American Film Projects

This semester (semester II), you will be required to watch TWO films
independently and complete a short project based on each film. These films, in
my opinion, expose American culture in both a real and fictional way -- both of
which, I feel, are beneficial. Through watching the film AND completing the
projects, I feel that you might gain some understanding of what it might mean to be
an American, (and you could talk to me, too , of course!)
Your instructions for the projects are as follows:
1. Choose two films from the list. These films MUST be from two DIFFERENT
categories.
2. WATCH each (duh.)
3. Complete the attached worksheet one for each film.
4. Choose from the list of projects that suits you. (Or invent your own). Complete one project
for each film.

Be creative! Take your time! IMPRESS ME!

Tips:
1. COMMUNICATION! Talk to me! You all see me at school, youve seen my facebook
profile, you all have my email address. You have no excuse! I am easy to contact,
and I would love to help and or cooperate with you on these projects.
2. Take your time and be yourselves. I hope I have made it clear to you by now that I
am impressed by creativity so use your imagination with these!
p.s. I LOVE originality! You are not bound to anything I have written on these papers.
Talk to me if you have other opinions/ideas.
3. Dont wait until the last minute. Spread out your work. Practice time
management and responsibility. God knows youll need to develop these skills as
you grow older. (TRUST ME!)
I know you all have a lot on your plate this is why I have tried to make these
projects fun. Dont be sloppy with these projects. I may not have you in class
anymore, but I still expect your best work.
Grades:
Just as it was last semester, you will receive TWO grades for culture and civilization
class:
1. Class Activity and 2. Project -- Thus, this semester, your grades will look like this:
1. Class Activity: the average of the Film Response worksheets ; 2 total
2. Projects: the average of both projects for the films; 2 total

DUE DATES:
Project 1: Friday April 24th
Project 2: Friday June 5th

Film Response:
Title of Film:
Date Watched:

Mean Girls
25th of April,2015

Synopsis:

Main Characters:

Your Reaction:

Relation to American Culture:

Film List:

Culture:

Sports:

American Beauty
Little Miss Sunshine
The Breakfast Club
Mean Girls
Office Space
The Good Girl
The Royal Tenenbaums
Forest Gump
Shawshank Redemption
The Pursuit of Happiness
Grease
The Great Gatsby
Good Will Hunting
Perks of Being a Wallflower
Requiem for a Dream

The Blind Side

Friday Night Lights
Remember the Titans
Cinderella Man
The Sandlot
Talladega Nights
Field of Dreams
42
Million Dollar Baby
History:
Pearl Harbor
We Were Soldiers
12 Years a Slave
Django Unchained
Saving Private Ryan
Gettysburg
Selma
Gangs of New York
The Patriot
Lincoln
Cold Mountain
The Last of the Mohicans
A Time to Kill
Documentary:
Supersize Me
Taxi Cab to the Darkside
Food Inc.
Bowling for Columbine
Fahrenheit 9/11

Landscape/Region:
Into the Wild
Fargo
Oh Brother! Where Art Thou?
Manhattan
Annie Hall
Ferris Beullers Day Of
Dallas Buyers Club
There Will Be Blood
Big
West Side Story
Philadelphia
Biography:
The Social Network
Capote
Lincoln
Walk the Line
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Aviator
Into the Wild
Fruitvale Station

Projects:
Check in with me before you begin your project. ESPECIALLY if you are
working with another person (or persons).
Here is a list of the projects we came up with in class (and a few I have added on
my own):
1. Write a two page paper assessing how the film captures (or does not capture)
American culture.
2. Write a movie review, as if it were to be published in a newspaper (from the point
of view of an American, or a Romanian your choice.)
3. Make a trailer for the film; (partners encouraged.)
4. Write or Film a fictional interview with the director or one of the Actors of your
chosen.
5. Create your own movie poster (as if it were to be posted outside of a cinema.)
6. Design an infographic -- or some sort of visual organizer -- of information
presented in the film versus reality. (This would be great for films in the history,
documentary, or biography genre.)
If you come up with something else, please check with me before you carry on.