New Zoom Courses Still Open this Week

June 02, 2020

There's still time to enroll in these Zoom classes starting this week!

Elements of Film

Well-made films capture our senses and draw us into different worlds or stories through the use of a fascinating variety of elements or “artistic tools.” We will explore four elements of film through movies that display exceptional use of specific devices from the film maker’s tool-kit: sound, editing, color and mis en scene (loosely translated as the design aspect of a film.) Along with the plot and character development, these elements of film contribute strongly to tell the story and enhance the narrative of any cinematic work. Movie titles have been changed to match compatible films available via Netflix. (see new titles below) Updated films to watch will include: Roma (Alfonso Curaron), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Edgar Wright), Hugo (Martin Scorsese) and Inception (Christopher Nolan). Participants must watch an assigned film via Netflix each week prior to class

Instructor: Timothy Youngs teaches broadcast journalism and video production at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove. His curriculum includes film appreciation, which allows students to explore technical production elements in creating exceptional media. He is a graduate of CSU Sacramento and holds degrees in history, music composition and voice, as well as teaching certificates in history, arts and media entertainment, computer programs and music.

Course begins Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 1-3 p.m.
To enroll, please email the OLLI staff at: olli@ucdavis.edu

Sustainable Agriculture in California: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

A brief history of the evolution of sustainable agriculture will be presented and how it relates to other approaches to farming, such as organic and biodynamic agriculture. The definition of sustainable agriculture will briefly be discussed. This will be followed by a detailed discussion of the many farming practices California growers use and how they can be adapted to achieve the goals of sustainable agriculture. Case studies will be presented on the sustainable farming programs developed by two of the most valuable cropping sectors in California, wine grapes/ wine and almonds. The class will conclude with how sustainable farming has been marketed to consumers.

Instructor: Cliff Ohmart has a Ph.D. in entomology from UC Berkeley. He was principal research scientist for Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia for 13 years. In California he’s worked as an independent integrated pest management crop consultant, the sustainable winegrowing director for the Lodi Winegrape Commission and a senior scientist for a private ag consulting company.