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Series

American Cinema

Over 150 Hollywood insiders document American culture through film.

A video instructional series on film history for college and high school classrooms and adult learners; 10 one-hour and 3 half-hour video programs.

Using clips from more than 300 of the greatest movies ever made, this series explores film history and American culture through the eyes of over 150 Hollywood insiders, including Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, and Michael Eisner. In-depth treatments present film as a powerful economic force, potent twentieth-century art form, and viable career option.

American Cinema connects subjects such as history, business, and English with other studies. In addition, it is a perfect vehicle for developing visual and media literacy skills and can be used as a springboard for creative-writing endeavors and media production.

Reviews

American Libraries
November 1995

“…Since the inception of the movies, there have been frenzied attempts by popular mass media…to grab realistic peeks inside the movie industry…What largely has been missing until relatively recently, has been a body of serious and insightful documentary works dealing with the history and impact of cinema and the art of filmmaking. Happily, … American Cinema videos have arrived to shine a klieg light onto that void, and take us beyond the glitz and facade of the Hollywood dream machine…”

“…The series is by far the most ambitious and intelligent work on American cinema to hit the video marquee so far….The series is uniformly entertaining and informative….”


Booklist
May 1995

“…A feast of archive clips and interviews with movie greats presents a panoply of the silver screen in the U.S.”

“This is an illuminating and fascinating panorama of the artistic development and social history of the American film for schools and public libraries.”


Video Librarian
January/February 1995

“Three Stars…the program is an entertaining introduction to the subject ‘American Cinema.’ ”

American Cinema does offer a decent survey introduction and it’s definitely fun to watch. Recommended.”


School Library Journal
April 1995

“Interviews with actors, writers, producers, directors, critics and scholars are mixed with film clips and behind-the-scenes shots. The composite examines both the history of American film and its role in American Culture.”

“The videos previewed are superb examples of professional program design, production, and editing. The series could be used as a backbone for a film unit, or parts of it could be used in American history classes. Many will view it for pleasure as well as research.”

Awards

Columbus International Film and Video Festival
1995 Bronze Plaque Award for “Film Noir”

Columbus International Film and Video Festival
1995 “Chris” Award for “The Star”

Houston International Film Festival “Worldfest Houston”
1995 Gold Award for “Romantic Comedy”

Houston International Film Festival “Worldfest Houston”
1995 Gold Award for “The Edge of Hollywood”

Houston International Film Festival “Worldfest Houston”
1996 Gold Special Jury Award for “Film in the Television Age”

Houston International Film Festival “Worldfest Houston”
1996 Gold Special Jury Award for “The Western”

International Association of Audio Visual Communicators
1996 Gold “Cindy” for “Romantic Comedy”

International Association of Audio Visual Communicators
1996 Bronze “Cindy” for “The Combat Film”

National Educational Media Network
1996 Bronze Apple Award for “Film Noir”

Programs