How does Spiderman stop a train using his bare hands in the movie? How does Batman jump off from IFC unharmed? How does Optimus Prime transform himself into a truck? How does Pixar create the movie Toy Story created entirely with computers? As George Lucas once said “The secret to film is that it is an illusion.” In the first part of the course, we are going to examine the technologies behind those magical illusions and relate them to film development. In second part, we are going to critically evaluate how films communicate with the audiences using different theoretical frameworks. 

Let’s unlock the magic of cinema in the course “The Art & Science of Film.” Dive into the captivating world of film with our course—where creativity meets technology, and storytelling comes to life.  

The following topics/areas will be covered: 

1. How We See Images and Hear sound – Discover the psychology and physics behind cinematic 
2. Film in the Pre-digital Era – Journey through classic techniques, celluloid, and analog sound. 
3. Digital Revolution in Film Production – How CGI, digital cameras, and editing transformed cinema. 
4. The Future of Film –  AI, VR, and emerging trends reshaping the industry. 
5. Basic Cinematography and Techniques – Master lighting, framing, and camera movements. 
6. Film Analysis – Decode themes, symbolism, and directorial styles. 
7. Film as Art Forms –  Explore avant-garde, experimental, and global cinema. 
8. Hollywood Film Genres – From noir to superheroes, unpack iconic storytelling structures. 
9. Hong Kong Film – Celebrate the vibrant legacy of martial arts, crime thrillers, and Wong Kar-wai’s visual poetry. 

Note: This module is taught in English, but Chinese may be occasionally used to supplement teaching when necessary. 

The percentage contributions to the overall module assessment 

(Latest update will be announced during class)