UNIT 3

UNIT 3CONVEYING A CHARACTER OR IDEAS

Meet Gollum, he is a character from the movie ‘Lord of the Rings’. Research his character and write a brief description about him below.

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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In a novel, an author can easily build up a picture of a character for the reader through words. In a film it is not so easy. The viewer cannot expect to fully understand what a character is like by simply seeing him or her on the screen. The composer is required to write music that will give clues as to the true nature of the various players. Composing for film involves clever manipulating such elements of music as melody, rhythm and instrumentation to give a character-study in sound. A composer can use music to convey the innermost thoughts or ideas of one or more characters.

Write down the movie matching the character.

CHARACTER MOVIE GOOD or EVIL100

Martin Riggs

95 Nightmare on Elm Street90 The Wicked Witch of the West84 Matrix80 Norman Bates74 E.T63 Wall-E48 Iron Man39 Marty McFly25 Return of the Jedi

Choose a character that is not on the list and use the website to write about the character.

Name: _____________________________________

Why he/she is on the list:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finest Hour:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Goto:

http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=10

Write down the top 10 movie characters as voted on Empire on line.

CHARACTER MOVIE ACTOR10987654321

FAMOUS MOVIE QUOTES

Goto: http://nylady.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Famous-Movie-Quotes

Complete the table:

QUOTE MOVIE ACTORMay the Force Be With YouGo Ahead, Make My DayFrankly, My Dear, I Don't Give a DamnThere's No Place Like HomeI See Dead People

Write down your favourite movie quotes:

QUOTE MOVIE ACTOR

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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CONVEYING A CHARACTER

Write down the following definitions.

SST Definition

John Williams

Character

Leitmotif

Major Scale

Minor Scale

Good Character

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Evil Character

IMPERIAL MARCH

"The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)", also known to members of the public as the "Imperial Death March", is a musical theme present in the Star Wars franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Together with "Yoda's Theme", "The Imperial March" was premiered on April 29, 1980, "three weeks before the opening of the film, on the occasion of John Williams' first concert as official conductor-in-residence of the Boston Pops Orchestra." One of the best known symphonic movie themes, it is a classic example of a leitmotif, a recurrent theme associated with characters or events in a drama.

What is the other name for the Imperial March?

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Which film did the song first feature in?

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When did the song first premiere?

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Which other song premiered with the ‘Imperial March’?

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Who composed the song ‘Imperial March’?

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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What is a leitmotif?

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Watch the Film Clip and answer the following questions:

1. Name the instruments in the piece.

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2. Who is conducting the piece?

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3. What colour is the baton used in the piece?

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4. Which instrument is playing the melody?

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5. Describe the Duration of the piece.

Word Bank

Long – Short – Tempo (speed) – Beat – Repeat – Time Signature – Rhythm - Simple – Complex - Quick

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Indiana Jones

Watch the video clip on the trailer Indiana Jones and write down words that’s best describes the scene.

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What is a movie trailer? http://www.apple.com/trailers/

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Write three compound sentences that best describes the character in the trailer.

1.

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2.

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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3.

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Write a brief paragraph below on what the trailer is about. (DRAFT)

Topic sentence

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Supporting Sentences

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Concluding Sentence

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What is aTheme

Listen to the theme Indiana Jones and answer the following questions.

1. What instrument is playing the main theme?

Trumpet Guitar Violin Flute

2. What is the tempo of the piece?

Fast Slow Loud Thick

3. Which instrument plays the second theme?

Trumpet Guitar Violin Flute

4. Is the 1st theme played again? If so what percussion instruments can you hear?

Woodblock Cowbell Glockenspiel Triangle

Student Questions

1. Could the theme be played on other instruments and still sound good?

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2. Was the theme made for the movie?

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3. If you add lyrics would it still sound good? Try adding lyrics to the theme above.

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Conveying a Character: Character Themes

In a book, words can be used to describe a character’s personality and development. However, in a film, the viewer cannot see this by just looking at the character. This is why music is so important. Music gives the viewer insight into the true nature of a character, what they may be hiding about themselves and their development throughout the film.

A Character Theme, which is also called a leitmotif, is a piece of music that follows a character throughout a film and is developed as the character and film move forward. The composer uses the different concepts to create and manipulate a theme that is specific to the character.

Up is an animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios in 2009. It follows the story of an elderly man named Carl Fredricksen and Russell, a Wilderness Explorer. They find themselves on a trip in his house which is being carried by thousands of balloons. The pair encounters many troubles on their way to fulfill Mr Fredricksen’s dream to see Paradise Falls. They meet Mr Fredricksen’s childhood hero Charles Muntz who ends up trying to hurt them in order to capture the bird he has been searching for.

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Mr Fredricksen ends up becoming like a Grandfather to Russell despite their tense relationship in the beginning.

The music was composed by Michael Giacchino who wrote a character-theme-based score. There are two important Character Themes in Up that are connected to specific characters and are changed over the film to suit the story. One is the “Muntz’s Theme” which is first heard at the beginning when a young Mr Fredricksen is watching a newsreel about Charles Muntz and it returns later in the film when Mr Fredricksen meets him. The second theme is “Ellie’s Theme” which is first heard at the beginning of the film when she is introduced as a child and is repeated at several points in the film.

1. What is a character theme?

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2. Why is a character theme important?

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3. Who was UP produced by?_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who are the main characters and where are they travelling to?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Who is Mr Fredricksen’s wife? _______________________________________________6. Who is Mr Fredricksen’s hero? ______________________________________________7. Who was the music composed by? ___________________________________________8. What are the two main character themes?

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Ellie’s ThemeWe’re in a Club NowWatch the first clip. This is where Ellie’s theme is first heard, as we are first introduced to Ellie. 1. Which instrument is playing the melody? ______________________________________2. Describe the texture (thick/thin)? ____________________________________________3. Is it major or minor (major = happy, minor = sad)?

_______________________________4. Is it simple or complex (think about melody and rhythm)?

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5. How do you think this relates to Ellie at this point in the film? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Married Life

Watch the second clip. This is where we see Mr Fredricksen and Ellie through their married years together.

Write down what happens to the music when you see these sections

Instrument Pitch Duration Texture

Move into their house

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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After the doctor’s

When they get older

In the hospital

Choose one of the above scenes and write a paragraph about how Ellie’s Theme has been changed to suit what is happening. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

UNIT 3

Unit 3 Character

Go back to the Elements of Drama and define Role and Character…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In each clip list what characters you see and how each character is portrayed ie are they good or bad? How do we know this from what we see. Remember only use what you see, not what you already know about them. This could include what they are wearing or how they hold themselves, how they talk etc.

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Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

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Cinematography

Cinematography involves camera angles and shots. This is very important when you are putting your trailer together. Different angles and shots will make your trailer more interesting for the viewer.

Read through “Film Techniques Exposed” and complete the exercises.

What is Story Boarding?

Story Boarding is Films way of planning out a story. Just like when you plan a story in English this helps us to organise our ideas and keep us on track.

How do I create a story board?

There is an example below that shows you how to create a story board. IN each square you create a very basic drawing of that will appear on the screen as well a quick description. Note this is not a full script, just a “dot point” to keep you on track.

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________

UNIT 3

Task Completed: _________________________________________ Date: __________________