Theatre in the Age of Film and TV » administrative notes

Hitchcock Essays

theprof — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:09:46 +0000

I will be returning all on-time essays tomorrow in class. All other essays will be available for pick-up at the final exam, and possibly before that time at the drama desk (TBA).

This is also a reminder that I’ll be accepting late Hitchcock papers up until tomorrow in class – Wednesday April 1.

Wendy Crewson’s note

theprof — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:11:11 +0000

* * *

Wendy Crewson sent the following note after her visit last week, and asked me to pass it along. You made quite the impression on her:

“I had a truly wonderful time… and was so impressed and inspired by your students. Thank them please for making me feel so welcome. I’m looking forward to great things from them”

This week’s videos now up

theprof — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:04:39 +0000

I have updated the Screenings page to include the videos and websites that we will discuss on Wednesday. I have divided the videos into several categories, but I think that there are other ways we can categorize them, so think about commonalities and differences when you watch them. I am particularly interested in how these sites and videos speak to their audience(s) — the theatre we have discussed so far assumes a live audience, but the relationship changes when videos are meant to be consumed on the internet in private, or shared through other forms of technology. See you on Wednesday!

NO Screening tonight

theprof — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:33:12 +0000

I’m cancelling the screening tonight because 1) I am sick and 2) it’s easy to watch everything at home. I will update the Screenings page later today so that you can watch the videos online before class on Wednesday. I look forward to our last day together – it should prove to be a very interesting class.

Films for course

theprof — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:38:54 +0000

ALL films for the course will be at the Drama desk for sign out until the exam is over. This includes Perfect Pie and Twilight Los Angeles, which were not previously available. Happy viewing.

Handing in late papers

theprof — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:22:53 +0000

You are welcome to hand late papers to me during class time, or to submit them to the Drama desk. If you choose the latter option, you must submit the paper to an attendant who will sign and date it. The office is open M-F, 9am-3:45pm. I will continue to accept papers up to and including our last class, on Wednesday April 1, 2009. After that point, I will not accept any more papers.

Hitchcock Essay: Q&A #1

theprof — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:18:41 +0000

Q: When I am referring to characters and events, need I mention which of the two films in which said character/event is featured? I will, of course, indicate in the essay that I am speaking about both “The Thirty-Nine Steps” and “The Lady Vanishes”, but must I always be writing things like: “Consider, for instance, the performance of Mr. Memory at the Music Hall in ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’”, or can I assume sufficient familiarity with the films’ content on the part of the reader, and drop the “in The Thirty-Nine Steps”?

A: In terms of style and clarity, you should clarify the film the first time you mention a character, but you need not mention the film name every subsequent time you mention the character. There are exceptions, of course: if you are talking about one film for an extended period of time and then throw in something about the other film, it makes sense to highlight your change. Your basic aim is to make sure the reader can follow you, without repeating things unnecessarily!

DVDs and Screenings – various announcements

theprof — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:21:42 +0000

Memento is available for signout at the Drama desk.

I have heard that there has been a fair bit of activity with the Hitchcock DVDs, but that many students have still not signed them out. Remember that I warned you to start early!!

Your only opportunity to see Twilight Los Angeles will be at the screening on Monday March 16. This VHS tape is difficult to come by, and I cannot make any copies available. Please plan your schedules accordingly.

If you missed the Graham Abbey visit, I am afraid I can’t recreate him for you, but you can watch all episodes to date of The Border online: http://www.cbc.ca/theborder/watch.html The one we screened in class was the final episode of Season 2.

Graham Abbey visit on Monday

theprof — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Remember that Graham Abbey will be visiting our Monday class, and that there will be no Wednesday class this week. We’ll screen some of Graham’s work, and he will engage us in a Q&A about the Canadian theatre and tv industries, his experiences as an actor in both, differences in working in the two media, and a host of other insider information. Bring your questions!

Essay 2 Details now posted

theprof — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:21:45 +0000

The assignment sheet for the second essay is now posted on the Assignments page. As mentioned in class, this essay is now due on March 18. Any tips or further information on this assignment will be posted on this blog page, and also accessible by choosing ‘hitchcock tips’ under the Categories on the right. The two films for the essay — The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes — are now available for sign-out at the Drama desk. Get started early! If students are having trouble borrowing the films in the next two weeks, please let me know. If you have any general questions about assignment policies, please read the Assignments page of the website in full before contacting me. GOOD LUCK!