STAND BY ME

2. STAND BY ME A Standard Grade Media Studies Unit by Miss Wood

3. Learning intention: We are learning to become familiar with the key aspects of categories, narrative, representation and language. Success criteria: We will have considered how narrative and representations are established through language in a film.

4. Themes and Issues Standing by your friends - belonging Learning to accept death is part of life Growing up Acceptance of those who are different to you

5. Your ideal gang Think about the ideal gang/group of friends you’d like to belong to. who would be the characters in the ‘gang’? what are their characteristics and interests? are they funny, clever, mad? what is it that ties you all together? do you all dress in a similar way – describe? do you speak in a certain way?

6. Background Information It was directed by Rob Reiner Based on a short story called “The Body” by Stephen King Made in 1985 No ‘big names’ Is a “rites of passage” film – its about growing up and learning about life Two-tiered narrative structure

7. Characters and Stars Gordy Lachance played by Wil Wheaton Chris Chambers played by River Phoenix Teddy Duchamp played by Corey Feldman Vern Tessio played by Jerry O’ Connell Ace played by Kiefer Sutherland Grown-up Gordy/ Narrator played by Richard Dreyfus

8. Start Watching – Part 1 Stand by Me:Techniques Questions

9. Opinions and Views – Let’s go over • Who is your favourite character so far and why? • How do you know this film is set in 1958? • What is your favourite scene in the film so far and why? 4. Where is the strongest friendship in the film? 5. Where is the greatest conflict in the film? • NOW WATCH THE REST!

10. First Impressions • My first impressions of “Stand By Me” are………

11. Continue Watching – Part 2

12. End of Viewing 1: Quiz Who is the man in the Landrover at the beginning of the film? Can you name the four members of the ‘gang’? How do the boys find out about the dead body? What has happened to Gordie’s brother Denny? Where is Teddy’s Dad and what did he do to him? Why are Gordie’s parents so cold towards him? Why do the boys decide to set off on their journey to find the body? Why do they decide to go across the bridge? What is the name of Milo’s dog? Why do you think Gordie has made up the Lard-Ass story?

13. What did you think?Answer in full sentences • Who changed the most and why? • E.g. I think Verne changed the most because….. • Who did have the strongest friendship overall and why? • E.g ______ and _______ had the strongest friendship probably becuase • What happened to each of the boys? • What do you think happened to Ace? • Who learned the most and why?

17. Task 1 What are the characters like at the start of the movie? Take a jotter page and divide it into 4 – put a main character’s name in each square.

19. Language This is similar to techniques in English. It is the creative way the film is put together; like the creative ways a poet puts words together to create a particular image in our minds.

20. The language of film Language means the tools the director uses to create a certain effect: camera, sound, lighting, mis-en-scene (everything you see on screen) and montage (the editing process).

21. Brainstorm Languages

22. Types of Sound

23. Sound • MUSIC – What do you hear? When? Is it part of the movie? • VOICE OVER – What does the voice over describe? What is the voice like? Why is it used?

24. Types of Camera Distance

25. Camera Distance Look to see how close the camera is to each character in our chosen scene. Close Up (CU) = focus on face; reflects emotion Medium Shot (MS) = focus on waist up; reflects conversation and interaction Long Shot (LS) = focus on whole person in their environment Extreme Long Shot (ELS) = focus on environment; sets the scene and mood

26. Types of camera angle

27. Camera Angle Straight – camera points straight at subject High – camera looks down on subject Low – camera looks up at subject Point of View (POV) – camera gives a view that a character sees with his/her eyes

28. Types of Camera Movement

29. Camera Movement Static – camera doesn't move but people do Tracking – camera follows movement of characters Zooming in/out – camera gets closer to or further from characters and action

30. Let’s do the opening scene Demonstrate how the director uses camera, sound and editing to help him create the scene. Cammy, Rory, Nathan and Robbie – Music Liam, Glen, Daniel, Ronan – Camera Shots/Angles William, Aaron, Corey, Ruairidh – Camera Shots Jordan, Ronan, Scott, Kye – Voice over

31. Lighting Natural? Special Effect? Coloured lenses? Why? (Blue – surreal and dreamlike, Yellow/Orange – warm and happy etc.)

32. Mise-en-scene LI: To understand the concept of ‘mise en scene’ Apply the concept to a film extract

33. Definition: Mise En Scene • A French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame • Visual information in front of the camera • Communicates essential information to the audience • Made up of 5 elements: Can you guess what they are?

35. The 5 Elements of Mise en Scene Each aspect of mise-en-scene has hidden meanings within a film and sends signals to the audience about how we are supposed to feel at a certain point • Settings & Props • Costume, Hair & Make Up • Facial Expressions & Body Language • Lighting & Colour • Positioning of characters/objects within the frame

39. EDITING Cut – instant switches from one frame to the next Fade in/ Fade out – frame appears from a black screen or disappears into a black screen Dissolve – frames cross over and melt together to reflect time passing

40. EDITING

41. EDITING

43. Monday 14th Nov LI: Understand the PURPOSE of media language. SC: Know our media languages. Explore purpose in 2 key scenes.

44. Language Quiz recap • Watch first 10 minutes of the film and answer the questions in front of you.

45. Purpose • What is the scene designed to do? • Common purposes are: • To build tension and suspense • To further our knowledge of character • To further the storyline • To resolve conflict • To draw the audience further into the film

46. Task 3 We are going to watch 2 key scenes of the film again – the “Crossing the Bridge” scene and the “Final Conflict” scene We are going to take notes on what happens, what we see, what we hear and what the director was trying to do in the scene (ie. The purpose!)

47. To complete Task 3… You need to have knowledge of how a film is put together and made. Camera Distance, Angle, Movement Sound and Lighting Editing Purpose and Effect – ALL IMPORTANT!

48. The Bridge Scene (35:40 - 39:36) Now individually, answer the following questions (record your answers in your jotter): What sounds or lack of sound does the director use in the scene to create the boys’ fear and a sense of drama/excitement? What effect do the long shots of the bridge have on the scene? What type of shot is used to show Verne’s reaction to losing the comb? What is the significance of Verne losing his comb? What effect does the medium close-up shots of Chris and Teddy with the train getting ever closer have? Your jotters will be taken in for marking and returned to you before the next lesson.

49. Time to create your own Media posters/guides for display • The task is to create a poster (in pairs) on ONE aspect of Media to put up in M10. • Provide images/examples/definitions/notes/colour. • As a class we need to cover: • Camera Angles – 2 pairs • Camera Shot – 2 pairs • Camera Movement – 2 pairs • Sound – 2 pairs • Mise-en-scene – 2 pairs • Editing – 2 pairs

50. Webistes to help • BFI • MediaKnowAll