His class is hard and requires a lot of work but it is rewarding! The other "raters" must not have liked to work very hard because hard work in his class pays off. I love animation and thought it would be an easy class. It wasn't, but I learned

He's a great teacher, a little rough around the edges, but you learn a TON in his classes.

i have learned so much in daccurso's class. he works very hard and teaches a variety of classes at valley college. he is not always on time, but he is worth the wait. i would recommened him very highly if u are thinking about a career in cinema.

cine 107 was a great experience for me. the class is an broad overview of cinema. its a good class to take if you are just starting out in cinema. from this class a student can figure out what aspect of cinema they would like to focus on. THANKS DACCURSO!

Joe is so sweet! He has a very quirky sense of humor that some people don't see. He genuinly cares about his students and works his tail off for them. Valley, the film program especially, would be super lost without him. You're the best Joe.

Tests are 300 q's plus essay. It's designed to measure how much you've remembered, so no one is going to get 100%. Graded on a curve, 50% will be an A+. Remembering the name of the DP of some obscure movie only comes in handy for trivial pursuit. Hard.

Joe's classes are not for those who want to show up and watch films for fun. They are labor-intensive, but you will learn a lot. He's an intersting guy. Copies of the test are available in the library--if you spend the time, you will get an A.

A lot of people complain about this guy and what you hear is probably true. His class is a lot of work but I toughed it out and got a "B" and I'm incredibly lazy. It sure is fun to listen to him rip into all the film nerds though. Endless ent

The guy is tough. He has a short temper that might end up killing him someday. You can't **** your way through the class, but he will force you to learn. I got a B on his class and I had to put some extra effort, but what I learned I will never forget

Okay so Daccurso may not be the friendliest teacher at Valley but he's pretty straightforward about what will be on the tests. It's still quite a bit of work and memorization and if I were you wouldn't expect an A , but his grading is fair and I would recommend him only to those who truly love film.

Easy Class...Since the answers to the tests are in the library there should be no reason to not get an A in the class. If you're at all interested in cinema take his class. Kinda boring to do Title Answer Keys, but easy to learn about cinema. Knows what he's talking about.

Wonderful teacher. Has great sense of humor and is such a no bullsh%t guy. I adored his class because he made the class interesting and was very straight forward, which was very refreshing. His test where long but fair as long as you study. A genius regarding moition pictures. 2 GOOD FOR VALLY!

I found his class enjoyable, and not too difficult. I admire him and think he is an incredible teacher. Show up for class, listen, be respectful, and utilize the study guides he leaves for you in the library, not to mention the additional times he makes to watch the visuals.

He is very nice and helpful man.Just because his class is hard it doesn't mean that he is a bad professor.I worked really hard in his class and I got an A, and I became one of his "special students",so if you work hard, everything will be great in this class.Don't take this class if you just want to have fun. Take it if you want to learn something.

He is a cool teacher. He knows his material very well. The only bad thing is that he gives a lot of busy work. If you dont mind putting a little effort into the class, you should not have a problem with it. He also shows many interesting movies throughout the class.

IF you do everything he assigns as far as study goes, you will do fine. His classes are NOT for the casual student. VERY intense notetaking and study. His lectures often go long, and the visual material is always behind schedule. PAY ATTENTION to what

I was very interested in cinema until I took his class. I dropped it b-cause his way of teaching and his tests are ridiculous!!!!! don't recommend!!!!!!

Ridiculous homework and tests, but cool.

The title answer key made my eyes glaze over. And because he often seems rushed during his lectures I feel that I didn't really get the full potential of his topic. I greatly enjoyed many of the film clips that were shown. Those tests were definetly a bit of a challenge. But I absolutely love what he said on the first day of class, "I'm a ****, but I'm a benevolent ****." So true. He does seem to cop a bit of an attitude, but I thought it was hilarious. He is definetly a character.

Hardest class I ever took, but the best class I ever took. Wanna know what the university is like, take his class!

Whiny students who expect to cruse with an easy grade are bound to be unhappy. Thsoe who want to learn from this guy will learn. I found him to be a great teacher who gave you an idea what it is like in a real university. I loved his class!

