Media Studies

Disney/Pixar’s UP

Learning Intentions Success Criteria

• To revise the techniques used by directors;

• To begin studying and analysing the film;

• To revise the structure of a film.

• A good understanding of the range of techniques we will be studying;

• A sound understanding of the film’s structure;

• A good understanding of what is happening so farin the film.

Techniques

• Camera angles: close-up, portrait, landscape, wide-shot, arial…

• Music• Dialogue• Montage• Symbolism• Structure

Structure

A film is structured into 3 acts:• Set-up: characters, plot and main

ideas/themes are established;• Conflict: characters encounter a

problem• Resolution: characters are changed

in some way and the conflict is resolved.

Starter Task:

6 minutes!!

Write a short summary on Up. • Write in full sentences remembering your capital

letters and full stops and check with me any

spelling you’re unsure of.

• Try to include as much as possible about the

storyline – all of the main events that happened –

but don’t include every single detail as that’s no

longer a summary!

Media Studies

Disney/Pixar’s UPIn Up, we meet just a few characters, some of whom we

don’t see for very long. Here are a list of the

characters that are important to the story:

• Mr Fredricksen – Carl

• Ellie Fredricksen

• Russell

• Dug

• Alpha

• Kevin

• Charles Muntz

Pick 3 of the characters you think are

the most interesting and describe

them in only 5 words!

• Mr Fredricksen – Carl

• Ellie Fredricksen

• Russell

• Dug

• Alpha

• Kevin

• Charles Muntz

Colour

In films, colour is very important.

Filmmakers, producers, illustrators and the director all

think very carefully about the colours they are going to

use in each scene.

From clothes that are worn to wallpaper, everything has

been thought out carefully to help viewers better

understand a character or an idea.

When we look at certain colours, most of us associate

(relate) things to a colour.

Carl and Ellie get married – they kiss at the end of

their ceremony and the two families applaud.

Ellie’s family – note the colours they

are wearing as well as their actions!

Carl’s family – note the colours they

are wearing as well as their actions!

You are going to now look at a

number of still scenes and decide

what you feel about it because of

the colour(s) that have been used.

Remember – think about the

particular moment in the film and

consider what the producers

hoped to make you feel/think at

that point in the story.

Why is the page golden and brown?

What are you made to think about the

book they are looking at?

Does it feel old or new?

Look at the two contrasting colours and styles that Ellie

and Carl are in.

What do the colours suggest about Ellie? And what do

Carl’s colours suggest about him?

Why are they so different do you think?

Now Ellie and Carl are matching in yellow.

Why do you think this is?

Why are they dressed in yellow?

Remember: at this point, they are

both thinking about starting a family together.

This is during the day. Carl is sitting in his house after getting dressed and

collecting his post from outside. It is a bright and sunny day outside.

Why is it so dark inside? What do the darker colours suggest about Carl at this

point? How is he feeling? Why does he feel this way at this point in the film?

This is during the day when Russell first appears in the film. Carl had previously

been sitting in the dark watching TV. Notice how Carl is in the dark, shadowy

part of the screen still and Russell is standing in bright sunshine.

Why are they made to look so opposing? Why is Russell dressed all in yellow

when we meet him? What makes him so adorable/irritating in equal measure at

this point in the film?

When the balloons first appear in the film they are the brightest thing to be

shown so far except for Russell’s yellow Scout clothing.

Why? Why would the filmmakers want the balloons to be the brightest thing in a

large variety of colours? What do the balloons represent to Carl? Why does he

decide to make his house fly anyway?

As all the brightly coloured balloons float past, they reflect their colours

into the little girls bedroom.

Why show this shot? Why include a little girl playing in her room and

then turning round to see a house floating through the air attached to

hundreds and thousands of balloons?

Now that we have spoken about symbolism of colour you have two tasks:

1. Try to recall any other part of the film where you can particularly remember colour being used. Explain what part of the film it is, say what you notice about the colour used and comment on why you think this has been done – what is the effect on the viewers?

2. Considering all you know so far about the use of colour in the film, write a summary of its function – what is colour used to do for the audience?

3. Now let’s think ahead. Choose any scene from the film which makes good use of colour. Write a paragraph with a detailed explanation of how colour is used and what it communicates to the viewer.

EXAMPLE:

The use of colour in ‘Up’ is particularly effective in highlighting the feelings of the main character, Carl. In the shot where Carl’s house can be seen floating into the sky but is surrounded by building on the ground colour and lighting really emphasises how good this journey will be. On the ground the lighting and colour is extremely dull – this is caused by the building blocking out the sunshine. It creates an impression that living there was very dull, even depressing. As we look at carl’s house in the shot we see that it is in a much brighter area of the screen: there is nothing around it and the brightness of the balloons alongside the bright blue sky make it seem like he is freed of all the burdens he had on the ground. The use of colour here is key to the viewer’s understanding that Carl feels much better since his decision to leave the city and we see that this journey to Paradise Falls will improve his quality of life.

