Comments:FDM 1309 - When I registered for this course, my advisor told me it would be a simple, enjoyable elective that wouldn’t add more stress or work to my already chaotic schedule. Unfortunately, he was so beyond wrong. The course material itself is interesting—learning about different genres, a brief history of motion pictures, filmmaking techniques, and so on—but I was never excited to attend a single lecture, let alone the film screenings. There were random pop quizzes every lecture, and if you got even one question wrong, your grade could take a significant hit. Sometimes the questions were no-brainers, but more often they focused on tiny, easily missed details from the films we watched or fleeting facts mentioned during the lecture or in the copious amount of assigned reading. Dr. Kendrick wasn’t a bad lecturer—he wasn’t just reading off a wall of text—but it’s entirely unrealistic to expect students to write down and memorize every single detail from a long, fact-filled lecture. Then came the exams, which were both similar and different from the pop quizzes—and not in a good way. They were similar in that they included the same obscure, random-fact-type questions you’d only know if you were completely locked in that day. But they were different because a big chunk of the exam was application-based. Now, that’s fair in a college class—if the rest of the course prepared you for that. But the lectures and quizzes were all about memorizing facts, not applying them. A pop quiz question might be something like, “What kind of camera was used to shoot X scene in X movie?” while an exam question might ask, “If you were a filmmaker, what camera and lens would you choose to create X emotion?” I wouldn’t have had a problem with those types of questions if I’d been equipped to answer them. On top of the stress from quizzes and exams were the film screenings. They were every Tuesday night, and they were long. Don’t expect to get any other work or studying done on screening days. And you must be early—being even a second late means you won’t be counted for attendance, which can hurt your grade. We also had bi-weekly screening responses, which were easy and a nice grade boost—but BE WARNED: Dr. Kendrick is extremely hawkish about AI. A close friend of mine who took the class with me was accused of using AI on a response, even though she didn’t, and had to go to the Honor Council to clear her name and record. In short: DO NOT take this course unless you are incredibly passionate about film, have time to spare, and retain information like a sponge.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:FDM 2351 - Four years at Baylor, about to graduate, and I have never once felt the need to leave a professor a bad rating. However, I would BEG anyone to not take his History of Motion Pictures course. While he isn't a terrible teacher, he makes the class so insanely difficult I could not believe it. The exams are so so so hard, and he gives 0 flexibility on assignments. If you go to class every day, turn in your assignments correctly, then you should still probably pass. However if you can avoid taking the class, I highly recommend doing so, or else you will spend 12+ hours every week working on the class.  - Grade In Class:C

Comments:1309 - I am a stem major with an A in them and genetics. when I tell you this class is harder than that, I kid you not it is. my advisor said no exams, only movie reviews it's a free A. I was like, awesome. she was wrong it does have exams, and it's all too specific about stuff he barely mentioned. there are a lot of readings, and they are just too long the movies are decent days of heaven sucks. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU WANT A FREE A take theater with prof p no exams and its free. im taking 19 hours and the reason they feel like hell is because of this class.  - Grade In Class:DROP

Comments:1309 - DO NOT TAKE if you want a free A. This class was harder than biochem and physics that I had this semester. The tests didn't really have the info on the slides or in the book, sometimes it was random stuff he blurted out in class one time. Something like what was the movie made using cinemascope that was made in 1981. Not exactly that but you get the idea. The daily quizzes are hard and often are insanely specific things from the movie night (which takes 4 hours of your tuesday night). i would go to the movies and forget the name of a side character and there goes my quiz points for the day. I cut this one so close the only thing that bailed me out was the 2.5% free essay we got to write for bonus credit right before finals. If you want a free class go take online theater or something, if you're actually interested in film, good luck in this class.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:1309 - James Kendrick was an excellent lecturer, however, he failed to prepare students adequately for the exams. His class average was consistently below a B, which is insane given that this is an elective film course which isn’t major specific.  - Grade In Class:B+

Comments:1309 - Dr.Kendrik was a super cool dude, super passionate about his work, and wants to show that to his students. The movies are ok, La La Land is one of the really good ones, and Days of Heaven is incredibly boring. The movies become a hassle as you keep moving through the semester but just show up its not that hard. The first test will blindside you, make sure you study. You under estimate how hard it actually is. Sometimes class can get a little boring but that is any class. He does grade on raw points so don't trust what canvas tells you. Overall he's a super chill dude and you learn a lot of coll things you would have never thought about before. 9/10  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:1309 - Kendrick is dope! He’s super chill and passionate about the subject material. The exams were a bit tough and definitely required studying. Overall a solid class.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:FDM 1309 - Do NOT take this class with him. Dr Kendrick was a pretty good teacher but a bulk of your score is assigned to these weekly quizzes he makes you take, and they are very tricky and specific. His exams are also not easy at all. I would definitely recommend not taking it, or not taking him specifically. He also does not grant you any excused absences, so even if you do miss a quiz for a good reason, your mark drops significantly, and there is nothing you can do about it.  - Grade In Class:C+

