Introduction to Film Language

Faculty:

Masha Godovannaya

Fall 2025: September 1, 2025 – December 19, 2025

Subject: FILM

Level: 100

Credits: 4 US / 8 ECTS

Max Enrollment: 22

Schedule: Mon, Wed 16:10 – 17:30 CET | 10:10 – 11:30 AM EDT

Language of Instruction: English

Prerequisites:No

With the technological development of image-recording devices, such as video cameras, mobile phones, GoPros, and so on, moving images now frame our everyday life. However, questions of cinematic literacy remain open to anyone who is interested in developing their visual language, seeing and comprehending cinema in its vibrant fluctuating form, and learning how to communicate with the world through images and sounds. Technology’s accessibility doesn’t necessarily grant its users the power of cinematic expression: an additional effort, along with skills and knowledge, are also necessary. This practice-based course aims to introduce students to the basics of cinematic language, including its key technical concepts: the camera as a tool and a medium, camera movement, film/video formats, lighting techniques, composition, and other aspects of film/video production. We will also address the basics of scriptwriting to understand how ideas may be transformed through writing and brought closer to the visual implementation. In addition to familiarizing ourselves with the practical aspects of cinema, we will read texts on film theory, memoirs, poetry, and artistic research as well as watch films and videos.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.