Introduction to experimental film

What is the course about?

This online film studies course introduces the leanrer to the laong hitoery and broad variety of experimental film. From the earliest days of film making film makers have not only being concerned with film as popular storytelling but also have been interested to experiment with the medium all stages of its development. We will look at experimental film from the early efforts of Georges Melies’s 1902 A Trip To The Moon to recent digital works that invoke AI and virtual reality. Experimental cinema has always been about pushing the boundaries of the medium and engaging its small but enthusiastic audiences. Many experimental projects have shorter runtimes, lower budgets and are never intended for a mainstream appeal or traditional distribution. However, there are experimental feature films by filmmakers such as David Lynch. We will look at the relationship between experimental films and mainstream cinema and look at how experimentation has nurtured and nourished popular cinema.
We will look at a range of films from past and present, such as Wavelength (1967) Man with a Movie Camera (1929) Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) Koyaanisqatsi (1982) and A Green House (2017).

The course will also discuss how you can plan and organize your own experimental film in the future. The course is taught by a practising experimental film-maker and we'll discuss practicalities as well as theory and concepts. It will be equally interesting for film buffs as for budding film-makers.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• Experimental cinema as technique, film style and cultural function
• Archive/found footage film and the issues of authorship
• The relationship between experimental and more mainstream film
• The place of experimental film in world cinema
• Critical accounts of experimental cinema.
• Opportunities and challenges for making your own experimental films in future.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Describe and evaluate experimental cinema as a major topic in world cinema
• Describe and evaluate the function of experimental cinema within the wider film industry
• Describe and evaluate the concepts of national and regional cinema as they relate to experimental cinema
• Evaluate key phases in experimental film history, e.g. analogue to digital; installation films etc.
• Evaluate experimental cinema with a critical framework.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is for learners who are curious about avant-garde and experimental film, and want to know where to start. Learners may have some understanding of film or video making and want to try making their own films in the future. The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course is taught online and will consist of screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. It might also be a good idea to see what you can find out about the subject in advance of the class but this is not essential.
A weekly worksheet will be provided for you to fill in your thoughts and ideas about experimental film, allowing you to record what you've learned.
You should have a good quality Internet connection, headphones and a laptop or desktop computer; alternatively, a tablet or smartphone capable of handling streaming video.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

The tutor will show extracts of films and students do not have to obtain them. Most of the films covered are available either on DVD or online, although several of them are from the tutor's own collection.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Look for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.