205 replies to this topic

[BethR]

Well I am stark naked and typing this from work.  You cannot top that.

-s.

I just want you to know, I am not getting together with you to strip naked, punch each other and watch a movie no matter how you dress, or don't dress, at work.

Boys, boys!

[Russ]

Yeah, I know.

Beth, you cool with the film order and timeline?

[BethR]

Slacker, Fanny & Alexander, Heart of Light?

Sounds fine to me. I haven't seen the first 2, so should be interesting. 10-day viewing/posting period seems reasonable.

Sorry about the previous post.

[Thom]

Sorry about the previous post. 

Thanks for throwing the verbal bucket of cold water.

[gigi]

I'd most likely bow out on slacker but would happily contribute to discssions on the other 2. I assume that these are the first 3 films over a 30 day period and not a 10 day period?

[Russ]

Yeah, we'd watch them one at a time. But I think we'll probably discuss Slacker for a week or more (and leave it open, of course, for further discussion), and do the same for subsequent films.

Beth, I was agreeing with you. We're trying to get people interested in this venture, and stef's yukking it up with all this naked-talk.

Did Darren volunteer yet to be the discussion-synthesizer? I think that role should/could shift from member to member, film to film. But maybe he'd take the lead for the first film.

[Diane]

How about:

Slacker, Fanny, and then Heart of Light.

I'm excited about these titles. The only one of these I've seen is F&A (and only the theatrical version, which I've heard is inferior). By the way, I am a total Linklater newbie, so this should be interesting.

[Darren H]

Yeah, I'd be glad to discussion-synthesize Slacker. I'd also be glad to host a screening for anyone in the Knoxville area. (Is there anyone out there?)

[Russ]

Is Andrew's new residence close to you?

I'm it for western Pennsylvania.

[Clint M]

I'll jump in. I haven't seen any of these films, so I'm looking forward to the discussions.

[Persona]

I'm sorry, Ken and Beth and Russ and everyone else. I was in a goofy mood. It happens. (.... and I'm holding back urge to make another very derailing joke even as I type this brief apology.)

New rule. Let's stick to the topic. I like: Slacker, Fanny and Alexander, and then Heart of Light. This will be great fun.

-s.

[Russ]

All right, so we're on for Slacker with open discussion starting next Monday?

I assume then we should try to watch the film this week and send some written response to Monsieur Hughes by, when, Darren? How much time would you need to sift through responses and then open the discussion?

In light of Easter weekend, should we shoot for perhaps sending you responses by Monday and then opening discussion Wednesday?

[Darren H]

I wasn't thinking, "Please turn in your homework assignments to Darren before class on Monday." Instead, I just think we should extend some kind of grace period -- maybe the first day of the discussion -- for posting our own initial impressions of the film, freed from the pressure of thinking that we'll instantly be put on the defensive for having a contrary opinion or for making a debatable word choice. (Maybe I'm being unnecessarily cautious after being burned one [or five or fifteen] too many times around here.) I'm a fan of Slacker but I have no doubt that some of you will be bored, frustrated, and/or unimpressed by it, and, ideally, everyone should have their say before a back-and-forth begins.

There's a danger, of course, in formalizing things too much. But I'd like to try launching the discussion with a post that works to synthesize our initial reactions, finding common threads, common complaints, whatever. I'll also try to pose useful discussion questions. From there on, it's a free-for-all.

And, for the record, when I suggest that we each write some kind of personal response to the film, I have absolutely no fixed idea about what that should look like. It could be a formal review or a personal anecdote about that year that you took off a semester of school to play in a band. I'm planning to write up a diary response like those I post on my blog every once in a while -- part formal analysis, part cultural criticism, all written informally in the first person. It works for me. Your mileage will vary.

[Darren H]

How about we start the new thread on Tuesday morning, leave that entire day free for discussion-less postings, then on Wednesday morning I'll post my synthesis and questions?

[Thom]

How about we start the new thread on Tuesday morning, leave that entire day free for discussion-less postings, then on Wednesday morning I'll post my synthesis and questions?

"That sounds like a good idea", if I may quote my 2 year old.

I understood "writing" part of this assignment as a personal thing in order to have a more fully thought out discussion foundation. If we are turning papers in, do I have to register and pay for credit hours? (tongue in cheek, people, tongue...in...cheek)

[Mark]

I just think we should extend some kind of grace period -- maybe the first day of the discussion -- for posting our own initial impressions of the film, freed from the pressure of thinking that we'll instantly be put on the defensive for having a contrary opinion or for making a debatable word choice. 

I, for one, like this idea because I'm not very well-versed in film criticism and might otherwise feel intimidated about posting an opinion that sounds uninformed (even if it is). Film criticism doesn't come as easily to me as literary criticism, and I have a tendency with films to focus too much on plot and character development.

[Persona]

Heh, interesting. It's on sale 300 yards away from me at
Deep Discount DVD.

-s.

Edited by stef, 21 March 2005 - 01:22 PM.

[Darren H]

I have a tendency with films to focus too much on plot and character development.

Well, yeah, then I'll be really interested to hear what you have to say about Slacker, seeing as how it has neither.

Slacker got a home video release some time in the early-90s, but I don't recall ever seeing it in a Blockbuster. It doesn't surprise me to hear that they aren't stocking the new Criterion DVD release, either.

Maybe we should do an official status check on Thursday or Friday to make sure that enough of us have gotten our hands on the film.

Edited by Darren H, 21 March 2005 - 01:32 PM.

[Thom]

Heh, interesting.  It's on sale 300 yards away from me at
Deep Discount DVD. 

-s.

So what are you waiting for? And, may I borrow it please?

[Persona]

I will pick it up tonight. And I will loan it to you, my friend, in a heartbeat.

-s.