10+EN+film+study

=10 Things I Hate About You =

Directed by Gil Junger
Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), an anti-social tomboy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), confident guy with a bad-boy reputation Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), Kat's younger sister Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the nice guy, new to the school Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan), arrogant and popular part-time model Michael (David Krumholtz), Cameron's friend Chastity (Gabrielle Union), Bianca's friend Mandella (Susan May Pratt), Kat's friend
 * Characters:**



The **opening scenes** of a film are important because: //They create an atmosphere//. We know this is going to be a fun, lighthearted film about teenagers because of the cheerful, upbeat music; the bright colours and lighting; and the scribbly font of the title and credits. //They introduce a setting//. The director shows us that this story takes place in a school by beginning with an establishing shot of the town, then cutting to a long shot of teenagers playing. The camera tilts up to show the school buildings behind them, and we see students going into the buildings. //They introduce main characters//, and create a quick impression of what these characters are like.
 * Analysis notes:**
 * Kat is a rebel and a loner. This is shown through the __contrast__ between her and the girls in the car next to her. The girls are smiling, dancing and listening to happy __music__. The camera then __pans__ across to Kat sitting by herself in the car. A __close up__ shows her looking scornfully at the girls next to her, and she is listening to loud angry music – “I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation.”
 * Cameron is shown as shy, naïve, nice, a “goody two-shoes”. This is shown by his __dialogue__ and __close ups__ on his facial expressions. “Did you just say…. Am I in the right office?”
 * Patrick is shown as a confident “bad boy” with a sense of humour. This is shown through __dialogue__; we discover he’s in trouble for playing a practical joke on the lunch lady, yet he doesn’t seem repentant and even talks back to the guidance counsellor.
 * Bianca is made to seem beautiful. This is done through the use of soft __music__ when Cameron first sees her, __slow motion__ as she’s walking with hair blowing back from her face, and her __costume__; she is wearing a nice, feminine dress.

After the director has established the characters and setting, he must introduce a **conflict**. The conflict that drives the action in this film is Mr Stratford's mandate that Bianca is not allowed to date until Kat does. The __composition__ in this scene shows the reactions of all three family members simultaneously. Mr Stratford is in the foreground, because he has all the power - he's the one setting the rules. He's smiling as he says "I like that." Behind him is Bianca, pleading and looking upset. Behind her is Kat, calmly sitting on the couch looking unconcerned. The use of __costume__ helps us learn more about the characters. Bianca wears clothes that make her look feminine (dresses, pink colours) and innocent (white colours). Kat wears clothes that make her look like a rebel (dark blue, camo patterns) and disguise her femininity (khaki trousers)

As the film progresses, we learn more about the character of **Patrick**. His bad-boy image is reinforced through the use of: __Casting__ - he is large and muscular to make him seem more intimidating. __Costume__ - he wears black clothes. __Dialogue__ - everyone seems to know a story about him, including things such as... he once lit a state trooper on fire; he spent a year in San Quentin [prison]; he sold his liver on the black market for a new set of speakers; he ate a live duck (everything except the beak and feet) __Props__ - Patrick uses props to reinforce his image, for example stabbing the frog with a knife in science class; playing with the flame on the bunsen burner; smoking cigarettes; and drilling a hole in Cameron's French book.

Things people say about **Kat** include... tempestuous; insane; loser; shrew; anti-social; psycho Things people say about **Bianca** include... vapid; conceited; snotty little princess; shallow; //but also// pure; beautiful

An example essay topic is: //"Describe your first impressions of a character in the film. Explain how film techniques were used to create these impressions."// __Step 1: Brainstorm.__ If you choose the character of Kat, you need to list your first impressions, e.g. bad reputation, anti-social, loner, strong opinions, rebel, not a cliche like other girls. Then list all the techniques that showed these impressions - music/lyrics, props, close up, pan, costume... __Step 2: Plan.__ When you've got all your ideas down, you then need to organise them - group similar ideas together, put them in a logical order, decide what you're going to put in each paragraph. __Step 3: Write.__ Use a clear structure. __Step 4: Edit.__ Read over your essay. Make sure you have spelled names correctly, answered both parts of the question, and included specific supporting details in each paragraph. Make it a habit to check spelling, punctuation, grammar and paragraphing.
 * Writing an essay**
 * //Introduction:// Include the title, director, and topic.
 * //Background statement:// Brief summary of the film.
 * //Body paragraph 1:// Describe your first impression of Kat as having a bad reputation; explain that it is the music/lyrics and close up on facial expressions as the girls look at each other in the scene with the cars that gives us this impression.
 * //Body p////aragraph 2:// Describe your first impression of Kat as anti-social; explain how the pan in the scene with the cars and the use of props when she tears down the prom poster show this.
 * //Body paragraph 3:// Explain why this first impression is important in the film, e.g. it is important that we see Kat as someone who is angry and anti-social so that we understand the difficulty Bianca, Cameron and Patrick have in trying to get her to go on dates. Or, it is important to create a first impression of Kat as a rebel with a bad reputation so we can see how much she has changed at the end of the film. Or, this first impression helps us to understand the idea of appearance and reality; the director is showing us we shouldn't judge people on first impressions, because Kat turns out to be caring and vulnerable.
 * //Conclusion:// Sum up your main points. Link all your ideas back to the original topic.