I dont care what anyone says Joseph rocks!!! people complain about how hard he is, this is college wake up, he expects you to be able to do the work and reading, is that too much to ask, he knows his stuff, hes passionate, has corny jokes, has great taste in film, I recomend him for any film major, taking his class is a valuable experience.

If uou are a film major this will be a good class to take, if not thia is not "A tuesday night at the movies". The class is difficult but is you spend time on it you will get an A. Yes, he shows clips from old movies but this is a history of motion pictures and in order to know the history you have to know the beginning of it.He is very funny.

Excellent professor, passionate about motion pictures. Funny but serious too. I have enjoyed several classes with him.

Exams are Long beyond belief, and very condensed. You must spend a painful amount of hours doing research for his class. He is a great teacher over all, but if you lack passion for the subject be prepared to stay up all night writing down and memorizing tedious information for his famous study guide.

I do agree with many comments: he is bizarre and unorganized, equipment he uses sucks, very passionate, and really caring and helpful if you show him that you work hard. The length and complexity of tests scared me first, but I got pretty easy A: as long as you have good analytical and math skills you don't need to know a lot about movies. This is

This class should only be taken if you are REALLY interested in the subject, otherwise if you think it's gonna be an easy A well think again! I got an A in the class only after hard studying and crazy memorization. I don't think this class should be as difficult as he makes it. He starts class late and lets you out really late. BOO!!

love this professor! he knows his material, is passionate, helpful and all you have to do is follow directions. it is for people who love the topic and have always wanted to know the depths that filmmakers and critics have taken this art. highly recommend to serious students only.

Yes, this is a very hard class, the exams are SUPER long, and he talks with so much detail. He's not in most of the class because he's watched the movies 1000x and knows which part we're watching when he's gone. BUT, he has the ACTUAL tests to study in the library and goes out of his way to do study sessions. This class is more for cinema majors.

He is great! Funny, interesting and obviously experienced and knowledgeable. Class is discussion and films, and you need to do the reading, but it's not super hard.

Tough yes, but I learned more in this class than in any other.

I recommend taking this class . He is not a hard teacher if you have any kind of study habits. He gives you the answers to the test, you just have to go read/study them. Very insightful, knows what he is talking about. Only gets mad when you are disrespectful. If you are a know-it-all, you shouldn't need a class to begin with.

Interesting class, lots of information. Don't take the honors unless you want to do ALOT of extra work, but the regular class was interesting. Test are tough and long, but prof tries to help with them and has study guides available.

difficult, must put in effort and put it all in....but great person

For anyone planning to continue their studies in cinema, Joe's 105 & 107 courses (the foundation of all film studies) are invaluable and necessary. I've since earned my BA, made several films, now entering USC for my MFA, and can say straight up that without Joe's teachings, university life would've been tougher and I'd be far less of a filmmaker.

For all of the chowderheads who have slighted both his teaching and the curriculum, you people obviously expected "wednesday afternoon at the movies" and you apparently got more than you could handle. Prof. reinforces what it is to have good study habits and more specifically, prepares you for classes OUTSIDE of the rigors of J.C.

Prof Joe D. is a great instructor. He not only gives you the tools you'll need to succeed (in life as well as his course) he will also ignite an interest in cinema for you. There are no surprises in his class, he is fair and organized. These are the qualities you should look for in a prof. Studying outside of class is necessary, but this is college

He is the best professor, ever. If you listen as to what he says in class and analyze the films like you are supposed to you will definately get an "A" or a "B". I took him in the spring and he was very easy and helpful. If you know the basics of film then you will pass this class with ease. One thing I disliked is that he was very unorganized.

Take him for Cinema 105, 104, and 107. He is so easy and you can get a really good grade in his class if you watch the films and listen to the lectures. Do not read the textbook as much as his lectures. I got an A in this class with ease.

He could be a little dull at times, in terms of his lectures! The films that he screens are amazing and it is really easy to get an A if you just watch the film and take notes! He is chill when it comes to tests but you must study! Tests are super easy, if you know the basics. He does keep us until the end but it is worth it. Easy "B" study="A+"

If you take him you have to be interested in the movies he screens in class. If you know them then you are pretty much set. He is not at all boring in my opinion but is very unorganized. I got an "A", but for a Cinema class it was not that easy. Really cool guy! Take Him For A Short Term Class because he goes much easier in the Summer.

