While UCLA’s film school remains highly selective, film
students are not the only ones learning about film at UCLA.
Various undergraduate departments have decided to offer
film-related courses in order to satiate the desire for such
knowledge among UCLA undergraduate students. Departments offering
film classes include ““ but aren’t limited to ““
English, history, music history, comparative literature and various
language departments. These classes attempt to offer an alternative
to students of all majors who may or may not be interested in
pursuing film school or filmmaking.
While focusing on the historical context and literary
significance of film, many of these undergraduate courses provide a
rudimentary introduction to the process of filmmaking, but not to
the same extent as is presented in film schools.
Thomas Harrison, a professor in the Italian department who
teaches Italian 46, focuses his class around the thematic elements
of film, rather than its technical aspects. For him and his class,
an in-depth examination of what shots mean rather than how they
were produced is more important.
“Film school (has) more of an interest in
technique,” he said. “(Italian 46) teaches basics about
Italian culture but also about the importance of (film) and its use
on the moral, ethical and political front.”
While Harrison believes an introduction to the filmmaking
process is necessary, he feels it is not the sole basis for his
class.
Likewise, Andrew Hewitt, a germanic languages professor who
teaches German 57 (Hollywood and Germany), teaches some film
technique. But Harrison, Hewitt and other instructors tend not to
overemphasize the technical aspects of filmmaking.
While they consider this information important, their courses
are not aimed at creating filmmakers but film critics instead.
“There is a broad distinction that exists between us and
the film school,” Harrison said. “They’re
formalists, and the critical dimension is what we do outside
film.”
Regardless of trends in undergraduate film schools, attendance
in these classes have been staggering. For Hewitt’s German 57
class, enrollment for the class has increased from 18 to 60
students.
In addition, Italian 46 has consistently been filled with
undergraduate students of all majors, as well as with students from
UCLA’s film school. Harrison attributes this high demand only
in part to the course’s general education status.
“Demand is always huge for my class,” he said.
“(Students are) attracted to cinema because it’s
entertaining, but they discover through my course that cinema can
be very demanding.”
Introductory film classes such as Italian 46, German 102B and
others have compelled many students to pursue filmmaking and film
school. Hewitt attests that some of his students have gone on to
become set and costume designers.
But as courses that concern themselves with criticism rather
than production, these classes distinguish themselves as being
independent of UCLA’s film school.