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I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle.
Alfred Hitchcock

Goals
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Increase self-awareness of students and develop a global perspective
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Motivate students to reject apathy in favor of hope
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Provide students with a contextual basis for appreciating cultural and biological diversity
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Use film as a catalyst for personal growth and change
Objectives/Rationale
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Critically read and evaluate film as a medium of cultural expression
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Identify and objectively discuss themes and issues presented in film
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Examine the relationships between characters' assumptions, motivations and decisions
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Consider multiple perspectives, evaluating alternate points of view on controversial topics
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Explore themes and issues through research and selected readings
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Participate in informal discussion and writing activities
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Engage in personal reflection by maintaining a film viewing log
Background
I conceived the concept of film study while teaching social studies to juveniles incarcerated as adults at Clallam. Despite the diversity of the students, a striking lack of empathy for others presented as a universal trait. In an effort to instill a basic sense of compassion for people from different backgrounds and points of view, I began introducing films that featured material to serve as a catalyst for confronting antisocial thought patterns and challenging assumptions about life. Bay Corrections Center
Film is a medium unique in its ability to captivate an audience, and thus has an amazing potential to reach students while their affective filter is low. This provides the opportunity to redirect negative or unhealthy assumptions and rigid thinking and to replace these with a more flexible, inclusive worldview. The mission of this course is to build empathy and respect for others.
Film Selection
Films are presented in thematic series, with a different theme introduced each term. I carefully research potential films using an array of print and Internet sources until I am confident that my selections represent the best opportunity to explore a vital facet of the featured theme. A word on controversial material: In accord with the goals and intent of the course, I seek out films that confront important social issues and problems. These often provide the best opportunity to sensitize an increasingly desensitized audience and change antisocial or otherwise unhealthy assumptions and thinking. Because of my personal experience observing changes in homophobic, racist, and other antisocial behavior as a direct result of films I have shown and discussed, I embrace controversy for the powerful catalyst that it can be for personal change.
Assessment
50% Production or Performance
50% Film viewing log & Discussion notes

Internet Movie Database
More information than you really need to know about almost any movie you can think of and tons that you've never even heard of. You can search using a variety of parameters, including actor, title & genre
The Greatest Films
Interpretive, descriptive review commentary and historical background for hundreds of classic Hollywood and other American films in the last century.
Amazon.com Movie Search
Want to find information about a particular movie? Know the actor but forget the title? Want to know all the movies by Quentin Tarantino? Start here!
Film Threat
A really great film review site that specializes in independent film.
Ain't it Cool News
One of the greatest web sites ever devised in life, info on all the important stuff.
Bad Movies
Have you ever watched a movie so bad that it is actually funny, well that's what this site is all about.
Wookiepedia
Like Wikipedia, but all the articles are about Star Wars


