The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

““Movies are more about the times Movies are more about the times in which they are made than the in which they are made than the times in which they are set” times in which they are set” (Carter Burch)(Carter Burch)

• “ “No sultan, king or president has more No sultan, king or president has more power.” - Frank Capra power.” - Frank Capra

The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

“ “ . . . but what is unfortunate to us is that a lot of . . . but what is unfortunate to us is that a lot of the people who write these stories (films) do not the people who write these stories (films) do not have the sense of their responsibility. These have the sense of their responsibility. These stories are making and breaking lives. But the stories are making and breaking lives. But the movies are made simply to make money. The movies are made simply to make money. The kind of responsibility that goes into a priesthoodkind of responsibility that goes into a priesthoodwith a ritual is not there. That is one of our with a ritual is not there. That is one of our problems today.problems today.

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

What makes it so powerful? What makes it so powerful?

Why does it have such a Why does it have such a profound impact on our lives?profound impact on our lives?

Whose lives are being made or Whose lives are being made or broken?broken?

The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

The key to understanding The key to understanding the mystery of film is found in the mystery of film is found in

ancient ritualsancient rituals

The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

We are creatures of storyWe are creatures of story““Storytelling has been the principal means Storytelling has been the principal means by which we have taught one another by which we have taught one another from the beginning of time. The campfire. from the beginning of time. The campfire. The tribal members gathered around, the The tribal members gathered around, the little children peeping from behind adults, little children peeping from behind adults, their eyes as wide as dollars, listening, their eyes as wide as dollars, listening, listening.” (Gerry Spence)listening.” (Gerry Spence)

RitualRitual

• DRAMATIC DRAMATIC – Stories, plays, written documents, religious Stories, plays, written documents, religious

eventsevents

• REPITITIOUSREPITITIOUS – Repeated over and over againRepeated over and over again– Linked with time, seasons and cyclesLinked with time, seasons and cycles

• DRAMATIC DRAMATIC – Stories, plays, written documents, religious Stories, plays, written documents, religious

eventsevents

• REPITITIOUSREPITITIOUS – Repeated over and over againRepeated over and over again– Linked with time, seasons and cyclesLinked with time, seasons and cycles

Ritual Ritual

• INSTRUCTIONALINSTRUCTIONAL – Genius of ritual is it instructs the rising Genius of ritual is it instructs the rising

generation how to be happy and successful in generation how to be happy and successful in their journey through life.their journey through life.

• ALLEGORYALLEGORY– SymbolicSymbolic– HiddenHidden– Multi-layeredMulti-layered

• INSTRUCTIONALINSTRUCTIONAL – Genius of ritual is it instructs the rising Genius of ritual is it instructs the rising

generation how to be happy and successful in generation how to be happy and successful in their journey through life.their journey through life.

• ALLEGORYALLEGORY– SymbolicSymbolic– HiddenHidden– Multi-layeredMulti-layered

Some lasting, influential cultures Some lasting, influential cultures with powerful rituals with powerful rituals

• Egyptian DynastiesEgyptian Dynasties

• Chinese DynastiesChinese Dynasties

• Hebrews Hebrews

• GreeksGreeks

• RomansRomans

• Native AmericansNative Americans

• What about What about America?America?

GreeksGreeks

Ritual-Greek PoetsRitual-Greek Poets• Greek TheaterGreek Theater

• ““. . not by wisdom do poets write poetry, . . not by wisdom do poets write poetry, but by sort of a genius and inspiration;but by sort of a genius and inspiration;

• they are like diviners or soothsayers who they are like diviners or soothsayers who also say many fine things, but do not also say many fine things, but do not understand the meaning of them.understand the meaning of them.

• Greek poets were the most profound and Greek poets were the most profound and active of Greek thinkers.active of Greek thinkers.

Ritual-GREECE-Socrates Ritual-GREECE-Socrates

– For I do nothing but go about persuading you For I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but first and your persons or your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money but that from virtue come money and money but that from virtue come money and every other good of man, public as private. This every other good of man, public as private. This is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which corrupts the youthcorrupts the youth, my influence is ruinous , my influence is ruinous indeed.indeed.

Ritual-GREECE-Socrates Ritual-GREECE-Socrates

• Socrates was executed for proclaiming that if Greece Socrates was executed for proclaiming that if Greece rituals and teachings did not foremost teach rituals and teachings did not foremost teach “improvement of the soul” they would ruin the youth “improvement of the soul” they would ruin the youth and the culture.and the culture.

