This week we’ll be watching The Prestige in class (today, Wed This week we’ll be watching The Prestige in class (today, Wed., and Thursday) as well as going to Writers Week twice (on Tuesday and Friday). The viewing guide will be your last assignment of the semester and be collected when we go to Writer’s Week on Friay. If you miss a viewing day, watch the movie on your own and make up the work. If you’re gone on Friday, take a picture of your completed viewing guide and email it to me over the weekend or it will be counted as a zero. Read over the background info and storyline explanation on the first page of The Prestige viewing guide. This page is vital in order to understand the story. Read that page now and then respond to the previewing topic on page two of the viewing guide.

Viewing Notes from Day 1 Do your best to understand which timeline you’re in as the movie goes along as it jumps around frequently – see page 1 of your viewing guide for help with this. Note that at the beginning of the film (when he’s on the train to Colorado Springs) Hugh Jackman (Robert Angier/“The Great Danton”) has Christian Bale’s (Alfred Bordon) notebook that has all of Bordon’s magic trick secrets. Conversely, Bordon, while he’s in jail, is given Angier’s diary/journal. Angier (Hugh Jackman) goes to see Nikola Tesla in Colorado Springs. Tesla was a real person – look over his information on page 1 of the viewing guide. Important scene that you may have overlooked: Bale’s (Bordon) admiration for the old Chinese magician’s total devotion to his art (i.e., not breaking character even when he is off stage). Pay attention to Scarlett Johannson’s character (currently Jackman/Danton’s assistant). She’ll be connected to both magicians. What are her motives, who is she truly devoted to?

Viewing Notes from Day 2 You should be noticing the similarities (as well as a significant differences) in the two magicians. Christopher Nolan (the director of The Prestige) is focusing quite a bit on the concept of obsession – how it can be great and how it can be awful. Just a thought. You’ll have to watch closely as the film comes to a close today. The ending and the twists and turns the plot takes can be confusing. You may have to do some internet searching for help and explanation. The viewing guide is pretty thorough and requires you to recall some specifics and details. This viewing guide is due tomorrow – hand it to Keller when you come into the auditorium for Writer’s Week.