“The Truman Show”

“The Truman Show” 3 Academy Award Nominations: Best Supporting Actor: Ed Harris (Christof) Best Director: Peter Weir (Dead Poets Society) Best Screenplay: Andrew Niccol Winner of 3 Golden Globes: Best Actor: Jim Carrey Best Supporting Actor: Ed Harris Best Original Score Objective: You will write a three to five page paper analyzing “The Truman Show” by writing on any of the following topics (Due _____________): 1. How do camera angles and camera movements affect the movie? What unique shots are used in the film and how do they impact the audience? How is framing used to remind the viewer of the cameras themselves? What impact do cameras have on you as a viewer? Pick a particular scene when you think cameras play an important role in the mood of the film. 2. What impact does music have on the movie? Why is particular music used for certain scenes? Why does the music stop when Truman sails into the wall? How does Christof display the importance of music in his television show? How are other sound effects used to add to a particular feeling? Is this movie deserving of a golden globe award for best original score? 3. What does “The Truman Show” say about the impact of mass media on our society? How does the movie use product placement in a sarcastic way? Is this movie realistic when thinking of current trends in web broadcasting? Would you watch this show? Would you be an actor in the show? What is the irony of a movie about the making of a live television show? Compare this movie to “Bullworth”, “Wag the Dog” or another movie about mass media. 4. Does the movie have a deeper symbolic or philosophical meaning? Do the names of characters like Truman (true man) or Christof (Christ of) have deeper meaning? In what ways is Christof like a deity (“I’m the creator”)? What is the meaning of Sylvia’s (Lauren’s) picture that Truman carries? How is the symbol of water used? How is repetition used in this movie (much like “Groundhog’s Day”)? Why doesn’t Weir use the symbol of the Truman’s ring that Niccol wrote into the script? 5. How do additions or subtractions from the script affect the story? Do you agree with the changes Weir has made? Do you like the opening of the movie? How does the rolling of credits for the television show impact the audience? How are flashbacks and foreshadowing used? Is the dialogue and character interaction natural? Which characters are developed in the story? What is the climax? What conflicts are resolved? Does the story make sense to the viewer? 6. Do you agree or disagree with philosophical statements made in the movie? “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented”-Christof. “Truman’s world is normal. The world where you live is the sick place. Seahaven is the way the world should be”-Christof. “There’s no more truth out there than there is in the world I created for you. The same lies, the same deceit. But in my world, you have nothing to fear”-Christof. “I know you better than you know yourself”-Christof to Truman. Truman replies, “You don’t have a camera in my head.” “There is nothing fake about Truman. It isn’t always Shakespeare but it’s genuine. It’s life”-Christof. “Nothing is fake. It’s merely controlled”-Marlon. “What right do you have?” Sylvia to Christof. “The whole world revolves around me”-Truman. 7. Is “The Truman Show” realistic? Are there any flaws in the story? How realistic is the set with its 5,000 cameras? Are the actors realistic? Is it possible for something like “The Truman Show” to occur in the future? What technology would be needed? 8. How does Weir juxtapose the two worlds happening simultaneously? What importance does the man in the tub, the mother and daugther in the restaurant, the two old ladies on the couch and the two men working the security lot have? How does Weir weave the two worlds (Christof’s studio and Truman’s world) together? 9. Do you like how the movie ends? What do you make of Truman’s last words: “In case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening and good night”? What happens to Christof? What happens to Truman and Sylvia? What happens to the viewers of the Truman show? What do you think would happen in a sequel? 10. Did you like this movie? Why or why not? Comment on the cinematography, sound, lighting, special effects or any other technical aspects. Comment on the characters or the actors themselves. Comment on the script or the story used in the movie.

Current Events Quiz

Current Events Quiz Week of Feb. 24 – 28, 2014 Questions: 1. What state’s legislature passed a controversial bill that some say discriminates based on sexual orientation and others say promotes religious freedom? Extra Credit: What happens to the bill now? 2. Comedy director, writer and actor Harold Ramis died this week after a long illness. Name one of the classic movies he wrote, directed or acted in. 3. What country’s president has fled to an unknown destination after being ousted from his post and charged with mass murder? 4. Who is the Russian president, recently watching the Olympics in Sochi and now watching what is going on in the neighboring country in Question #4? 5. In another much-hyped change in late-night viewing, who took over Jimmy Fallon’s old job hosting “Late Night” on NBC? 6. What 40-day religious observation begins next week? 7. A man known as the world’s most wanted drug lord was arrested in what country last weekend? 8. What did Dale Earnhardt Jr. win last week?

