Winter Term

Sundance and Slamdance Winter Term Trip

Co-leader Peter Graham, English, 19 Asbury Hall, x6309, email: pgraham@depauw.edu

Co-leader Lili Wright, English, 324 Asbury Hall, x4677, email: liliw@depauw.edu

I. Course Title: Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals

II. Course Description:

Every year in January, thousands of filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, agents and producers make a winter pilgrimage to Park City, Utah, for two of America's most important and prestigious film festivals: The Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals. If Hollywood is the Mecca of slick, multi-million dollar studio movies, then Park City is the homeland for independent film.

This Winter Term class will give students a working vocabulary to talk and write about film. Students will learn important techniques of film, including photography, camera angles, camera movement, lighting, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. Class will begin in Greencastle with a crash course in the history of independent film. In addition to readings from Louis Giannetti's Understanding Movies, David Cook's A History of Narrative Film, and other books on independent film, we will watch some of the great work that has emerged from the festival over the years. In order to study independent films, students will also need to know some background of the Hollywood Studio System, which we cover during the first days of class. We'll also discuss the art of film criticism and the basic elements of a film review, using some of the experts as our guide—from Pauline Kael of The New Yorker to The New York Times' A.O. Scott.

Once settled in Park City, students will see at least 10 movies and write film reviews on at least two of them. There will be a wide variety of films shown at the festival—from feature films, dramas and documentaries, to foreign films, animation, and shorts. The group will also attend and report on film workshops, conferences and technology seminars. Students will interview at least one professional filmmaker or actor and write a short profile. Finally, throughout the trip, students will keep a journal of their impressions of the festival, notes from symposiums, panels, and interviews with people they meet.

III. Course Objectives:

As outlined above, the goals of this Winter Term trip are to learn about independent filmmaking. We will start the course on campus, where we will hold 3-4 classes before we leave for Park City. When we get to Utah, there will be informal classes and talks with filmmakers, movie critics, and other professionals in the movie business.

In addition, students will learn firsthand how film festivals are run. A new feature of the Sundance and Slamdance Winter Term will be a two- to three-day internship at Slamdance. We've arranged with Slamdance to have all the students perform mini-internships at the film festival. In exchange for working at the festival for 15-20 hours, Slamdance will arrange two seminars (expressly for DePauw students) with filmmakers and organizers, and students will be invited to the opening Filmmakers' Brunch. In addition, students will be able to see all Slamdances films free of charge.

IV. Teaching Methods and Pedagogical Approaches:

As with other courses at DePauw, writing, reading, and critical thinking will be stressed at every point along the way. Students will keep journals from the first day of class. Sundance puts out a daily newspaper, including interviews and film reviews, that students will also need to read.

We will teach on campus for a week before we leave on the trip. In that time, we will read from several texts. In addition to the Giannetti and Cook textbooks described above, we will read Peter Biskind’s Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film and John Gregory Dunne’s The Studio—two classic texts on Hollywood and Independent film. Everyday we’re on campus, we’ll see and analyze at least one film. In Park City, students will see up to three films each day. For every film they see—both on and off campus—students will write a response paper.

Moreover, in Park City, we will meet with the students every day and discuss the films that have been seen. This past year, film critic Sean Means from the Salt Lake Tribune, talked to students about writing film reviews. He’s indicated he’ll hold the same discussion next year. Also next year, Los Angeles casting agent—and DePauw alumnus Matthew Lessall—will talk to students about the different strategies for casting Hollywood and independent films.

V. Course Syllabus:

To pass the course, students must see 13 films (10 in Park City, 3 on campus) and write a response to every one of these. Also, two formal (and longer) film reviews will be required, as will a 3-5 page profile on a filmmaker. The mini-internship with Slamdance—and a short written reflection on this internship—will also be required to pass the course. They must also see at least three Slamdance movies. Lastly, students have to attend at least two panels or seminars at either Slamdance or Sundance and write response papers. All this work will be included in their journals, which will also include a final reflection on the film festivals and what they’ve learned about independent film.

We’ve done this trip twice and found that 20 students is the ideal size for this trip, though 15-18 could also work. This gives students the chance to get optimal time with their two professors and the chance to become acquainted with all their classmates. There will be no prerequisites except a love of film and a curious nature. We interview students before the trip to gauge their maturity and interest level; then take the keenest and most responsible individuals.

Once we get back to campus, we will collect the student work—the journals, response papers, formal film interviews and profile, and reflection on their internship. They will be evaluated on their intellectual insights, depth of analysis, structure of their pieces, and on their creative style. In addition, they will be graded on their knowledge of Independent and Hollywood films and their grasp of basic cinema vocabulary. There will be required readings. (See above.)

VI. Preliminary Itinerary:

Sundance is a little later next year than in previous years—January 19-29, 2006—but still falls conveniently within the Winter Term dates.

Jan. 13-17: Classes on campus.
Jan. 18: Leave Greencastle. Arrive in Park City, UT.
Jan. 19: Negotiating Park City. Talk with film critic Sean Means.

Jan. 19: Slamdance internships begin.

Jan. 20-29 Sundance Film Festival.
Jan. 21-29: Slamdance Film Festival.

Jan. 21: Guest lecture with casting agent and DPU alumnus, Matt Lessall.
Jan. 29: Leave Park City. Arrive Greencastle.
Jan. 30: Students start writing film reviews and profiles.
Feb. 14: Film reviews, profiles and journals are due.

Number of students: 20 maximum.

VII. Budget:

The approximate fixed cost of the trip per person is $1,700 - $1,800 (for 20 students; a little more if there are 15-18 students). Since we won’t be using the services of Seminar International (or any other travel agent) this year, the cost of the trip will be about $200 - $300 cheaper than the 2003 Winter Term Trip to Sundance and Slamdance.

The price of the 2005 trip includes airfare, most admission fees to film screenings and panel discussions, accommodations at the centrally located Park Station Condominium Hotel, and 2-3 group dinners at Park City restaurants. Students will be responsible for other meal costs, which can be estimated at $20-25 per day—or about $200-$250. If students exclusively prepare their own food in the condos, this price can be cheaper.

Airline: American. Indy/Salt Lake City and back.

Accommodations: Park Station Condominium Hotel. Five people to a condo. Every student will get his or her own bed. In addition, there are fully-equipped, modern kitchens and spacious living rooms with fireplaces, TVs, couches, and balconies. There is also an outdoor hot tub and daily maid service.

Transportation and Gratuities: Also built into the trip price are a $100 charge for a shuttle buses from DPU to Indy airport and Salt Lake City Airport to Park City; emergency funds in case of mishap; and all gratuities for the trip.

VIII. Faculty Qualifications and Interest:

Of course, one of our biggest qualifications is that we’ve done this trip twice before and have had very positive responses from every student we’ve taken on it.

Peter Graham teaches film courses at DPU, including Intro to Film and the First-Year Seminar, "Confessions in Literature and Film." As well, he has chaired the DePauw Films Studies Program for three years.

Lili Wright is a cinephile who teaches writing, including creative nonfiction classes in profile writing and news writing—an instrumental part of the Sundance/Slamdance Winter Term Trip curriculum. Before leaving for Park City, she instructs WT students on writing profiles and film reviews. LW used to live and work in Utah, and used to attend Sundance regularly. In 2004, she was responsible for getting SL Tribune film critic Sean Means to talk to DPU students. In addition, she is crucial to helping PG plan the trip, arranging everything from bus links, airline tickets, group dinners and accommodations.