"Through the Camera Lens"

Moving Picture World was one of the most important of the many trade publications for the American film industry. It began publication on March 9, 1907 and appeared weekly until January 7, 1928 when it became Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World.

"Through the Camera Lens:" The Moving Picture World and the Silent cinema Era, 1907-1927 is a full-text searchable database and an essential resource for the study of the early years of American cinema. In addition to feature articles, the publication reviewed current film releases, contained news about the industry and included interviews. This database is licensed from Gale Cengage Learning and is only available to Columbia affiliates from this link.

If you are affiliated with another university or college -- please check with your library for access.

Also -- open access is available from The Media History Digital Library. They have scanned issues of Moving Picture World from 1907-1919. You can browse issues and download PDF articles from their site. 

This database is highly recommended.

Film Language Glossary

The Film Language Glossary has been made available for public use. Developed in 2005 by the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning at Columbia University, the website provides definitions of essential terms used in basic and advanced film courses. The terms are supplemented by film clips, animations, images and/or commentary to enhance the understanding of these terms.


Click here for full announcement.

My Oscar Picks!

BEST PICTURE
Will win: “Argo”
Should win: “Lincoln”

BEST ACTOR
Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”)
Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”)

BEST ACTRESS 
Will win: Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”)
Should win: Emmanuelle Riva (“Amour”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will win: Alan Arkin ("Argo")
Should win: Alan Arkin ("Argo")

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 
Will win: Anne Hathaway (“Les Misérables”)
Should win: Helen Hunt (“The Sessions”)

BEST DIRECTOR 
Will win: Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”)
Should win: Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln”)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will win: Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola (“Moonrise Kingdom”)
Should win: Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola (“Moonrise Kingdom”)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 
Will win: Chris Terrio (“Argo”)
Should win: Tony Kushner (“Lincoln”)

See Professor Insdorf's predictions published in the Spectator. 

Wiley Blackwell History of American Film

This excellent volume is now available as an e-book.

From the publisher --

"The Wiley-Blackwell History of American Film provides a chronological portrait of American film history from its origins to the present day. Taken as a whole, the essays in this collection represent a comprehensive and nuanced overview of American film history from the intersecting perspectives of industry, audiences, aesthetics, culture, politics, issues, and ideology."
 
The 90 essays are available in PDF format. The volume is illustrated with over 200 images.

The title is accessible by title search in CLIO.

Pride and Prejudice

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Celebrated on February 14th each year, Valentine's Day is a holiday long associated with romantic love -- my recommendation for great viewing is the six-episode version of Pride and Prejudice. Produced by the BBC and first broadcast in 1995, this excellent adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel stars Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Set in early 19th century England, the story focuses on Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's five unmarried daughters, including Elizabeth, after the wealthy and eligible Mr. Bingley and his status-conscious friend Mr. Darcy arrive in town. Watch the sparks fly between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

There have been numerous television and film adaptations of the novel -- this made-for-television version was highly successful with audiences and received mainly positive critical response. Other Jane Austen novels adapted for the screen in 1995 and 1996 -- Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility and Emma.