Maltin teaches at USC

By Judy Lin
Staff Writer

Movie critic and historian Leonard Maltin was recently hired to teach Theatrical Film Symposium (CNTV 466), a popular cinema class that screens pre-released films, followed by interviews with filmmakers and other guests.
"We're very delighted to have someone of Leonard's stature here," said Elizabeth Daley, dean of the School of Cinema Tele-vision. "It's important to students to learn how this visual culture works and understand the impact of pictures."
Widely seen as the film critic on "Entertainment Tonight," Maltin is the author of "Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide" and "Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia." Among other involvement in the entertainment industry, Maltin writes a weekly column for Microsoft's Cinemania Online and appears on Starz, a premium cable TV service.
"I love interacting with kids," Maltin said. "It keeps you young and gives you a youthful outlook."
This semester, 325 students are enrolled in the class, but the course is open to all majors. Only one-fourth of the students are cinema majors, said Bettina Federici, assistant to the school's dean.
"I heard about (CNTV 466) from my friends," said Jason Barhydt, a senior majoring in history. "It's interesting to hear Leonard's take on films. He knows a lot of people in the industry."
Maltin said one of his goals is to challenge students to form a smarter, more demanding audience. He criticized the quality of today's films for not having more substance.
His busy schedule almost prevented him from teaching. To reduce his workload, Maltin said the cinema school arranged for teaching assistants to produce and grade tests.
"Maltin starts off with a lecture, and then we watch the film," Barhydt said. "(Afterward) he emcees the discussion, and we're there to hear what the filmmakers have to say."
Head teaching assistant Shannon Mader, a graduate student in cinema, said Maltin has been trying to involve the students by including questions during his lecture.
"He's a likable guy and very private because his time is precious," Mader said. "So far, it's been great, and he's raised the level of the course. He knows his films and the industry."
Having taught an animation history course for nine years at the New School for Social Research in New York, Maltin is not new to teaching.
"I've lectured to large groups but was excited to work with students. It's not fun if I don't get feedback from the students," he said.
Maltin considers himself a child of the first TV generation and grew up watching Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges and Walt Disney. He has been writing about movies since he was 13 years old and began running a monthly film magazine, called Film Fan Monthly, at age 17.
In upcoming weeks, the class will watch "Great Expectations," "Gingerbread Man" and "Twilight." Director Robert Altman is one of the possible upcoming guests.
Instructor Duane Byrge taught last semester's class but was removed after he arrived to class apparently intoxicated. Daley said it is common for instructors to come and go because many of them are professionals and can only teach for a short time.
"This is a class with a long history," Daley said. "Arthur Knight was a film historian who started the class in the `60s. The Los Angeles Times film critic Charles Champlin continued the legacy (from 1986 to 1996). We're so happy to have Leonard continue the class because he's such a major film (critic)."
"Even I have run into people who have taken this class," Maltin said. "I feel flattered and privileged to be carrying the torch."
Maltin said he would like to continue teaching beyond this semester but has not determined if he can return.