Open Textbooks
Open Textbook Collections
Multimedia
- YouTube
- Search YouTube by keyterms and try filtering by channel or “Creative Commons” license (these videos are specifically labeled for reuse).
- Some good channels:
- YouTube-produced “CrashCourse” series (see especially Film History and Intellectual Property)
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- Tip: try searching YouTube by the title of your favorite journal publication to see if that journal also produces a YouTube channel.
- Films for Action
Films For Action has cataloged over 1,500 of the best films and videos that can be watched free online. These films address social, environmental, and media-related issues.
- Open Video Project
Collection of links to sites offering a wide variety of freely-available filmed content. - Prelinger Archives
Part of the Internet Archive, this is a major portion of the site’s moving image content. - TED Talks –Animation / Art /Comedy / Creativity / Culture / Film / Journalism / Media / Movies / Performance Art / Social Change / Society / Sound / Storytelling / Technology / Television / Writing
- A collection of TED Talks and playlists on Film and related topics.
- Videos through the CSUSM Library
- Select “Books & More” tab and use these limits: Full Text Available Online and Audio Visual.
- Library Media Reserves, including Video on Demand option (allows you to stream videos to CSUSM students). Keep in mind that you should leave at least 1 week of lead time for processing these requests.
- Podcasts
Ebooks in the Library
The CSUSM University Library has an extensive collection of ebooks on a variety of topics. To find what’s available:
- Go to the University Library homepage
- Choose “Books and More”
- Enter keywords and search
- Use the limiters to narrow by “Full Text Online” to ensure all results can be accessed directly from your computer
- Limit by “Books” to filter out journals and media
Film/Cinema Ebooks – CSUSM Library
Journal Articles
Consider including journal articles as required or supplemental reading for your courses. Search through our Film databases for articles. Just be sure to direct students to the article by permalink (or static URL) rather than posting the PDF directly in your Cougar Course. This will ensure two things: 1) that we are complying with copyright and publisher restrictions, and 2) that our journal usage is counted (this allows us to justify maintaining our subscriptions).
This page provides examples illustrating how to find permalinks in the Library’s databases.
Please contact your librarian if you are still unsure of how to find the permalink.
Open-source Journals
- Bright Lights Film Journal
Covers a wide variety of genres, reviews, and people in the industry. - Fade in Online
An emphasis on directors and trends in Hollywood. - FilmMaker: The Magazine of Independent Film
An emphasis on technical and promotional topics of interest to the filmmaker along with resources. - Film Score Monthly
If soundtracks and music in support of the visual images is your interest, this is a must-visit site. - Images: A Journal of Popular Film and Culture
Discussion of films, genres and directors along with reviews of both theatre-release movies and video. - Directory of Open Access Journals
Click on the “performing arts” category to see freely-available online journals including film journals.
Open Courseware
Other CSUSM Library Resources
More information about finding and using library resources can be found on the Film Research Guide.
Suggestions
Have a good idea for a free resource? Tell us about it! Email your subject specialist.
MIT Open Courseware
MIT Open Courseware offers an extensive series of online courses. Courses generally include lecture videos, assignments, exams, and more.
Interactive Multimedia Production (Andrew Walker, PhD., Summer 2008)
Course from Utah State University
OER Commons
Searchable by discipline and academic level, this site provides a broad range of instructional materials, including texts, images, videos, primary sources and more.
Other Open Educational Resources
Free Film Collections
A catalog of over 1,500 of the best films and videos that can be watched free online. These films address social, environmental, and media-related issues.
A large (and growing) collection of public domain films of documentary, entertainment, and historical interest.
A collection of performances, lectures, interviews, and installations recorded at UCSD. These are free to watch using RealPlayer. Use the video finder subject divisions to browse the offerings (try starting with the Arts & Music collection and then select the “by subject” tab. A title/keyword search option is available. Of interest are the Media Arts and Artists Profiles sections.
Film & Television Multimedia
Film Analysis & Reviews
Discussion of films, genres, and directors along with reviews of both theatrical-release movies and video.
From the University of Nottingham Department of Film Studies, this free journal addresses meaning and representation rather than the technical aspects of various films. Covers a wide range of cinema as well as book and film reviews.
One of the more well-known popular movie reviewers, this site assembles his reviews from the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.
For basic information about a film, this is one of the more complete sites. The comments from other visitors are NOT scholarly, so don’t rely on that part the site.
This site collects reviews from a variety of resources for over 45,000 movies.
As determined by the New York Times reviewers with plot, and reviews. Reviews are accessible after registering.
One individual’s subjective lists of the greatest films. Useful for reviews, plot summaries, and histories of the films along with a “Tips on Viewing Films Critically”. Sections on Chronology, Glossary, Academy Award winners, and more.
Film-related Organizations
This is the organization that selects the Academy Award winners to receive the coveted Oscars. Information on winners in all categories can be found here.
A portal to journals and academic sources on film, film studies and the business of film and screenwriting.
The largest organization concerned with the moving image from commercial, education and preservation aspects.
Offering links on history, film reviews, scriptwriting and much more, this provides more of the European view of film.
From the British Broadcasting Company, this site offers reviews, filmmaking advice, and information on alternative films among many other useful pieces.
Discussion and resource site for cinema history and uses of media.
Film Production Resources
From the British Broadcasting Company, this site offers reviews, filmmaking advice, and information on alternative films among many other useful pieces.
Online news, articles and discussion boards for technical assistance on specific film making an editing tools.
A resource for independent filmmakers including information on production and networking.
Along with some useful reference sources, there is a directory of film schools and classified for equipment.
A guide to plotting the film before getting behind the camera.
For the “guerilla filmmaker”, articles, tips, and downloads.
Resources assembled by the University of Alabama for film students and teachers.
General explanations of various film effects, including angle and depth of field.
–Scriptwriting
Claims to be the largest collection of scripts available on the web for free reading or download.
Offers information on the roles in the industry and educational requirements for screenwriters.
The organization for US screenwriters, this site has both members-only and visitor access.
Focused not only on movie scriptwriting, but also for television and other media. The site offers some legal forms to be used as contracts and a means to register your work. The WGA, East offers more material.
While you wade through a lot of commercial “buy this book” graphics, there are some helpful articles and information.
How-to information, copyright discussions, a message board and free scripts for download.