Improvization in the Cinema

Subject guarantor:

Name of lecturer(s):

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

Introduction to various types of improvisation (in) film from historical and analytical perspectives. This should expand the student's history knowledge of the given issues and practice them in manners of film analysis.

Mode of study:

Lectures supplemented by screenings of some films and film examples. Lectures will last 2 instruction hours. Film screenings may last as long as 3 instruction hours therefore the course schedule is written to span 3 hours.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Some screened films or film samples will be with English subtitles (The majority with Czech subtitles.).

Recommended optional programme components:

No elective requirements.

Course contents:

Improvisation, not previously prepared (more or less) creativity in an artistic work at the given moment before our eyes, is a technique used in various arts. Primarily in music, dance and theatre. Improvisation in film is not as frequent. However, in cinema we do find its very diverse use. Considering the complexity of the creation of a film, improvisation occurs in very divers measures and at different levels of a work. The screenplay, acting, camerawork, or overall directing can be improvise to a greater or lesser measure. In the lectures there is an introduction to the history and theory of this creative technique and a detailed analysis of the creations of several filmmakers who systematically use or have used improvisation in film (ex: John Cassavetes, Mike Leigh, Robert Altman, Claire Denis, Jonas Mekas, Christopher Guest). Improvised film demonstrates how ths specific method of working brings specific aesthetic results (in this case, primarily, other types of acting and narration than we know from „Classic“ previously prepared, formalized cinema.

Course curriculum

1+2 Introduction + history of improvisation (and its discourse) in the arts (comedia dell' arte, Dadaism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Bebop, Neo-Dadaism Flux, etc.).

3) Screening of Robert Reiner's „This is Spinal Tap“ (1984)

4) Acting improvisation in comedy and drama (improvisation in theatre from Spolin and Johnson and more. Improvised TV programs and Serials.

5+6) Screening of John Casavetes „Faces“ (1968) + analysis of its creation

7+8) Screening of Abbas Kiarostami's „Ten“ (2002) + analysis of its creation

9+10) Screening of Werner Herzog's „Strozsek“ (1977) + analysis of its creation

Recommended or required reading:

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

Lecture and cca. five screenings of feature-length films.

Assessment methods and criteria:

The lecture will be concluded with an exam, which will tel how much the student during the semester has been acquainted with the history and theory (not only in film) of improvisation and is able to independently critically analyse improvisized works screened during the lectures.

Course web page:

Note:

Further information:

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Animovaná tvorba - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Dokumentární tvorba - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Dokumentární tvorba - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Animovaná tvorba - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Scenáristika a dramaturgie - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Scenáristika a dramaturgie - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Režie - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Režie - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Kamera - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Kamera - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Produkce - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Produkce - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Audiovizuální studia - bakalář (qualification subject, faculty subject, optional subject)
• Střihová skladba - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Střihová skladba - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Zvuková tvorba - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Zvuková tvorba - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ - bakalář (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ - magistr (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Audiovizuální studia - magistr (qualification subject, faculty subject, optional subject)
• Fotografie CZ: Restaurování fotografie (faculty subject, optional subject)