Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definitely not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Using the 'Cinematic Breakdown' forms, break the scene down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify all of the techniques of cinematography that are used in the clip. For each technique, (A) describe the shot in detail, and (B) explain in detail what effect the cinematic choice creates for the viewer.

Hints - Use your notes! Use the precise terms! Use details in your descriptions and explanations!

If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Psycho Cinematic Breakdown

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definitely not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Using the 'Cinematic Breakdown' forms, break the scene down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify all of the techniques of cinematography that are used in the clip. For each technique, (A) describe the shot in detail, and (B) explain in detail what effect the cinematic choice creates for the viewer.

Hints - Use your notes! Use the precise terms! Use details in your descriptions and explanations!

If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Hitchcock Goes Psycho

Now that we've viewed Hitchcock's Psycho, read the article entitled "Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho." As you read your copy of the article, annotate it: underline or highlight interesting or compelling facts and ideas, and write in the margin questions that the article raises. That's step one. You will be graded on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of your annotations. You may not be allowed to move on to step two if you have not completed step one. So ANNOTATE.

Step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.

Once again, we are conducting a discussion here. Ask questions. Respond to others. Respond to people who have responded to you. Etc.

Psycho Cinematic Breakdown

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definitely not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Using the 'Cinematic Breakdown' forms, break the scene down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify all of the techniques of cinematography that are used in the clip. For each technique, (A) describe the shot in detail, and (B) explain in detail what effect the cinematic choice creates for the viewer.

Hints - Use your notes! Use the precise terms! Use details in your descriptions and explanations!

If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Hitchcock Goes Psycho

Now that we've viewed Hitchcock's Psycho, read the article entitled "Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho." As you read your copy of the article, annotate it: underline or highlight interesting or compelling facts and ideas, and write in the margin questions that the article raises. That's step one. You will be graded on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of your annotations. You may not be allowed to move one to step two if you have not completed step one. So ANNOTATE.

Step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.

Once again, we are conducting a discussion here. Ask questions. Respond to others. Respond to people who have responded to you. Etc.

Psycho Breakdown

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definitely not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Using the 'Cinematic Breakdown' forms, break the scene down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify all of the techniques of cinematography that are used in the clip. For each technique, (A) describe the shot in detail, and (B) explain in detail what effect the cinematic choice creates for the viewer.

Hints - Use your notes! Use the precise terms! Use details in your descriptions and explanations!

If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Now that we've viewed Hitchcock's Psycho, read the article entitled "Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho." As you read your copy of the article, annotate it: underline or highlight interesting or compelling facts and ideas, and write in the margin questions that the article raises. That's step one. You will be graded on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of your annotations. You may not be allowed to move one to step two if you have not completed step one. So ANNOTATE.

Step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.

Once again, we are conducting a discussion here. Ask questions. Respond to others. Respond to people who have responded to you. Etc.

Scenic Routes - Psycho

Let's start the semester off with some extra credit.

The media critique site The AV Club has an ongoing series of essays entitled "Scenic Routes." Here an overview of what the essay series sets out to accomplish:

 "Asked to explain what makes a movie work, Howard Hawks reportedly defined the formula as “three good scenes, no bad scenes.” Or at least that’s the catchy sound-bite version—the citation for that remark on his Wikipedia page leads to an interview in which he actually says, “If I can make about five good scenes and not annoy the audience, it’s an awfully good picture.” In truth, the precise ratio of awesome to rancid doesn’t really matter, so long as we give Hawks credit for recognizing, long before the advent of home-video made random access possible, that we don’t experience most movies as irreducible entities, but as a series of discrete moments. Whether the film as a whole succeeds or fails can be almost immaterial. I’m sure Nicholas Ray’s 1951 film Flying Leathernecks is a better movie than the 1990 Jeff Goldblum thriller Mister Frost, for example, but I once completely forgot that I’d seen the former, whereas the latter, which I’m pretty sure kind of sucked, will stay with me ’til death on the basis of a single casually chilling conversation: the opening scene, as I recall. So welcome to Scenic Routes, which will be an ongoing exploration of cinema’s most memorable individual sequences: the sublime, the exasperating, the iconic, the ineffable."