2.20.14

Read this article: What is Action and Reaction shooting? Which has more impact and why? Describe some examples that show how important Reaction is.

Monday

Read this article: Explain in your own words what video sequencing is. 3-5 sentences. What are 3 main benefits to shot sequencing? What are the Key ingredients to shot sequencing? Hello

Current Events Quiz Week of Feb. 17 – 21, 2014

Current Events Quiz Week of Feb. 17 – 21, 2014 Questions: 1. What country had at least 14 reported dead this week in clashes between protesters and police outside its parliament building? Extra Credit: What is the city where this is happening? 2. Of course the Olympics has been in the news spotlight all week. Name one sport where the U.S. is doing very well. 3. But one sport’s participants have done surprisingly poorly. What is that? Extra credit: At least some are blaming what new piece of technology for the problems? 4. What did an Ethiopian pilot do this week that made headlines? 5. What singing/performance duo, who already had been in Russian prison for two years for their actions, were again jailed – this time in Sochi? 6. Who premiered as the Tonight Show host this week? 7. What country was the site of a photo that went viral this week of a 4-year-old boy, temporarily separated from this family while crossing the desert to escape the fighting in his homeland? 8. Some experts say the proposed increase in minimum wage will be good because it will increase the earnings of low-wage Americans, but it will be bad because _______________

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIn3_g6sozM Read this Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/02/17/did-nbc-interview-with-bode-miller-go-too-far/ ANSWER THIS: Did NBC go too far? Why or Why not? 75 to 100 words.

Friday

Tackling the Challenge 1. How did the reporter put the viewer in Josh’s shoes with the way she started the story? 2. The interview with Josh and his interpreter required two cameras. Why? 3. How did the coach’s first sound bite give you a sense of the team’s appreciation of Josh? 4. If you could ask Josh or his interpreter one question, what would it be? 5. What are some of the major obstacles Josh has to overcome to play football as the only deaf person on the field? 1. How did the reporter put the viewer in Josh’s shoes with the way she started the story? 2. The interview with Josh and his interpreter required two cameras. Why? 3. How did the coach’s first sound bite give you a sense of the team’s appreciation of Josh? 4. If you could ask Josh or his interpreter one question, what would it be? 5. What are some of the major obstacles Josh has to overcome to play football as the only deaf person on the field?

Wednesday

Dirty Job: Taxidermy http://htvbuzz.com/dirty-job-taxidermy/ 1. How did Mehleena the reporter quickly make it clear she was a participant in the story? 2. Which natural sounds added texture to the story? 3. “That was going to take some pretty gruesome work.” Why was that voiceover used when it was--how did it prepare the viewer? 4. The concept of “reporter-as-surrogate-for-the-viewer” means what? 5. Did the story make you appreciate the preservation of animals, or make you wonder why people do this in the first place? Explain.

Current Events Quiz Feb 10-14

Current Events Quiz Week of Feb. 10 – 14, 2014 Questions: 1. What famous former child star died this week? 2. What newscaster was sidelined during the Olympics because of an eye infection? Extra Credit: Who is replacing him? 3. Name the U.S. Attorney General who has been in the news several times in the last week with announcements about same-sex rights and calls for changes in state voting laws. 4. House Republicans finally agreed Tuesday to lower/raise (choose one) the U.S. debt ceiling limits. 5. What popular mobile game’s creator pulled it from app stores this week? 6. Keeping track of the medal count at the Olympics is challenging, but name one of the countries that had multiple gold medals by Tuesday. 7. What professional sport was in the news this week when one of its top draft prospects announced he is gay? 8. What European president visited the White House this week, attending a state dinner and discussing ways to deal with the Syrian crisis?

Tuesday

Toy Story

http://htvbuzz.com/toy-story/

              

1.  The camera work in this story is very advanced.  It uses various angles, foregrounds, sequences, and lots of tights.  List three shots that were the most memorable for you.
    
    
    
    
   2.  How does the proprietor’s joke at the start of the story help establish him as a character?  What does it tell us about him?
    
    
    
    
    
   3.   There was no reporter stand-up.  Should there have been?  Explain your answer.
    
    
    
    

1.  The photograph provided a nice surprise.  How did that further establish him as a character invested in the toy store?
    
