Tension, Stasis, and Leave Out
Week Eleven: Women Make Film Episode 11
Tuesday, November 10
Night Eleven: Tension, Stasis, and Leave Out
Two Airings on TCM: 8:00 PM and 11:15 PM
Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema Episode 11 begins with chapter 29 on tension as a mainstay in film, particularly when presented in real-life situations. Where something is going to happen or when it’s going to happen create tension. Stasis, when the action has stopped, is the subject of chapter 30. Calm and quietude, examining ordinary things, solitude and the calm before or after the storm all convey stasis in film. Purposely leaving things out of scene or the story – leave out- is the subject of chapter 31. Leave out is what is offscreen; in film, the ultimate leave out is the audience.
Complementary Film Schedule
Airing on TCM, times given in Eastern Time
9:15 PM – Silent Waters (2003) directed by Sabiha Sumar
12:30 AM – The Hurt Locker (2008) directed by Kathryn Bigelow
3:00 AM – The Day I Will Never Forget (2002) directed by Kim Longinotto
4:45 AM Gas Food Lodging (1991) directed by Allison Anders
6:30 AM – Crime Thief(1969) directed by Nadine Trintignant
8:15 AM – The Teckman Mystery (1954) directed by Wendy Toye
10:00 AM – The Night of Truth (2004) directed by Fanta Regina Nacro
Academy Assignment
For individual pondering and sharing via the site comments. Watch one of this week’s films taking into consideration the Women Make Film chapter content on tension, stasis and leave out. Questions to consider, based on the film you watched:
- How was tension used to further the film’s story?
- What stands out as a significant use of stasis in the film?
- How did the filmmaker use leave out in the film?
- Bonus: How did the Women Make Film tension, stasis and leave out chapter material influence how you watched this film?