Mark Berger, a genius in his own right, gave a phenomenal lecture yesterday. We focused on the ways music can elicit emotions during particular scenes. We watched clips from Touch of Evil and Playing by Heart, and we discussed the politics behind the director’s creative control and the studio’s forceful hand “trying to make things better.” The class was very engaging because we individually explained our personal reactions to a scene based on its music. Questions like: “How does this scene make you feel?” rarely are asked in practical production courses. It was refreshing to analyze the theoretical elements of these films.

Mark treated us by passing around a deck of cards used in Apocalypse Now! The students really got a kick out of that. Not only is Mark a fabulous instructor, but he is also a very warm and personable guy. His jokes about his experiences in the industry keep the classes enjoyable and fun. Each week my appreciation for Sound in film increases immensely. This is no doubt one of my favorite classes!