Download pdf - The Social Network Study Notes

Directed by: DavidFincher

Certificate: 12A

Running time: 120minsRelease date: 15October2010

Synopsis:HarvardUniversity,2003.ZuckerbergdevelopstheideaforFacebookwiththefinancialhelpofhis friendSaverin,butas thesitesoars inpopularity, thepair falloutover thedirectionthecompanyshouldtake.Meanwhile,threeotherstudentsclaimthatkeyideasbehindFacebookwerestolenfromthem.Asthesitebecomesmoreandmoresuccessful,Zuckerbergfindshimselfincreasinglyaloneandlearnsthathugesuccesscancomeatthecostoftruefriendship.Basedontrueevents,The Social NetworkchartsthefoundationofFacebook,therelationshipbetweenitsco-foundersMarkZuckerberg(JesseEisenberg)andEduardoSaverin(AndrewGarfield),andthetwocourtcasesoverthesite’soriginsthatfollowed.

These Study Notes are designed for use with Media and Film Studies GCSE and A-level and related qualifications.

The Social NetworkStudy Notes

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Before viewing: cinema for the digital ageForanumberofyears,filmshavebeencaptureddigitallyasopposedtorecordingontofilmstockbyeveryonefromGeorgeLucas(Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Cloneswasthefirstfilmtobeentirelycapturedtoadigitalsource) tonumerous independentfilmmakersusingsmall,cheapdigitalcameras.Currentlydigitalexhibitionisbecomingincreasinglycommon:cinemasareconvertingtheirscreensandnolongerneedtoprojectheavy,unwieldyrollsoffilmthroughprojectors,butcannowreceivepristinedigitalfilmsonharddrives.Currently,aroundhalfofallcinemascreensintheUKaredigital.The Social Network isanexampleofafilmcaptureddigitallyand, inselectedcinemas,exhibiteddigitally.

z Whenviewingafilminthecinema,howcanyoutellwhetheritisadigitalprintorafilmprint?z ItisanticipatedthatallcinemascreensintheUKwillbedigitalwithinthenexttwotofiveyears.Whatmightbethefinancial,socialandaestheticimplicationsforcinemaofthischange?z EvenThe Social Network’sextrafeaturesanddocumentarieswerefilmeddigitally.HavealookataBlu-rayeditionofthefilmorlookataversioninanonlineshop.HowdotheextrafeaturesonBlu-raydiscsencourage:

- Interactivity - Useofothermediaplatforms(internet,gamesconsolesetc.) - Experiencesbeyondthefilm - Widerunderstandingofthefilm?

After viewing: opening sequenceDirectorDavidFincher is famous for creating startlingopeningcredit sequences.The Social Networkopenswithanincrediblyeffectivebreak-upscenefollowedbyarelativelyunderstatedcredit sequence.The ‘break-up’ scenehasbeen recognisedasaclassicscenethatfusesfilmmakingexpertise,characterandnarrativetomemorableeffect.

z WhatkeydetailsdowelearnaboutZuckerberg’scharacterinthesequence?z Howisthescenehumorous?z Whatisuniqueabouttheeditingandpaceofthesequence?z Look at the opening sequences of Fincher’s previous films, especiallySe7en(1995),Fight Club (1999),Panic Room (2002)andZodiac (2007).Howdotheysetthetoneofthefilm?z Considertheuseofmusicinthesequences.WhattypeofmusicdoesFinchertendtouse?Whateffectsdoesthemusichaveineachopeningsequence?

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Fincherisfamousforshootingmultipletakesofscenes,oftentotheexasperationandamazementofhisactors.Theopeningsequencealonecomprisedoffootagefromoverninetytakes!

z Whatadvantagesarethereforadirectorwhoshootsmultipletakes?z StanleyKubrickusedthesamemethod.ArehisfilmscomparabletoFincher’sintermsoftone?LookupKubrick’sfilmsifyouarenotalreadyfamiliarwiththem.

Facebook, representation & target audienceThe Social Network presents a ‘new breed’ of youngsters who are culturally andtechnologically savvy. Ironically, increatingFacebook–a virtualnetworkdesigned tobringpeopletogether–theyareultimatelydrivenapart,personallyandprofessionally.SetinHarvardUniversity,Massachusetts,thefilmcapturesaverydistinctiveclass,placeandmomentinhistory.

z ThereisrarelyascenewhereMarkZuckerbergisalone.Howdoesthischaracterviewothersandhowdotheyviewhim?Howisthisconveyed?Inwhatsituationsdowefindhimaloneandwhatishedoingwhenheisbyhimself?z Towhatextentarethestudents,mostofwhomcomefromrichfamilies,portrayedinanunsympatheticlight?z Isthereanythingstereotypicalabouttherepresentationofadults?z Thefilmissetaroundadecadeago.Howdoesthefilmrelatetothe16-25agebracketoftoday?Considercasting,locationsandmise-en-scène.z Howcouldthefilmappealtoasecondary/otheraudiencewhohavelittleinterestorexperienceofFacebook?ConsiderthesettingandthecredentialsofwriterAaronSorkin(lookhimupifyou’renotfamiliarwithhiswork).z DoesthefilmtakeastancefororagainsttheexistenceofFacebook?Doesitcommentinanywayontheimpactithashadontheworldtoday?

MusicThe Social Network’scelebratedscorewascreatedbyAtticusRossandNineInchNails’frontmanTrentReznor(whohavebothsinceworkedonFincher’sadaptationofTheGirlwithTheDragonTattoo).Thescorefrequentlyswitchesbetweensombre,hauntingandminimalpianomelodiestotechnoorindustrialdance.

z Whattoneorsensationsdoesthemusicevoke?z What is unique about the piece ofmusic that accompanies the boat race inEngland?

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Activitiesz DesignafakeFacebookpageforacharacterinthefilm.Whatwouldtheirbeliefs,quotesandinterestsbe?Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstoFacebookatschool,writeoutorsketchthepageonpaper.z FilmaconversationbetweentwopeopleinthestyleofThe Social Network’sopeningscene.Howwillyoukeepthesceneinteresting,kinetic,humorousanddramaticthroughediting,performanceandcameramovementandframing?

Written by Gareth C Evans