Comments:FDM 1309 - This class was just okay. His lectures are sometimes dry and the textbook is very boring and oddly structured. There are screenings every week where he takes attendance, quiz every week, and a response every other week. The responses are pretty easy if you follow the directions, but sometimes the quiz and test questions are oddly specific and tricky. They often seem like they're written more to trick you than to test your knowledge. The class is not a super fun elective class, which is what I expected, but it's also not terrible.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:FDM 1309 - Dr. Kendrick is an awesome person. He is always willing to help students. Bi weekly screening responses for easy 100s. I recommend you go to his office before the first exam because the 3 exams are very subtlety worded depending on the question. Definitely utilize extra credit opportunities that he gives and his office hours. Highly recommend taking his class.  - Grade In Class:C

Comments:2351 - Kendrick made this course a ton of fun, and for reference I'm not an FDM major and just took this class as an elective senior year. Keep in mind, though, a lot of the time he seems all business. He's not very lenient with class clicker questions (which can be really annoying) or exams. The exams in question are decently challenging; I made A's on all of them but usually in the 90-94 range, and you need a 94% or better for an A. That being said, he's a great lecturer, and you will learn a TON from the class. Additionally he gives extra credit opportunities, sometimes whoppingly large ones. In my class he gave two EC options for a possible total of 5% on your overall average, so even though I made A-s on exams and had missed some clicker questions I had well above an A. The 7-8 writing assignments are graded very easily and you should get 100% on all of them. Just meet the essay length requirements and be creative. Lastly, the Wednesday film screenings are cool, but MAN did I underestimate how much of an inconvenience they would be. After the first couple weeks you'll be in there from 6pm to at least 9pm, and sometimes for the whole time. Be prepared to postpone meetings and eat dinner early once a week. In general, Kendrick was a good professor and it's worth taking the class with him.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:FDM-3351 - As one of the required classes you have to take, History of Motion Pictures is probably the most interesting. You don't exactly need your textbook, as he covers the majority of the material in class. Also, he gives you the lecture notes, so that's a plus. However, I don't believe his study guides for the tests were all that helpful. I spent hours studying for his tests (using his given study guides and given lectures), and barely passed most of them. He put many names on the tests that weren't on the study guides, or in the lecture notes, and when you looked in the book to figure out who they were, they did something completely minor. So maybe it was my fault for not reading the textbook, but I still hated the way his tests were set up. My advice to you would be to study ALL The minor names and all the minor things that were mentioned in class to do great on the tests. I still made a B+, a few points away from an A- (and I failed 2/3 of the tests) so I am thankful for that! I was just giving you all a heads up on how to study. (:  - Grade In Class:B+

Comments:4340 - Dr. Kendrick is a freakin' genius. That's it. He knows so much that it blows my mind sometimes. However, FDM 4340 (Media & Society) was a pretty interesting class to me. I enjoyed his lectures because he knows how to engage with the class well. He likes to have discussion in class so attendance will be taken daily. 15% of your grade is attendance/participation in class. Don't forget that. His lectures are in depth most of the time and he will show you some fun clips that will spark some great discussions in class. I personally enjoy discussions in class because it draws people in and you get to learn about other people's opinions and values. FDM majors have to take it so it's either between Shafer or Kendrick. Dr. Kendrick grades hard. He is a genius like I said so he will be pretty picky about certain things on your papers, like grammar. Give some good effort in with the two 4-5 page analytical papers. 30% of your grade will be a group presentation that must take up the entire class time, which is 75 minutes. It will take some time on preparing, but totally doable. You will have to write 1/2 to 1 page weekly abstracts for the first 8 weeks. It's not that bad seriously. You turn these abstracts in on Thursday's and you have to find an article that relates to the Tuesday's lecture of each week. Analyze it and turn it in. That's it. You do NOT need the textbook. It's not like he gives any exams or quizzes based on the book so no need for it. Final exam is only 10% of the grade, BUT don't you ever underestimate that final. Each group that presents in class has to turn in 10 multiple choice questions with answers and Dr. Kendrick will compile those questions from each group and make the final. It's not that easy. I barely passed it. The guy doesn't let you get an A easily. He grades very hard on the presentations, so research hardcore and prepare well.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:4380 - This class is so pointless. I thought the name of the class made it sound interesting, but I struggled to stay awake each class period. The whole class is discussion based. So the entire class period you listen to your peers' opinions of violence in certain movies. Usually the people who talk a lot in the class are really annoying know-it-all people when it comes to film/cinema and obviously don't have a life outside of watching movies. So that's how each class is from the first day of class. Dr. Kendrick never does a real lecture and never says anything interesting or informative. I came out of the class feeling no more educated about anything film related than I did before I took the class. The class is composed of two take home tests (30% each), weekly responses (20%), and participation (20%). Both of the take home tests are 10 page essays. One is the midterm and the other counts as the final. He grades them super hard to the point that it's kind of ridiculous. It's hard to write an essay for a class where you literally learn nothing in the first place. I made a B on both of them and have never made anything below an A on any essay in any English class. It's just so unclear what he's looking for in the essays. Participation is based on attendence and how much you talk in class. Part of the attendence is the weekly movie screenings from 6-10 on Monday nights that you're required to go to. Talk about a waste of a whole afternoon. Overall this class sucks, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. So don't be fooled by the name "Violenc&the American Screen." It sounds cool, but it's very much the exact opposite.  - Grade In Class:B