• Greece sold out their rituals for power and moneyGreece sold out their rituals for power and money• Greece soon fell to a minor playerGreece soon fell to a minor player

Ancient Greek Rituals:Ancient Greek Rituals:GREEK THEATERGREEK THEATER

• DionysiusDionysius– 12 men dressed in Goat skins from the gods did 12 men dressed in Goat skins from the gods did

a ritual dance around and alter to Dionysiusa ritual dance around and alter to Dionysius

• Greek TheaterGreek Theater -all day event-all day event

• Hero JourneyHero Journey– TragedyTragedy– ComedyComedy

Ancient Greek Rituals:Ancient Greek Rituals:GREEK THEATERGREEK THEATER

• TragedyTragedy– Inner conflict-Ethics/Morality/ChoicesInner conflict-Ethics/Morality/Choices– Hero journeyHero journey– Perfect man or a god fallsPerfect man or a god falls

• ComedyComedy– Inner conflict-Ethics/Morality/ChoicesInner conflict-Ethics/Morality/Choices– Hero JourneyHero Journey– Imperfect man succeeds at the last minute Imperfect man succeeds at the last minute

through through Deux ex MachinaDeux ex Machina

Greek Poets-PLATOGreek Poets-PLATO

• Plato's written documents were plays, Plato's written documents were plays, dramatic works of art that posed questionsdramatic works of art that posed questions

• Plato's plots were designed to entertain and Plato's plots were designed to entertain and to require reader to philosophize.to require reader to philosophize.

• The storyline was superficial but the The storyline was superficial but the philosophical plot which it masked was philosophical plot which it masked was always most importantalways most important

Plato Plato

• Was wary of exposing his ideas to those Was wary of exposing his ideas to those who might misunderstand them. who might misunderstand them. (Remember what happened to his mentor, (Remember what happened to his mentor, Socrates.) He hid his true meanings yet Socrates.) He hid his true meanings yet disclosed them to those capable of disclosed them to those capable of understanding understanding

• All great literature followsAll great literature follows Plato's patternPlato's pattern

Greek Theater the Oldest Greek Theater the Oldest recorded Ritual?recorded Ritual?

• Shabako Stone Shabako Stone – Celebrates founding of First Dynasty of EgyptCelebrates founding of First Dynasty of Egypt

• Play with script, stage directions Play with script, stage directions

• Council of gods, the creation of the world, Council of gods, the creation of the world, the fall of man, and means by which he may the fall of man, and means by which he may achieve reunification with the gods.achieve reunification with the gods.

• Coming of age heroes journeyComing of age heroes journey

• Deux ex machinaDeux ex machina

Theater FormTheater Form

• TragedyTragedy

• Comedy Comedy

• MelodramaMelodrama

MelodramaMelodrama

• Villains & Heroes (Good Guys vs. Bad Villains & Heroes (Good Guys vs. Bad Guys)Guys)

• Inner conflict replaced with external Inner conflict replaced with external conflict. Man vs. Man or Man vs. Machineconflict. Man vs. Man or Man vs. Machine

• Deux ex machina deleted. Man saves Deux ex machina deleted. Man saves himselfhimself

America & RitualAmerica & Ritual

• Our culture is bombarded with stimuli from Our culture is bombarded with stimuli from every direction fighting for our attention.every direction fighting for our attention.

• Our time is speeding upOur time is speeding up

• Our Rituals must be powerful and multi-Our Rituals must be powerful and multi-layered.layered.

• Must fit the time in which we liveMust fit the time in which we live

Film: An Original American Film: An Original American Ritual FormRitual Form

• “ “No sultan, king or president has more No sultan, king or president has more power.” - Frank Capra power.” - Frank Capra

• We sit in the dark more than 30 minutes We sit in the dark more than 30 minutes each hour, watching a series of still each hour, watching a series of still photographs flash by at a rate of 24 frames photographs flash by at a rate of 24 frames per second.per second.

