Attending a film class is about watching movies and learning what goes into the making of them. Taking a film class with Roger Durling goes beyond this: it is a class that gets you excited about movies and what makes them great.
Watching Durling lecture is a show in itself. While describing how Roman Polanski directed the film “Rosemary’s Baby,” his hands move in sync with the images flickering across the screen. During its opening credits, he hums along with the eerie tune. Randomly, he approaches the screen in the theater-like classroom, engaging the audience and illustrating his points. His intense enthusiasm of the subject is infectious.
“He’s rad,” said Film Production student Cashel Canada. “He explains everything really good. He rants, which I like.”
Durling interacts with students, calling on them by name to answer a question or spin off on another point. With a constant excitement in his voice, he describes a cliché scene of most horror movies, detailing what’s scary.
“Have you ever noticed in horror movies girls are always in panties,” said Durling. “Then someone jumps out and slashes her.”
He wears all black on this particular occasion. His glasses, bag and phone are all black. The phone, a Blackberry, is in his hand for what seems like most of the time. His hair is spiked and with bleached out tips. It stands out as much as the scent of the fruity gum he chews. Text messaging, or making a phone call, he is clearly busy and passionate.
“He’s so into it,” said History student Kevin Kuljis. “You know you have a good teacher when they do what they do outside the classroom. He’s so stoked about it.”
Aside from teaching, Durling is the Director of the Santa Barbara Film Festival. He has been in charge for the last four years, and is going into his fifth.
“Even during the Film Festival when he has movie stars around him he’s exactly the same,” said Michael Stinson, department chair of Film Studies.
His connections to the film industry have allowed his students to fully experience film, in the class and out. Through his Great Directors class, students are asked to attend pre-screenings of upcoming movies. Along with these viewings, students get to participate in a Q&A session with the director, and sometimes the actors. Most recently, students got to watch the film “In the Valley of Elah,” and then were able to speak with its Director, Paul Haggis.
“He has remarkable access,” said Stinson. “He really wants his students to experience the Film Festival.”
Durling was first exposed to film as a child growing up in Panama. His mom first got him interested in film when she took him to double features on hot days.
“In Panama it’s humid year-round,” said Durling. “It’s a form of escape, not just from the heat but from everyday life.”
