NFLM
3601

Celluloid Dreams: Projects in 16mm

Schools of Public Engagement: Media

Non-Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Celluloid Dreams: Projects16mm
Spring 2024
Taught By: Vandana Nagaraj
Section: A

CRN: 14341

Credits: 3

We live in a digital media age yet there are filmmakers and artisans who prefer to work with the magic of celluloid film. In Celluloid Dreams students experience the alchemy of silver halide crystals suspended in plastic emulsions producing images that appear after a warm chemical bath. Students learn how to control the variables of this chemical process with the film camera and its lenses to learn and understand the fundamentals of filmmaking. This course is an opportunity for the serious beginner or intermediate student willing to accept the challenges analog filmmaking presents as problems of time, movement, space, place, and economy. This course teaches the need to be more thoughtful and deliberate about how we use tools in the process of filmmaking and introduces a sense of continuity between film and digital work. The weekly demonstrations, discussions, exercises, lectures, and critiques further students’ understanding of celluloid filmmaking. The course examines the historical and contemporary potentials of analog filmmaking as students become familiar with the various modes of cinematic expression and better equipped to discover and realize their own creative voices with the use of 16mm film. A range of films are discussed and understood as responses to technical limits like film speed, key lighting, lens selection and aspect ratio. By the end of the course, students will have gained experience with both the Bolex and ARRI SR cameras as well as external sound, lighting, and editing tools that prepare them to produce a personal 16mm film project. Students will incur personal costs for film stock, developing, and supplies as well use public transportation on class field trips to camera houses and film labs.

College: Schools of Public Engagement (NS)

Department: Media (MED)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Studio (S)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 15

Add/Drop Deadline: February 4, 2024 (Sunday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 16, 2024 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Closed*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 8:10am EDT 3/28/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday
Times: 4:00pm - 6:40pm
Building: 6 East 16th Street
Room: 609/610
Date Range: 1/23/2024 - 5/7/2024