Now that my History of Cinema class is officially online, I am face with the prospect of finding multiple resources for my students to obtain films to watch. Based on the way I designed the class, students will have choices when it comes time to watch films for each lecture (not just de facto films such as Nosferatu but also Golem, Metropolis, and Caligari). But here is my question – how would you suggest a student get their films? I have a few ideas of course and here they are:
Netflix – Hands down the best way to obtain any film in my book, but there is a cost.
Blockbuster – Anyone use Blockbuster online?
GreenCine – I don’t use their service because Netflix has most of what I want, but for obscure titles this may be the way to go.
Online Resources – Some of the older films are available streaming on the net for free such as many of the Edison shorts. But what about French New Wave or Bollywood? YouTube does have a few but those are dubious at best. Do any of you have your favorite streaming sites?
Libraries – Most libraries can get DVDs shipped in, but I worry about time and availability.
Are there any others I’m missing? I even thought about a loan program via the mail for one or two select hard to find films. But then I would have to threaten students with an F if they do not return or pass the DVD on.
Kelli Marshall says:
I tell them that there are several ways to go about screening feature-length films (copied from my syllabus):
1. You may screen the films (for free) in the UT Library at your convenience, at any time. The library carries ALL of the required screenings for this course.
2. You may screen the films (for free) in a group setting in the UT library on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 7-9 PM. Screening rooms hold roughly 15 students, so if you select this option, please know that you might be turned away if the room is full.
3. You may rent the films (for free) from a local library. For example, Hitchcock’s Rear Window is located at six different branches of the Toledo-Lucas public library.
4. You may rent the films from a local video store like Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Please be aware, however, that these stores do not always have classic films in stock; so if you prefer this option, check shelves early!
5. You may order/rent/download the films from Netflix. See plans, which range from $4.99/month to $25.00/month, at http://www.netflix.com. If you choose this option, be sure that you request the films in the order in which they are listed on the syllabus. Netflix carries ALL of the required screenings for this course.
6. If you want to own any of these films, you might check online sites like Buy.com and Amazon.com, which usually have reasonable prices (e.g., the DVD of Do the Right Thing costs less than $10.00).
Again, this is for feature-length films. Film clips are a different story… I don’t encourage YouTube and the like. Hope that helps!
Sep 18, 2009, 9:24 pmMatt says:
My biggest problem is that many of the students are not close to campus (hence the online class). This leads to solely relying on you 3. to 6.
Sep 18, 2009, 11:02 am