I am in his documentary film class and he is sort of easy. Tests are not at all tough because he gives you all the answers before the test. Only thing that I must complain about is the fact that he is very disorganized. Other than that he is super eazy. I would not say the easiest A but definately easy B+. If you really need an A study sessions!

Knowledgable man who knows what he is talking about but babbles on about random stuff. Personally, I think he is weird. Tests are decent but extremly long (for an art class)??? I got an A in his class when I took it but had to work hard. I remember everyone complaining because of how disorganized he was. If you have to take a Cinema class take him.

Makes the class harder than it should be but tests are easy because he tells us literally every answer on the test. Bad attitude, however. Disorganized! Incompetent!

Not an easy A, you have to study for a while before the test, tests are multiple questions and blanks to fill in ... Very interesting classes but as I said, not an easy class.

I loved his class a lot but he was an a whole but he really made the class fun to come too but I hated that he kept us late. that is not right.

He does take up a lot of your time and makes you stay late in class. The tests are not "easy" and it is not "easy" to get an A. You have to read and come to class and put in your fair share of the work. It's an extremely interesting class to take

He is a great professor, I am not sure who these other people are who wrote unflattering remarks but obviously they didn't care about the program. He is old school and that may be hard for these young people to take. I very much enjoyed his class and look forward to attending more.

A tough class but very informative, most people do not like him due to the fact he is a tough grader and his tests are difficult. You certainly need to know the material if you want an A. If you like to slack off and coast through school this is not the class for you.

I came into this class not knowing anything about film and left his class ALSO not knowing anything about film but with a grade of an A. He is extremely easy and his tests are common sense. A lot of students are terrified simply because you have to see this man! I thought I was going to get a C but when I got my grade I got an A. He is the best!

Best Class I Have Ever Taken! Definitely the Professor loves films and loves discussing films and their backdoor meaning with students. However, the man was very disorganized and had no remorse for students being absent. Do yourself a favor and do not talk during the films because you are not better than the films. Show Respect and you should be ok

Tough grader? Demanding prof? Wow! Has that changed since when I was his student back in the Ollllllden days. Back then we said he was a great guy but expected too much while demanding too little. Glad to hear he grew up with the rest of us :D

First you have to be a real Idiot to fail this class. One he lets you look at the Exams in the library before you take them and your allowed a cheat sheet. The book is an easy read. He gives you the same exam he gave at USC. Ur getting a pretty good teacher. If your some yahoo who thinks of himself as the next Tarantino go make film dont post sh*t

This guy can be a stand-up comedian which makes the class bearable. Tests are huge, and take preparation, of which he gives you literally EVERYTHING you need, you just need to put in the time and effort. Kept us late all the time ESPECIALLY on test days. tests take about 45 for each section, he didn't hand it out til class was almost over.

Do not buy the book if you do buy the book just read the chapter summaries. I got an a in his class but he was not nice. All I did to get the A is went to the Library resource center and did the "practice exams" which is literally the exact same test as the test that he gives which are very hard but easy if you just write down the answers.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Professor Daccurso does absolutely know the subject of Cinema like the back of his hand. Although, he is a little bit to intense, he has good potential. He does not like helping students out, which is not too good as that is what he gets paid for. Anyways, you must take him becuase he is so nice.

Mr. Daccurso knows what's up. He is not a model Professor but he does know tons but does not LIKE getting the information across. It's a shame too because film is such a great subject but he does not like teaching it. Take Swelstad instead. When I took Swelstad the whole class is constructed differently (way better). But, Daccurso is not too bad.

I took this man many years ago and it is one of the only A's I ever really got. When I took him he was still a rookie. He was very easy and helpful at that. I wonder what changed for him. He was so energetic and happy to teach class. We watched some great films and we had assignments. Tests were worth "nothing" to him. It's sad to see he went down.

