Narrative Cinema from the Black & Brown Perspective

This 8-week virtual film course is two-part: students will engage in both film study, as well as in the development of a short script of their own. Students will study minority films and movements, as well as non-Hollywood/Western film traditions from around the world.

The dominance of Hollywood in the world of cinema can make its model of storytelling feel like the norm. But there are many film traditions all around the world - from minority communities, to national cinemas, to non-Western independent and avant garde movements - all of which have grown organically from within their own cultures and histories. As filmmakers and film lovers, our understanding of storytelling benefits from exposure to these different kinds of cinema - and just to be clear, this is not so we can appropriate, or presume to tell other people's stories! Rather, it allows us to disengage from the Hollywood model as a norm, and appreciate the truly multifarious world of cinematic storytelling.

As filmmakers, it allows us to be inspired to explore our own cultural/historical roots and tell our own stories in a way that is more authentically connected and meaningful to our own lived experiences.

As Charles Burnett, writer and director of Killer of Sheep, and member of the LA Rebellion film movement, said: "It wasn't until I saw films made by people in different countries, people representing themselves, that I discovered new possibilities."

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Explore non-Hollywood movements and films, such as LA Rebellion and Third Cinema

• Analyze films/movements through lectures, discussions, readings, and viewings

• Basics of Screenwriting

• Create and workshop your own short script

ACCESS TO:

• 3-month subscription to The Criterion Channel

• Special access to films

• Expertise & direct feedback of a filmmaker & scholar

• Accessible Screenwriting software

• Profound knowledge, live analysis, and critique on films, filmmaker, and filmmaking —something any and all film lovers & filmmaker should push themselves to explore & learn.

Students will receive a reminder email one business days before the class begins containing all information to access their virtual classroom and their teacher contact. Students must have access to high speed internet and a computer to complete this course. All additional recommendations will be provided by Austin School of Film including access to all films for free.

There are 10 scholarship spots available for this course. To inquire about a scholarship, please email us at classes@austinfilmschool.org for the scholarship form.

This course is 8 weeks for a total of 16 hours of in-classroom learning time.