Comments:4340 - Dr. Kendrick is AWESOME. So laid back, and yet clearly loves what he's talking about. His class is what all classes should be - strictly about the learning. You're not constantly concerned about grades. He only makes you write 2 papers and then an easy research project, all of which are super interesting and contribute to what we're learning in class. I actually/legitimately ENJOYED doing work in his class. Kendrick is what every Baylor professor should be.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:History of Motion Picture - Kendrick's lectures are entertaining, but History of Motion Pictures is just that: a big lecture class. If that's fine, you'll love it. If you can't stand just listening to some dude talk up in front for an hour and a half, you'll loathe it. Of the lecturers I've had at Baylor, though, he's one of the best. The material is interesting and he does a great job of fleshing out the different concepts you need to know for the tests. Take good notes during class and pay close attention to his study guides and you'll do great on the tests (which are easy if you study). Kendrick's study guides for this class tell you EXACTLY what's covered on the test. They're fantastic. The screenings can be a bit long and tedious sometimes, but other times, they show some really great stuff (The Graduate, Easy Rider, Jaws, etc., etc.).   - Grade In Class:A

Comments:FDM 3352 - Love, love, love this guy and his classes. Inspirational teacher who really gets you thinking critically about the subject at hand. Down-to-earth but on top of his game in terms of conducting his classes. I definitely recommend him if you're serious about film or television.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:HistoryofMP - Excellent professor. One of the best, most knowledgeable people in the FDM department. This guy knows his stuff. His classes are not difficult as much as they are a lot of material. He covers it well and makes a very long class very interesting and rewarding. Take him.   - Grade In Class:B+

Comments:CST 4343 and 3352 - Professor Kendrick is really passionate about the subjects he teaches and makes class purely entertaining (lots of class discussions, reflection essays and in-class screenings). Class is fairly easy; homework is ok, no quizzes, no projects, and some readings (especially for film theory). Well... I guess you can close your eyes and sign up for next semester.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:CST 3352 - The prof is great and there isn't that much work for the class. The tests are almost completely from the notes and are just multiple choice. And the weekly responses are only graded for completion. Plus Kendrick is an extremely excellent and engaging professor, perhaps the best in telecom.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:CST 3351 - First, amazing prof. Yes, this class did have alot of notes, but it's a history class. What else do you expect? But, it is a history class about movies, so I personally found all of the information fascinating and did not mind that there was a lot of it. I can't say I much minded taking notes over Jaws and Francis Ford Coppola. And I did not find the tests difficult at all. They were almost 100% from class lectures and were all multiple choice. So, just a few hours of quick studying before the test I found sufficed for getting a good grade. Plus, he curves . . . alot. I was able to make an A without breaking a sweat. Plus, amazing prof.  - Grade In Class:A

Comments:3351 - Ok so I agree he is a good prof but I was extremely disappointed with the class. SOO many notes - he can talk forever. A lot of names and specifics, not as much trends or ideas. We just had to review a film once a week so the workload was minimal, but the tests seemed more detailed than necessary. This was an elective for me this semester and it ended up my lowest grade. Be careful.  - Grade In Class:B

Comments:4395 - This man is a truly masterful professor. He never fails to captivate his students and, while his classes run longer than most (mine was scheduled for three hours two days a week), he always holds you enraptured for the entire time (though he rarely kept us the whole three hours). The workload isn't bad and I found it a cinch to make an A. Besides, he makes you want to learn and you will most certainly be stupefied by his skill and talent.  - Grade In Class:A