Film: An Original American Art Film: An Original American Art FormForm

• Movies, are meant to entertain and teachMovies, are meant to entertain and teach

• Movies work on many levelsMovies work on many levels

• ““Movies are more about the times in which Movies are more about the times in which they are made than the times in which they they are made than the times in which they are set” (Carter Burch)are set” (Carter Burch)

• Great movies follow historical dramatic Great movies follow historical dramatic formform

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature

• All great films follow an organic pattern All great films follow an organic pattern

• Eight sequence structureEight sequence structure

Eight Sequence StructureEight Sequence Structure1. Exposition

2. Establishing Protagonist Goals/Moral Dilemmas

3. Gathering Forces/1st attempt at reaching goal

4. Pseudo-Ending

5. New Approach at reaching goal/New Perspective

6. Protagonist Reaches Goal

7. Consequence of Reaching Goal

8. Loose ends/Return to homeostasis

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature

• Masters the language with impressive and Masters the language with impressive and memorable wordsmemorable words

• Dialogue & Action is carefully planned and Dialogue & Action is carefully planned and constructed (8 sequence structure)constructed (8 sequence structure)

• Dialogue produces mounting drama/conflictDialogue produces mounting drama/conflict

• Provides exposition in a methodical yet Provides exposition in a methodical yet entertaining mannerentertaining manner

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature

• Captures the spirit of an age, the national Captures the spirit of an age, the national consensusconsensus

• Distills the timesDistills the times

• Is allegory, symbolically speaks to us (Sub Is allegory, symbolically speaks to us (Sub Text)Text)

• Addresses timeless themes of human life Addresses timeless themes of human life and key human valuesand key human values

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature• Is believable, is in touch with our own real Is believable, is in touch with our own real

life experiences life experiences “For me, the heart of storytelling is mimesis “For me, the heart of storytelling is mimesis - the reality check. So many filmmakers and - the reality check. So many filmmakers and novelists are like Tarantino - all they know novelists are like Tarantino - all they know is what they've seen on the screen. is what they've seen on the screen. Spielberg, same problem.Spielberg, same problem. You constantly You constantly have to go back to the real world for have to go back to the real world for character, for milieu.character, for milieu.” Orson Scott Card

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature

• Is blunt, transfers moral obligation from Is blunt, transfers moral obligation from one to another, instructs us to take personal one to another, instructs us to take personal responsibilityresponsibility

• Provides clear instructions on how to Provides clear instructions on how to accomplish the results, how to achieve high, accomplish the results, how to achieve high, profound and noble goalsprofound and noble goals

Great Films as Great LiteratureGreat Films as Great Literature

• Compels us to critical action, urgently but Compels us to critical action, urgently but lovinglylovingly

• Leaves the ultimate choice to usLeaves the ultimate choice to us

The Magical Creative ProcessThe Magical Creative Process• Socrates Socrates

– ““. . . not by wisdom do poets write poetry, but . . . not by wisdom do poets write poetry, but by a sort of genius and inspiration, they are like by a sort of genius and inspiration, they are like diviners or soothsayers . . . . .diviners or soothsayers . . . . .

• Mark Andrus (Mark Andrus (As Good As It Gets)As Good As It Gets)– BS in Business and MS in EconomicsBS in Business and MS in Economics– ““I see the a movie playing in my mind and I see the a movie playing in my mind and

write it down. . . It took 5 weeks to write write it down. . . It took 5 weeks to write As As Good As It Gets.”Good As It Gets.”

Film AnalysisFilm Analysis• Take note when something does not seem to Take note when something does not seem to

make sensemake sense

• Look to Socrates. Compare the film to what Look to Socrates. Compare the film to what is currently happening in our world in the is currently happening in our world in the areas which shape our lives:areas which shape our lives:– Political (political systems, economics, law)Political (political systems, economics, law)– ReligiousReligious– Poets (writers, directors) What is their view?Poets (writers, directors) What is their view?– Artisans (painters)Artisans (painters)

“ “ . . . but what is unfortunate to us is that a lot of . . . but what is unfortunate to us is that a lot of the people who write these stories (films) do not the people who write these stories (films) do not have the sense of their responsibility. These have the sense of their responsibility. These stories are making and breaking lives. But the stories are making and breaking lives. But the movies are made simply to make money. The movies are made simply to make money. The kind of responsibility that goes into a priesthoodkind of responsibility that goes into a priesthoodwith a ritual is not there. That is one of our with a ritual is not there. That is one of our problems today.problems today.

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

The American Motion PictureThe American Motion Picture

““Movies are more about the times Movies are more about the times in which they are made than the in which they are made than the times in which they are set” times in which they are set” (Carter Burch)(Carter Burch)