Assignment5 Freedom Writers
- 1. FREEDOM WRITERS ASSIGNMENT 5: FILM STUDY & CONVENTIONS IN A FILM BY MONAE - COLOUR BLUE & NICOLE - COLOUR RED EDITING DONE TOGETHER
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- 4. The reason we chose Freedom Writers is because it was a strong background based film that includes real life issues such as racial conflict. For example the scene where one of the students says that “if you were Latino, Asian, or Black you could get blasted anytime you walk out your door”. The student formed themselves into racial groups in the classroom. It then shows how they find themselves, come together and respect each over. This hard hitting film confronts issues that wouldn‟t usually be seen in the media.
- 5. The main genre Freedom Writers falls under is drama. A drama film usually has a character dealing with a problem including alcoholism, selling or taking drugs, racial prejudice, sexuality, poverty, class divisions, or some sort of violence and destruction that put the characters in conflict with themselves, others, and even in society.
- 6. The subgenres included in Freedom Writers are: School drama Teen drama Romance drama Crime drama
- 7. The hybrids included in Freedom Writers are: Biography Courtroom fiction Tragedy
- 8. Stam‟s theory says that genre is not so easily defined under the „main genres‟ but can be classified in other ways such as budget, ethnicity focus or performer based. In relation to this, Freedom writers can be classified by the ethnicity focus, this is because the film is strongly about the race of the characters and what the characters have been through. In addition the social class of C2/D/E is how freedom writers could be classified as well.
- 10. Characters- First time teacher, Mrs Gruwell, is represented as a white middle class woman who wants to make a change in these students lives through making them aware of the outside world. She could also symbolise the key to freedom. This reflects how women have been given strong roles in modern films, as in the past films their roles were simply to do the „household roles‟, but things have changed for example „Salt‟ played by Angelina Jolie with strong role as a actress. The students stereotypes made them not believe in themselves, as teachers, such as the head of department look down on them. Not giving the students new books to read and telling Mrs Gruwell to take off her pearls.
- 12. Story traits: Freedom Writers is based on a true story where a first time teacher played by (Hilary Swank) faces a group of students who have been named by the government as “un- teachable, at-risk” teenagers. The movie represents teens who have all witnessed fights, shootings and murders of random people as well as their own friends and family. This film shows how ethnic groups fall into different categorisation and how negative stereotypes affect them all.
- 13. Costume: Loose and street like clothing. The male teenagers wear hooded tops, which gives a negative connotation, as well as baggy jeans and loose baggy t-shirts. The girls dressed similar to the boys due to the people they associate themselves with, for example Eva. Teachers were smartly dressed.
- 14. Props: Weapons, such as knives and guns (which strengthens the negative views of the individuals). Classroom props such as tables, chairs and a board etc. The pictures and cards around the Holocaust museum.
- 15. SYNTAX • To get out of the poverty world and to do something with their lives. • Fighting against the bosses to accomplish something. • Friendship. Sticking with the right people.
- 16. - The lighting in the scene where Eva is on the bus looking is natural lighting bouncing off her face, makes the scene look dramatic as the lighting creates shadowing on her face to create a sorrowful atmosphere because of the darker background. This was a good close up on Eva showing her expression on her face. - In addition, the “Toast For Change” scene is very bright with all the natural lighting involved from the outside. It also has quite bright colours in this scene grab. Blue representing nature, calm, and fresh and yellow representing bright, happiness and summer.
- 17. CONVENTIONS Conventions of genre/sub/hybrid Examples from range of real films Students disrespecting teachers Kidulthood Poverty Slumdog Millionaire – The kids grew up in poverty Stereotypes of individuals Philadelphia – The man with aids was stereotyped Family loyalty Johnson Family vacation - They are sticking with their family Sticking with your gangs The Godfather – You need to stick together. Racism Hairspray Challenging relationships She‟s All That
- 18. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS Conventions of Examples from your film Comparison to other genre/sub/hybrid (bullet points and films in the same screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid? Racism -Separated in to their The Secrete Life of racial groups in the Bees. classroom -Gangs sticking to their own race -When the black boy gets an insulting picture passed around the classroom.
- 19. ……….. Conventions of Examples from Comparison to genre/sub/hybrid your film other films in the (bullet points and same screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid? Historical -Learning about Titanic the Holocaust -Having dinner with the survivors - The talk about Ann Frank
- 20. ……….. Conventions of Examples from your film Comparison to other genre/sub/hybrid (bullet points and films in the same screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid? Crime -A boy gets shot dead in Kidulthood a corner shop -in the flashback Marcus‟s friend accidentally shots himself - Brandy watches her father beat her mother
- 22. Details of Target audience Secondary Explanation of why they would be audience Audience attracted to watch the film Age 13-19 20-40 Its about education / the star of the film. Gender Girls Boys The violence within the film may attract them. Ethnicity Mixture (Blacks, Latinos, White The target audience may be attracted as its about Asians) their backgrounds. The secondary audience may be attracted to see how different white people portray themselves to other. Social class Lower class/working class Middle class It shows how other classes work. Social Young boys (gang Chavs The film is about gangs, violence, drugs and life. group members) Sexual Straight people Homosexuals To see how they are portrayed in the film. orientation Profession/ Students Parent/teenagers It may be something they have been through, also the Role film may have gave a good message. Also to educate them.
- 23. Reasons why people watch the film Explanation Entertainment - In their holiday they began to make their changes, for example: Moving back in with the mum Throwing the gun away Telling the truth in court - They are breaking free from the old them. - Making a better person out of themselves to get out of the stereotypes.
- 24. Reasons why people watch the Explanation film Personal Identity - The characters are from different backgrounds - They all share different norms and values within their culture - They tend to look after their own
- 25. Reasons why people watch the Explanation film Integration & social interaction -Started off hating each other and only interacted with their own people. -The teacher made them find out about history. -Students began to tell their story and how they felt. - After finding similarities they had also how much they had been through, they started to interact with each other slowly. -Personal hand shanks were formed. -The students then began to feel like they belonged, especially the first year of high school with their teacher.