This evening class, led by UA Little Rock Professor and Arkansas Cinema Society resident curator Chris Robinson, examines the directorial styles of two individual talents who have worked outside the cookie-cutter Hollywood mainstream with films that are sometimes quirky and sometimes horrifying. The late great David Lynch, described by Steven Spielberg as “a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that often felt handmade,” had a surreal vision perhaps as close to the avant-garde as an Oscar-nominated director ever had. Some of his films resist characterization and almost defy description. The eccentric Wes Anderson, by comparison, creates whimsical dollhouse dioramas with a sly sense of humor that is often tinged with nostalgia.

The class will examine style and techniques, as well as stories of what went on behind the camera, and offer a generous look into films such as Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and the little-seen but unforgettable Lynch version of Dune. For Anderson, the films to be covered will include The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore, and The French Dispatch. Expect to spend time examining film elements such as sound design, aspect ratios, composition, and the use of color.