Films Based on a True Story
The Boys of St. Vincent, 1993
Brian's Song, 1971
Brink's Job, 1978
The Burning Bed, 1985
The Burning Season, 1994
Cabeza de Vaca, 1990
Call Northside 777, 1948
Camila, 1984
A Case of Deadly Force, 1986
Casualties of War, 1989
Chameleon Street, 1989
Chariots of Fire, 1981
Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom, 1985
Cheaper by the Dozen, 1950
Christriane F., 1982
Citizen X, 1995
Coach Carter, 2005
Coming Out of the Ice, 1982
Conrack, 1974
The Counterfeit Traitor, 1962
Courage, 1986
The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, 1955
The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson, 1990
Cowboy, 1958
Cry Freedom, 1987
A Cry in the Dark, 1988
Dance with a Stranger, 1985
David and Lisa, 1962
Day One, 1989
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster, 1992
Dead Ringers, 1988
Deadly Business, 1986
The Deliberate Stranger, 1986
Deranged, 1974
The Diary of Ann Frank, 1959
A Different Loyalty, 2004
Dillinger, 1945
The Dish, 2000
Dr. Bethune, 1990
Dog Day Afternoon, 1975
Donnie Brasco, 1996
Drugstore Cowboy, 1989
Egg and I, 1947
Eight Men Out, 1994
84 Charing Cross Road, 1986
The Elephant Man, 1980
Elvira Madigan, 1967
The Emerald Forest, 1985
Empire of the Sun, 1987
An Englishman Abroad, 1983
Eric, 1975
Erin Brockovich, 2000
Escape from Sobibor, 1987
Escape: Human Cargo, 1998
Europa, Europa, 1991
Evelyn, 2002
Every Man for Himself & God Against All, 1975
The Execution of Private Slovik, 1974
Exodus, 1960
The Falcon and the Snowman, 1985
The FBI Story, 1959
Fear Strikes Out, 1957
The Fighting Sullivans, 1942
Fitzcarraldo, 1982
The Fixer, 1968
Frances, 1982
Friday Night Lights, 2004
Gaby: A True Story, 1987
Geronimo, 1993
The Girl Who Spelled Freedom, 1986
Goodfellas, 1990
Grain of Sand, 1984
The Great Escape, 1963
The Great Train Robbery, 1979
The Grey Fox, 1983
The Guys, 2002
Hard Choices, 1984
He Walked by Night, 1948
Heartland, 1981
Heavenly Creatures, 1994
Henry & June, 1990\
Henry: Portait of a Serial Killer, 1990
Hide in Plain Sight, 1980
Hilary and Jackie, 1998
Honeymoon Killers, 1970
The Hoodlum Priest, 1961
Hostages, 1993
The Hurricane, 1993
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, 1932
I Shot Andy Warhol, 1996
I Will Fight No More Forever, 1975
The Impossible Spy, 1987
In Cold Blood, 1967
In Pursuit of Honor, 1995
In the Line of Duty: The FBI Murders, 1988
In the Name of the Father, 1993
In Which We Serve, 1943
Indictment: The McMartin Trial, 1995
Inherit the Wind, 1960
The Inner Circle, 1991
The Insider, 1999
Interrupted Melody, 1955
Jesus Christ, Superstar, 1973
JFK, 1991
Journey of Hope, 1990
Julia, 1977
The Killing Fields, 1984
A Killing in a Small Town, 1990
Knute Rockne: All American, 1940
Korczak, 1990
The Krays, 1990
Kundun, 1997
Lady Jane, 1985
Ladybird, Ladybird, 1993
The Last American Hero, 1973
The Last Supper, 1976
Lean on Me, 1989
Let Him Have It, 1991
Live from Baghdad, 2003
Longitude, 2000
Lorenzo's Oil, 1992
Lumumba, 2001
The Magdalene Sisters, 2002
A Man Escaped, 1957
The Man Who Never Was, 1955
Marianne and Juliane, 1982
Marie, 1985
Marked Woman, 1937
Mask, 1985
Mata Hari, 1932
Matewan, 1987
Mayerling, 1936
Melvin and Howard, 1980
Memphis Belle, 1990
Michael Collins, 1996
Midnight Express, 1978
Miracle, 2004
The Miracle Worker, 1962
The Miracle Worker, 1979
Missing, 1982
Mission of the Shark, 1991
Mr. & Mrs. Loving, 1996
Mother Joan of the Angels, 1960
The Murder of Mary Phagan, 1987
Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935
My Darling Clementine, 1946
My Left Foot, 1989
The Nasty Girl, 1990
A Night to Remember, 1958
Norma Rae, 1979
Nurse Edith Cavelle, 1939
October Sky, 1989
Olivier, Olivier, 1992
One Against the Wind, 1991
One That Got Away, 1957
The Onion Field, 1979
The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd, 1980
Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, 1973
Paths of Glory, 1957
Patton, 1970
The People vs. Larry Flynt, 1996
The Pianist, 2002
Playing for Time, 1980
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom, 1993
Pressure Point, 1962
Pretty Village, Pretty Flame, 1996
Prick Up Your Ears, 1987
Prince of the City, 1981
A Private Matter, 1992
Rabbit-Proof Fence, 2002
Raid on Entebbe, 1977
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, 1996
Reds, 1981
Reilly: Ace of Spies, 1987
Rescuers: Stories of Courage?Two Couples, 1998
Rescuers: Stories of Courage?"Two Women", 1997
The Return of Martin Guerre, 1983
Reversal of Fortune, 1990
Ring of Bright Water, 1969
Riot in Cell Block 11, 1954
River's Edge, 1987
The Road to Galveston, 1996
Roe vs. Wade, 1989
Rosewood, 1996
A Rumor of War, 1980
Sakharov, 1984
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story, 1986
Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto, 1955
Samurai 2: Duel at Ichijoji Temple, 1955
Samurai 3: Duel at Ganryu Island, 1956
Scandal, 1989
Schindler's List, 1993
The Sea Inside, 2004
Searching for Bobby Fischer, 1993
Separate but Equal, 1991
Sergeant York, 1941
Serpico, 1973
Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, 1995
Shackleton, 2002
Shadowlands, 1993
Shattered Glass, 2003
Shine, 1995
A Shining Season, 1979
Shot in the Heart, 2001
Shot Through the Heart, 1998
Sid & Nancy, 1986
Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story, 1979
Silkwood, 1983
Sins of the Father, 2001
The Slender Thread, 1965
Sniper, 1975
So Proudly We Hail, 1943
Soul of the Game, 1996
The Sound of Music, 1965
Spartacus, 1960
Spirit of St. Louis, 1957
Stand and Deliver, 1988
Stonewall, 1995
The Straight Story, 1999
The Stratton Story, 1949
The Sugarland Express, 1974
The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story, 1988
Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story, 1992
10 Rillington Place, 1971
The Terry Fox Story, 1983
The Thin Blue Line, 1988
Thirteen Days, 2000
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, 1944
Thousand Pieces of Gold, 1991
Three Came Home, 1950
Titanic, 1953
Titanic, 1997
To Catch a Killer, 1992
Toast of New York, 1937
Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story, 1991
Triple Cross, 1967
Triumph of the Spirit, 1989
Tue Confessions, 1981
The Tuskegee Airmen, 1995
Vengeance Is Mine, 1979
Violette, 1978
Voyage of the Damned, 1976
The Wall, 1983
The Wannsee Conference, 1984
The Wedding Gift, 1993
Wedding in Blood, 1974
Weeds, 1987
Welcome to Sarejevo, 1997
When Hell Was in Session, 1982
Where the Spirit Lives, 1988
White Mischief, 1988
The White Rose, 1983
The Whole Wide World, 1996
Wild America, 1997
The Wild Child, 1970
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, 1991
A Woman Called Golda, 1982
Wooden Horse, 1950
A World Apart, 1988
The Wrong Man, 1956
You Know My Name, 1999
The Young Poisoner's Handbook, 1994
Zoot Suit, 1981