One of the essay's I'd like you to read focuses on Psycho.  You can find it here. Give it a read. Afterwards, participate in an online discussion in the comments below. Follow the rules for online discussion - thoughtful, honest, kind, curious, etc. Check back multiple times to give yourself to react to the reactions of your peers.

Psycho: Old VS New

The post is extra credit.

In 1998, director Gus Van Sant remade Hitchcock's Psycho. Unlike most remakes, it was nearly a beat-for-beat re-filming. Here are a few clips that stack the two aside one another.

Parlor Scene

Police Officer Scene

The opening scene can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Reactions? Post below.

Hitchcock Interview

For anyone who is interested, here is a short interview with Alfred Hitchcock about Psycho.




And here is a short segment on the making of the shower scene.

The Mechanics of Psycho

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definately not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography, editing, and background music.









I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.

Here's your task:

Watch all three clips. Select one that you'd like to write about.

Break it down - moment by moment, frame by frame. Identify techniques of cinematography, sound editing, and film editing. For each element, explain in detail what effect it creates for the viewer.

Your essay should NOT be a five paragraph essay. Instead, it should be organized by technique, with many short paragraphs. Use your note packets for reference.

You will have two days in the IMC to work on your essay. Essays will be due on Thursday. If you have any questions, feel free to address them in the comments section below. Remember, your objective here is to demonstrate an understanding of how filmmakers use cinematography, sound editing, and film editing to manipulate an audience.

Good Luck. Have fun.

Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho

Now that we've viewed Hitchcock's Psycho, read the article entitled "Alfred Hitchcock Goes Psycho." As you read your copy of the article, annotate it: underline or highlight interesting or compelling facts and ideas, and write in the margin questions that the article raises. That's step one.

Here's step two: In the comments section below, post a perspective/reaction you have not just to the film, but to the article. Your post should be thoughtful and thorough, and grammar and spelling counts. Once you've posted your comment, you're ready for step three: extra credit. You may comment on your peers' responses as much as you'd like. Feel free to agree, disagree, build, re-direct, etc. Just keep it friendly.

Scenic Routes - Psycho

Critic Mike D'Angelo from The A.V. Club wrote an interesting analysis of Janet Leigh's night driving scene in Psycho. You can find it BY CLICKING HERE. Read it and come back for more...

...Okay. So here's your task: Read D'Angelo's essay, cite a specific claim from the essay that you find interesting (with which you either agree or disagree), and discuss why you find the idea intriguing.

Your response should be thoughtful and thorough. For extra credit, you may, as always, post multiple responses or reflect on your peers' comments. Our goal here is rich, interesting discussion.

Hitchcock's Trailers

Welcome to your first extra credit blog entry. Here are a few trailers from Hitchcock. Take a look...









Here's the question: Would this technique work today? Would audiences see the next Transformers if Michael Bey did a tongue-in-cheek introductory trailer to it? How about Spielberg and War Horse? How effective were Hitchcock's trailers, and why?

Post your responses below.

Psycho - First Reactions

Now that we've (1) gotten a handle on film space, film time, and film sound and (2) seen the first few minutes of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, it's time to formally begin class.

Your first job is to review the opening scene. View the video from minutes 1:55 to 4:55.

CLICK HERE for the video.

Now, in the comments below, dig in with what you're experiencing. In other words, what elements of film space, time, and sound does Hitchcock use, and for what effects does he use them? Be specific. Refer to your notes. You must publish at least one comment bellow in which you identify one element/technique and analyze the effect that it creates.

You may, as always, post additional comments and/or reflect on your peers' comments for extra credit.

Please be thoughtful and thorough. Use correct grammar, spelling, etc.

Three Scenes from 'Psycho'

Check out these three scenes from Hitchcock's Psycho. Definately not the most famous of shots from the film, but still pretty interesting in terms of cinematography, editing, and background music.



I take it back. That last one is pretty famous.