    
    
    
    
    
   5.  Was there information you didn’t get that you really wanted?

TUESDAY

Shayna’s Story

http://htvbuzz.com/shaynas-story/

 

1.   Describe how the story incorporated the technique, “Make them laugh before you make them cry.”

 

 

 

 

2.   How did the story structure help “save a surprise” on at least two occasions?

 

 

 

 

 

3.   Which soundbite will you remember the most from this piece?

 

 

 

 

 

4.   How do the anchor’s comments after the feature help bring the story full circle? 

 

 

 

 

 

5.   What information would you like to have that the story did not include?



6.  What is the FOCUS STATEMENT of this story?  (To be answered at the end of classs).






WATCH ASB Video about Focus Statement and take notes.

Create list of stories and focus statements. 

 

Friday Assignement:

Watch Shayna's Story



Answer the following questions in a new post on your blog.


1. Describe how the story incorporated the technique, "Make them laugh before you make them cry."




2.  How did the story structure help “save a surprise” on at least two occasions?



3.  Which soundbite will you remember the most from this piece?


4. How do the Anchor's comments after the feature help bring the story full circle?


5. What information would you like to have that the story did not include?






AFTER you have watched and answered the questions, you should write and practice your Introduction of a Classmate speech. 

Easy Access

Easy Access 1. List three pieces of natural sound in this story. 2. How did the reporter tease the viewer in the beginning? 3. When the reporter made the call to the online vendor, she gave a lot of clear information about who she was, and why she was calling? Why did she make it clear the conversation was being recorded? 4. How did the prosecuting attorney’s letter help this story happen? 5. The story reveals online alcohol sales to minors. How concerned are you that it might actually give teens information they did not have?

Current Events Quiz

Current Events Quiz Week of Feb. 2 – 6, 2014 Questions: 1. What award-winning actor died last weekend of an apparent drug overdose? 2. What Southern state now has a severe weather task force after two inches of snow last week totally paralyzed its largest city? 3. With the Winter Olympics starting in Sochi this week, the Russians have some challenges. Which is NOT a problem the media have reported? a. The host nation is being accused of shooting stray dogs. b. Some of the hotels are not ready. c. Russia’s anti-gay laws have upset human rights groups. d. All are issues the Russians are facing. 4. The big named winter storm this week is ______________________. (HINT: The last one was Maximus.) 5. A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week is exploring privacy in the digital age, especially related to credit cards. Name one of the two retail companies whose executives have been testifying because recent security breaches put millions of their customers at risk. 6. What recent sporting event broke records for the most watched TV event in U.S. history? 7. In a strange and some say unbelievable story this week, a man was found in the Marshall Islands after doing what? 8. What social network site turned 10 this week?

INTRODUCTION 2/3/14

Today's opening assignment will be to watch a student produced story called "Whose Video" and answer the following questions. Answer the following questions on a word document (eventually, you will transfer it to your blog). Whose Video? 1. Why was important to show the Youtube clips of fights recorded at schools? 2. The Student Press Law Center source makes it clear students always own their cell phone video footage. How do your school administrators handle this? 3. What are some alternative ways to conduct the interview with the SPLC lawyer other than over the phone? 4. What was the point made by the second stand-up, and how did it relate to the focus of the story? 5. Cite examples of how this story practiced the journalistic concept of “say it, prove it.” NEXT we will introduce you to Blogger FINALLY we will write "Copy" about your partner from yesterday. INTRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS: You will be assigned a partner to work with on this project. 1. Interview your partner to find out essential and fascinating information. Try to go beyond the standard topics (grade, hobbies, etc) and find out at least one "fascinating factoid" about that person....maybe a place they've traveled to, a goal they have for their life, or 2. Select the information that you feel is the most interesting to a listener. 3. Write a 20 second introduction of your partner. Be sure to introduce yourself first. (Repeat your partner's name a few times, instead of saying "he"/"she", so we learn it). Use the model below as a guide. TIME YOUR COPY CAREFULLY--MAKE SURE IT IS EXACTLY 20 SECONDS. 4. Be sure to write your final "copy" in correct copy format, which means: • Use a wide left margin. • Use all capital letters. • Double space the lines. • Add notations (underlines, slashes, etc.) • EXAMPLE: HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M ANN MARTIN AND MY GUEST TODAY IS LYNN ANDERSON. LYNN IS A SENIOR AT EASTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL AND IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SENIOR CLASS. LYNN ENJOYS CERAMICS AND PAINTING, AND RECENTLY COMPLETED A MURAL ON HER BEDROOM WALL. LYNN WORKS AT EXPRESS, BUT SHE'D LIKE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND BECOME A FASHION MERCHANDISER. WE'LL TALK TO LYNN ABOUT HER PLANS FOR THE FUTURE RIGHT AFTER THIS