Remember the TitansDirector: Boaz YakinProducer: Jerry Bruckheimer

Coach Boone: Denzel Washington

Coach Yoast: Will Paton

Background to FilmIn the late 60s and early 70s, many

Americans began to question the ongoing war in Vietnam. Among other things, young people could not understand the unnecessary killing of Vietnamese.

In 1970 students at Kent University protested against the war.

Background to the Film

• Meanwhile, African-American students were still trying to find other means to begin equal educational opportunities. The case filed by Dr. Swann was making its way to the United States Supreme Court.

Background to the Film• By April of 1971 (eleven months after the Kent

State shootings), the high court delivered its judgment to the country. In Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, the now famous case that permitted busing of students to achieve racial integration, the high court sent a message to the country. All schools had to become integrated immediately. That included schools in Alexandria, Virginia - a place where football was king.

Shot TypesThe type of shot that the director chooses

to use shows a number of things;• Emotions (Close Up)• The amount of movement or action of

the characters. (Mid-shot)• The detail of the surroundings (Long

Shot)

Close Up

Over the Shoulder Shot

Mid-Shot

Establishing Shot

Long Shot

Camera AnglesCamera angles are used to manipulate

perspective. As an audience we receive messages about shots by the angles that are used.

• High Angle – often used to make a character appear smaller or show a .

• Low angle – often used to make a character look large and dominant.

Low Angle (Mid Shot)

High Angle Shot

Plot

What is plot?

We will get an overview of the film, up to the convenient halfway point in the film.

Have a think about which scene you think could be the half-way scene.

For each of the following shots;

A. Name the shot type

B. Write who is involved

C. Describe what is happening in the film at this point.

D. Write why you think this shot is important in revealing information about themes in the film.

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Important Quotations

A.Who says this? B. What is the quote’s

significance?

“Now I may be a mean cuss, but I’m the same mean cuss to everybody on that football field.”

“Coach, I’m hurt. I ain’t dead.”

“Left side!” “Strong side!”

“You’re hall of fame in my book Coach.”

“Now you start calling this game fair, or I’ll go to the papers.”

Themes• List all the

ideas/themes/messages that you think this text shows.

Main Themes and Other ThemesOvercoming Racism

Teamwork Friendship

Key Moments for Teamwork

• The challenge – Team divided• Overcoming – Team comes

together• Resolution – Victory against other

teams!Note that this pattern is repeated!

Key Moments for Over-coming Racism

1. The challenge – Initial Racism: Bussing protest, Gerry’s statement to Boone.

2. Overcoming – “Left side, Strong side.”

3. Resolution – “Can’t you see that he’s my brother.”

Key Moments for Friendship

1. The challenge – Racial issues - fight, societal issues: girlfriend, mum

2. Overcoming – “Left side, Strong side”, mum, girlfriend.

3. Resolution – Girlfriend, mum, “Can’t you see that he’s my brother.”

Plot• Films typically follow a basic

Emotional Curve, and can be looked at from a 3 Act Structure.

• Most of the time, a plot follows a pattern of; – Act 1: Set-up, – Act 2: Confrontation – Act 3: Resolution.

The Typical Emotional Curve

Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 TimeSet-Up Confrontation Resolution

Tension

Question for Disucussion: Does this curve apply to Remember the Titans?

• Some thoughts: • How does the camp functions as

its own 3 Act Pattern. • What is the “Central Moment” in

the film?• What happens in the second half

of the film?

Characters Reveal Themes• List the six most important characters.

• Some of the characters’ stories only make sense if we put them into pairs. What characters “pair-off” most easily?

• For each pair, write down what what we can learn from their story.

• Some characters teach a lesson through their own story. Who does this, and what is their message?