Week 5: Do the Right Thing (1989)
Mo 9.14/We 9.16
RRead: eR—“Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech), “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant), “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today), “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes), "Dallas Buyers Club Piracy Case: Court Dismisses Many of Studio's 'Surreal' Claims" (Guardian), "Summer Movie Piracy Rises: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Tops 2015 Downloads" (Variety)
Class: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL; Reading discussion; Presentations; Lectures—“Better Reading101” and “Citing Sources in MLA 101”
Due: REFLECTION 3

Movie News 9.2.15

• Wes Craven, iconic horror director, dies at 76 (CNN)
• Zac Efron's We Are Your Friends hauls in only $1.8 million at box office (BBC News)
• Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer are writing a script together, and Bette Midler wants to play their mother (Entertainment Tonight)
• Steven Spielbegr: " ... there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western" (Dark Horizons)
• Could Star Wars: The Force Awakens be the highest-grossing film ever? (ScreenRant)
• Trailer of the week: Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl (YouTube)