The textbook he uses is pretty cool but he is not. I mean, you can really get by without taking his course(s) simply because they are not all that appealing. If you want a career in Film, you really do not need to take this heavily detailed class which will almost undoubtly bring your gpa down. The class should be fun (not dull). Wrong approach lol

loved this professor. his class was a bit challenging but if you put in the time and effort then you will do great. gives you three exams-one is take home- extra credit assignments and study guides in the library to look over. overall GREAT professor, goes out of his ways to help students, highly recommended.

Daccurso is a good professor but not a great one. I agree that he literally spoon feeds us the info that will be on the examinations but he can be uptight about letting us get out early! Do the extra credit he offers as that will bring your grade up like crazy. Some of the comments are harsh as this Professor truly does have a passion for film.

He is a great teacher & it's easy to get an A in his class. He comes across as hard but he really does want his students to succeed. He grades his exams on a big curve. I can't imagine anyone not acing his class as he prepares students for the exams very well. Go to the library when there is an exam as the study guide in the library is the exam.

It's true that he is a hard Professor (the comment before mine is way too nice) but you can get an A by just studying. I think he knows that his exams are way too tough so he gives you all the answers before actually administers the examination so if you listen to him then you are likely to get an A in his class with relative ease.

pros: very helpful when it comes 2 tests since he gives u the outline & answers in the library. cons: gives u at most 20 mins 2 do the 200+Q test, keeps u at least 15 mins extra after class, gives u an "extra credit" assignemnt but in reality u HAVE 2 do it in order to get an A, gives u a cheat sheet of 150+ movies on test u gotta memorize.b warned

Lots of studying. He gives you all the answers and questions for the test in the library its up to you to use it. Overall he is a good teacher, his style is a little annoying but he is nice and gives you all the tools. Its all up to you.

Lots of studying. He gives you all the answers and questions for the test in the library its up to you to use it. Overall he is a good teacher, his style is a little annoying but he is nice and gives you all the tools. Its all up to you to use them.

I thought he was awesome & I looked forward to going to his class. Great story/history teller. Thanks Dr. D.

Joseph D'Accurso is one of the very best professors at LAVC, and if you have any interest in film his classes are some of the best offered by the college. He supplements his lectures with his own experiences and work. He has a very off-hands approach, but he clearly explains and makes available all the tools necessary to earn an A in the class.

TUTOR IS AWESOME. YOU WILL GET AN A IF YOU GO TO THE TUTORING.

The class is really easy IF you use the gifts he gives you. 90% of the questions on the review folder are in the test. The tutor, Ashley, makes everything a lot easier. He does not tolerate incompetence.

This class will take effort, no denying that. But Daccurso gives you so many tools to help you, and the tutor is also really great. I wouldn't recommend this class to someone who was hoping for an easy A, but if you want a very interesting class and some challenge I couldn't recommend this class enough. I'm really happy I took it.

Prof. Daccurso makes you work for your grade but does a great job of preparing your for University level coursework if you intend to transfer. His lectures are humorous, he will answer any questions you have, has extensive knowledge of film history/subject matter. Kind, caring, and great fun, but you will need to work hard.

If you can't afford the textbook, like to skip class, and won't put time into this class, DO NOT take any of his classes. Overall, he's pretty cool. He offers tutoring for exams, and if you decide not to show up for them, you WILL fail. His tutor, Ashley, basically saved my life. If you try and put in effort, you will succeed. Coast, and you won't.

I truly enjoyed Cinema 107 with Prof. Daccurso and I plan on taking two other classes with him in the future. If you can’t afford the book and you don’t want to work for your grade, you probably shouldn’t take this class. When available he has provided a tutor for reviewing his material along with study booklets.

This class had me very scattered brained. Studying for the exams is like a scavenger hunt, which actually helped, a lot of cushion for your grade with exams that consist of a bulk of points. Not a movie buff or even a fan but I learned a bit. Daccurso is a great guy and genuine. Wish you the best Professor!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK AND ANSWER KEY AS LONG AS YOU ATTEND THIS CLASS! Dont miss the review sessions in the library and take advantage of the tutoring. It's not close to a walk in the park, but the preparation and value it teaches you is worth it. If the film industry is your passion, taking this class is worth it! Great teaching skills.