Representation in film:

This is how both people and places are presented to the audience.

This works in line with the stereotypical views audiences may already have.

For example, when we look at gender representations, we often see that in modern society women are often judged by their appearance whereas men are more likely to be judged on their success and failures.

Disney is well-known for playing to particular stereotypes – can you think of any you have seen in Disney films?

.

Character and Stereotypes in film

Think about how Carl, Russell and Charles could be said to be stereotypes. What do they appear to be like to each other at the beginning?

Carl-Russell-Charles-

These are stereotypes. What do we learn about them that challenges this stereotype?

Carl-Russell-Charles-

Homework Task: Due for Monday 11th June

Write a few paragraphs about your childhood hero.

Here’s the catch: don’t reveal who it is until the last line!

Explain who he/she was and describe their appearance from a child’s perspective.

Explain why you admired him/her so much.

In ‘Up’, characters are represented in very stereotypical ways. Choose at least three characters from the film and explain what is typical about the way they are presented to the audience. (To help you with this, think about their personality, clothes, job, appearance…)

Now think about how typical stereotypes are challenged in the film. (Hint – this happens a bit later in the film). Make a list of the characters we see this in and say what is different to our expectations.

Lastly, think about what is achieved by this – what do the audience think or gain from the from the different picture of these characters.

Now write a paragraph explaining how representation of characters adds to our enjoyment of the film.

Charles Muntz is shown to be a hero of Carl and Ellie from the opening sequence of the film. He portrayed as an adventurous explorer and someone to look up to. It is because of Charles Muntz that Ellie and Carl have the dream of going to Paradise Falls. It is surprising then when Carl meets Muntz that he in fact turns out to be a villain. Still dressed like an explorer he looks the part of Carl’s childhood hero, however, soon his shadowy living space and obsession with Kevin makes us realise Carl’s dreams have been shattered. The film-makers have twisted usual representations as we see the elderly man engaging in battle and in vicious pursuit of an innocent animal. This change in stereotype has added some excitement to the plot as we eagerly wait to see if Carl can overcome this cunning man.

The first thing anyone noticed about him, my hero, was his height. He held his head high and everyone around us looked up to him. He had jet black hair, wore shirts and tie as though every day were Sunday. He smelled of Old Spice, and sometimes, if he hadn’t been caught, cigars. His eyes would smile and twinkle as though he were always up to something. He made me part of his joke.

He was the life and soul of the party; the joker who sat on me, pretending he thought I was a cushion. He was caring – he was the only one who saved me from my jealousy and bought me some milky buttons, showing me that I wasn’t forgotten, that at least he still loved me.

He left us so suddenly, so quickly. I miss you everyday.

My hero: my Papa.

She got me into trouble. Lots of times. She was cutting edge: full of bouncy curls, bright red bows, big earrings and lots and lots of bangles. She wore lace, ra-ra skirts and leather jackets. I wasn’t allowed to follow her fashion.

She was good fun: happy songs with great dance moves. She taught me to be strong, that I didn’t need anyone to make me whole and that I should express myself as loudly as I wished. She taught me about fashion, how to Vogue, how to sing. She taught me about loss and about putting the pieces of my heart together again.

She’s older now. She’s not perfect. She even fell in front of millions of people – but still, she taught me to get back up again.

My hero: Madonna.

Symbolism: used to communicate underlying messages to the viewer without making outright statements.

Here are three symbols which really stand out in the film:

1. The blue balloon2. The soda badge3. The money jar

For any one of these, or any other one you feel you can select for yourself, write a paragraph explaining in detail why this is important. You should use the following structure for a complete paragraph:

1. Say what the symbol is and where it appears in the film (what scenes you remember it from).

2. Explain what the symbol represents to the viewer and how it helps your understanding of a part of the character/storyline.

Today’s Lesson

Learning Intentions Success Criteria

• To revise how to write a critical essay;

• To begin writing our review of ‘Up’.

• Confidence in writing our essays;

• Confidence in ‘getting it right first time’.

• The first two/three paragraphs completed.

Media Review: Assessment

Choose a film which employs a number of techniques to explore an important theme. In your essay, you should explain what happens in the film and which techniques are used to engage the audience.

‘Up’ Critical Review

Introduction: ‘Up’, Disney Pixar, engages the audience, various devices such as colour, character representation, symbolism and sound.

Brief summary – what it is about.

Colour paragraphRepresentation paragraphSymbolism paragraphSound paragraphConclusion

RepresentationIn this paragraph, you should discuss how the characters are represented.

Pick two characters – eg Carl and Charles MuntzRussell and AlphaEllie and ‘the suit’

Discuss how their personalities are represented by:

• Their shapes – square, triangular etc• Their colour – clothes, chairs, hair etc• Their relationships with other characters• Symbolism – eg Carl/Ellie – mail box/house etc.