Dewey's thoughts: Everyone likes you better than your brothers. Someday, you're going to be the president of Idaho, and anyone taller than you will be fed to the wolves.
~Malcolm in the Middle
Kitty Farmer: [Tearfully to Rose Darko] Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
~Donnie Darko
D-Qwon: Welcome to D-Qwon's dance grooves, are you ready to get your groove on?
D-Qwon: All right then, let's get started!
~Napoleon Dynamite
Buck Russell: I don't think I want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they're ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they're no good.
~Uncle Buck
Sam: I think there has to be a door between where you cook and where you crap. Even in the bush - tribal people, you know, they have a place for both. Probably it's like a law. God! It's probably in the Bible. It's at least a building code violation.
~Life as a House
Sean: So what do you really want to do?
Will: I wanna be a shepherd.
Sean: Really.
Will: I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.
Sean: Maybe you should go do that.
~Good Will Hunting
RoboCop: Excuse me, I have to go. Somewhere there is a crime happening.
~Robocop
Juror #3: You're talking about a matter of seconds. Nobody can be that accurate.
Juror #8: Well I think that testimony that can put a boy into the electric chair SHOULD be that accurate.
~Twelve Angry Men
Trevor: Were you just being nice?
Eugene: About what?
Trevor: About my idea. Do you think it's good, or were you just being teachery?
Eugene: "Teachery"?
Trevor: Bullshitting.
Eugene: Do I strike you as someone falsely nice?
Trevor: No. You're not even really all that nice.
~Pay It Forward

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Pleasantville (1998)
by Gary Ross.
Shooting script.
FADE IN:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. DAY.
A college counselor stands at the Podium lecturing the high school seniors about their future.
COLLEGE COUNSELOR
...For those of you going on to college next year, the chance of finding a good job will actually decrease by the time you graduate. The available number of entry level jobs will drop thirty-one percent over the next four years. Median income for those jobs will go down as well...
There is some rustling in the audience.
COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Obviously, my friends, it's a competitive world and good grades are your only ticket through. In fact, by the year 2000.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL. HEALTH CLASS.
A different teacher lectures a different class of students.
HEALTH TEACHER
...The chance of contracting HIV from a non-monogamous lifestyle will climb to one in one hundred and fifty. The odds of dying in an auto accident are only one in twenty-five hundred.
(beat)
Now this marks a drastic increase...
INT. HIGH SCHOOL. SCIENCE CLASS.
Same angle. Different teacher.
SCIENCE TEACHER
...From just four years ago when ozone depletion was at ten percent of its current level. By the time you are twenty years old, average global temperature will have risen two and a half degrees, causing such catastrophic consequences as typhoons, floods, widespread drought and famine.
REVERSE ANGLE. STUDENTS.
They stare back in stunned silence. One of them, DAVID WAGNER, sits in the front row with a pencil in his mouth. Nobody moves...
SCIENCE TEACHER
(chipper "classroom" tone)
Okay. Who can tell me what famine is?
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