FILM 3331 Independent American Film
How might contemporary independent cinema be seen as both an alternative and a response to mainstream Hollywood fare? How has the acquisition of indie studios, such as Miramax and New Line Cinema, transformed the industry? Has the affordability of technology and accessibility of audiences truly created a democratization of film? This course emphasizes critical examination of contemporary American Independent film from the 1980s films of John Cassavetes, Steven Soderbergh, Spike Lee through the 1990s and 2000s with features from Kevin Smith, Allison Anders, Richard Linklater, Quentin Tarantino; shorts from Wes Anderson and Jane Campion; and current festival hits.
Course overview
- Department
- Film
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically in the Spring
Requirements fulfilled
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.41 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.50 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Gautam Chopra | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 25 |
| Spring 2025 | Gautam Chopra | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 13 of 19 |
| Spring 2024 | Gautam Chopra | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 18 of 21 |
| Spring 2023 | Gautam Chopra | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 18 of 23 |
| Spring 2022 | Gautam Chopra | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 16 of 24 |