Whether students have already finished scheduling or they’re just getting started, planning classes for the future can be stressful. With days filled to the brim with difficult and work-heavy classes, it can be overwhelming to balance everything. Luckily, Film Studies can inject a breath of fresh air into a busy schedule.
In Film Studies, students watch movies, discuss them as a class and learn about all the different elements that go into creating a film. After each movie, students write a “journal” where they answer four short questions about their opinions on the movie. There’s no right or wrong answer. They’re graded solely on doing them and putting in effort. At the end of each nine weeks, students must do a project on nearly anything related to movies. There’s so much creative freedom that the projects are a breeze and actually enjoyable to do. As long as students do their journals, one project per nine weeks and stay off their phones during the movie, an A is easily achievable.
“All it takes is an open-minded person,” Film Studies teacher Andrew Moore said. “If you’re open-minded I don’t see why you can’t enjoy every second of every day.”
The class isn’t just an easy A, as it’ll also change the way students view movies for the better. Many people see movies as a waste of time, losing attention quickly and scrolling on their phones. However, after taking Film Studies, they can gain a better appreciation for movies and spend the duration of a film looking for all the small details that go into it. They’ll learn just how important editing, lighting, score, mise en scène and a whole lot more is to their favorite movies.
“I honestly feel like art is the best teacher there is and I wish more kids would be open to art, creating it and analyzing it,” Moore said. “I feel like it’s a way more real life skill. Like math is cool, and science is pretty cool I guess, but art is everywhere.”
Some of the best movies Moore has shown in Film Studies are “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Se7en,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Fight Club” and “Into the Spiderverse.” I’ve enjoyed most of the movies we’ve watched, but even the ones I’ve disliked had interesting aspects to them when looked at through a cinematography lens.
“My favorite movie has been ‘Fight Club’ for so long now, at least 20 years, because the movie is everything,” Moore said. “I think it’s a good example, or a great example, of every piece of movie making.”
I’ve always enjoyed watching and reviewing movies, with my first published review in Oct. 2023. However, Film Studies has given me an even greater appreciation, helping me improve my critiquing skills and be better at putting my opinion of a film into words.
“I feel like that makes a cultured person, is their ability to enjoy art and discuss it,” Moore said.
Moore is a phenomenal teacher that makes learning fun. He provides an interesting perspective on the movies and encourages students to express their opinions on what they’ve seen. He’s such an intellectual yet fun teacher, and I can’t see anyone else but him teaching Film Studies. To keep the class running, he needs as many people signing up as possible. Since it’s an elective, the class is not required, unlike core classes. However, with the help of students requesting the class and participating, Moore can continue providing the opportunity to express an often-overlooked art form.
“Simply speaking, the more butts in the chairs, the more I get to teach it,” Moore said.
If students have an interest in film, the arts, or even just have a free spot in their schedule, they should definitely consider taking Film Studies. It’s a much-needed class that allows for a mental break while still providing students with knowledge. Plus, there’s free popcorn every Wednesday.
“I’m all for anybody taking the class,” Moore said. “Sharing movies is really special for me, so it’s exciting to share movies, especially movies that I love, or movies that I see something really cool in. It’s really fun and exciting to share.”