Outstanding Professor. Captivated my interest in communication via motion pictures. I found myself enrolling in additional course: Cinema(107) for fun. Later attended one of his students' movie display and he also allowed other classes observe his more advanced classes work; with his permission.

this class is pretty brutal. Daccurso's tests are legendary. Don't get me wrong, it's a great class, but you will have to work hard to get a good grade. If you have good study habits, then it should be a piece of cake. He pulls the test questions directly from the study review folders and the handouts he gives. Everything is in the book.

Professor Daccurso is one of my favorite teachers in the Cinema delartment. His class is very interesting and I learned a lot from him. The way he teaches is so clear. And his exams are legendary. In order for you to pass his class you have to work extra hard. And I just want to say thank you and it was an honor to be in your class.

Relatively easy class as long as you do the work and put in the time. If you're lazy, this class will be difficult for you. Get the book, handle your business and you're gonna get an A.

Great wealth of knowledge. Do your work, its not that hard, do it, pay attention, and you'll pass. take advantage of the knowledge this man has. always willing to help outside of class.

Prof. J is kewl. He is very informative and if you do what he says its really hard not to pass his class. It isn't the easiest, but if you really wanna learn some stuff he is the guy. Really cares about the students.

He's awesome but kinda tough, you really need to study for his test, basically all the questions are in the folder that he makes them available in the library. If you like cinema and want to learn something go for it but if you just want to take an easy class forget it.

One of the greatest professors I have ever had. He is not the easiest, but if you put a little effort, it is not hard. A phenomenal human being, does his best to help his students. Definitely take his class, you will learn a lot about cinema and as a bonus, he is an incredibly educated man, so you will learn about a lot of other things as well.

I was surprised to see bad comments about this professor. It must be an HONOR for LAVC to have Professor Daccurso in the department. He cares so much about his students and does everything for them not to receive a bad grade. He is extremely helpful, very entertaining and interesting. He is also very intelligent and you learn a lot in his class.

Hes a fun and entertaining teacher. Do the extra credit and and the study guides. The only time i used the book was to fill in the study guide. Just take good notes and do the study guide and youll be fine. I didnt even study for my tests and i got a B.

Excellent preparation for UCLA or other top schools. A true artist and an excellent teacher.

He usually gets off topic. Handouts are mostly useless though some get tested. He tells you exactly what he expects so its not impossible to get an A. Manage your time wisely! Tests are in the library, and are based on the book, but the answers take a lot of time to figure out. Extra credit will help you a lot. If you dont study, then dont take it.

If I could, I would only take his classes for the rest of my life. Took 105H passed with an A, took 107 passed with an A. It is impossible not to pass his tests, and if you study, tests should take no more than 20 minutes. He is very intelligent and caring. You will never get bored and most importantly he grades very fairly. Definitely recommended

After taking all of his classes I just want him to adopt me so I can go home and still listen to him. He is very intelligent, well-educated, and can inspire you in many ways. He is and always will be my favorite professor.

Extremely knowledgable in his subject. Took him for 105 honors and got an A, prepare to study long and hard for his exams but they are NOT IMPOSSIBLE. Just time consuming and you need to pay attention to detail, but the information and the objective is all there to absorb, not a gamble, very rewarding and put in the time the A is yours.

I have five favorite people in this world and he is one of them. :)

Daccurso is a hilarious prof. He shows a bunch of short clips that have to do with the lecture that same day. Had about 4 exams & an essay you had to write if you wanted an A in his class. He gives you a "cheat sheet" to help you on the test. The exams are EASY if you read and get good notes. No projects or group work, simple discussions. TAKE HIM!

I am really glad I had the opportunity to take a class from this professor. He tricked me into studying with his library methods. It has paid off in other classes since so here's to old school trickery. Offers extra credit. Lots of videos, really need to pay attention. Listen to what he tells you. He does exactly what he says he's going to do.

Honestly, people complaining about the lectures, exams, and readings don't get it. This is a college level class. If you don't put in the work (even when he offers extra credit, study guides, and lets students make up tests) don't expect an A! He is by far one of the best professors I've ever had and he genuinely cares about students & film.

Great professor but he makes you work for your grade. You have to earn your grade and prepare before exams in library.