2. Choose ONE of the two prompts below:
A.  Choose one film from The Stunt Man  (Richard Rush, 1980) or Tropic Thunder  (Ben Stiller, 2008), and one  film from Living in Oblivion  (Tom DiCillo, 1995), Adaptation  (Spike Jonze, 2002) , to compare and contrast, in terms of the
portrayal of modern Hollywood v. US indie filmmaking practices.  More specifically, choose a
narrative thread or theme common to both films, unpacking each film’s version.  In other
words, how does each film handle a certain type of scene or plot sequence; and how does each
film’s approach reflect the larger similarities and/or differences, around attitude and
commentary on filmmaking–?
B. Part 1: write a description, or “treatment,” of a scene from a film of your own creative
devising, a scene that demonstrates or illustrates in some way, the reflexive film topics covered
in The Stunt Man  (Richard Rush, 1980) or Tropic Thunder  (Ben Stiller, 2008) and/or  Living in Oblivion  (Tom DiCillo, 1995), Adaptation  (Spike Jonze, 2002) .  A scene of your own imagination.  I advise you not to go overboard here;
keep the scene very brief.  One reason, so you can describe it vividly as possible, not only what
happens, but any camera, editing or audio details.  The other reason: Part 2 of your reflection
journal should furnish your own specific explanation of how your scene relates to Weeks 4
and/or 5 coursework.
3. Required here, for either prompt A or B, is that you integrate ideas from the readings
and discussion forum:  at least one reading idea, at least one discussion forum idea.  You can
paraphrase, or make an exact citation in quotes.  Either way, please cite your source, in
parentheses, after the idea: either student name or essay author.  For example: (Harper, Senses
of Cinema) or (Rachel , Week 5 Discussion).  And discussion forum ideas must be other than
your own.

Read: Cinephilia (Links to an external site.) / Clark (Links to an external site.)