Contact/FAQ
The Story of Movies is a program of The Film Foundation.
Contact:
Julia Wayne, Educational Project Manager
email
The Story of Movies Senior Advisor:
Jeanine Basinger, Film Scholar
The Story of Movies Curriculum Author:
Catherine Gourley
The Film Foundation Staff:
Los Angeles
Jennifer Ahn, Managing Director
Kristen Merola, Project Director
7920 Sunset Blvd., 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90046
phone: 323-436-5060
New York
Margaret Bodde, Executive Director
110 West 57th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10019
phone: 212-258-0860
I’m not a film teacher. Can I still teach The Story of Movies?
Yes. Teachers need not be experts in film or the filmmaking process in order to teach [i]The Story of Movies[/i] (SOM) units. Because of the interdisciplinary approach, much of the content will be familiar to educators, such as methods of characterization, the link between history and culture, the function of music, and principles of artistic composition. The educational resources for both "Introduction to Film" and the more comprehensive "Portraits of America: Democracy on Film" provide overviews and guided screening discussions to assist educators in facilitating meaningful film study.
What is the difference between the "Introduction to Film" series and "Portraits of America: Democracy on Film"?
"Introduction to Film" presents the fundamentals of cinema literacy and is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school. The four chapters in each unit focus on narrative structure (chapter 1), the filmmaking process (chapter 2), film language and elements of style (chapter 3), and historical/cultural contexts (chapter 4). These chapters align with National Film Study Standards.
"Portraits of America: Democracy on Film" is a comprehensive collection of more than 45 movies organized into eight thematic modules. This curriculum is intended for older students.
I don't have time to show an entire movie in class. Can I show selected scenes from a movie instead?
Yes. SOM units include film clips to illustrate principles of film language and a movie's historical/cultural context. However, movies, like novels, have a narrative structure that creates meaning. Movies, like history, have cause-and-effect relationships. SOM strongly recommends that teachers and students watch the entire movie before beginning the lessons.
Are the movies featured in "Portraits of America" available for streaming on the SOM website?
SOM units include selected scenes from the movies for analysis. Additionally, some short films and some silent films that are in the public domain are available through the "Portraits of America" web pages. However, complete feature films and documentaries are not. Teachers must rent, borrow, or purchase these movies from other sources.
Is there a specific scope and sequence to "Portraits of America: Democracy on Film"?
Yes. Each module can stand alone, but the module sequence builds one upon the other. However, The Film Foundation understands that teachers likely will not cover all eight modules and will select from movies that best fit their needs.
How does the curriculum meet national standards for teaching English and History?
SOM programs are rooted in the National Film Study Standards (NFSS) while at the same time reinforcing standards established by the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, selected lessons dovetail with national standards for the arts and sciences. Educators have also found that SOM's educational resources align with Common Core.
Many of these classic movies are in black-and-white. How can I interest my students in watching a full-length film that they think will be “old” or “boring”?
Most educators happily discover this is not a problem. Once students become involved in the story and the challenge of reading the film as a historical and cultural document, they typically don’t complain about or even notice the lack of color. The use of camera angles and lighting, the pacing and transition of scenes, the soundtrack—these become the elements on which the students focus.
