Level 1 Film Essay

Here are a couple of Merit essay by last year's Yr 11 students - what do you think?

Describe an important place or situation in the text. Explain how visual and/or verbal features were used to help you understand why this setting or event was surprising OR important.

An important place in the film October Sky directed by Joe Johnson is the entrance to the Olga Mine. This setting is important because it helps the reader understand the theme of achievement within the film. Throughout the film the entrance to the mine is portrayed as an evil place, due to its role in the struggle of the main character, Homer Hickam, to achieve his dream of “going to college … [and] getting a job at Cape Canaveral.”

A feature of the film that helped me understand the role of the mine in the story is the physical structure of the mine. The mine is a shaft mine below the ground, with an elevator running to the surface. This can be taken as a symbolic link between the normal world and the underworld (Hades). When Homer is forced to work in the mine, his passage down into the mine can therefore be interpreted as descent into the underworld. This is very important because it shows the sincerity of Homers dream, as well as his sacrifice in working in the mine to support his family.

Another feature of the film that aids in understanding of the mine is the time of day shots are taken. Typical shots of the mine are at nighttime or on cloudy days, and this emphasizes the negative role of the mine in the film. Also, when Ike Bykovsky is killed, heavy rain is present, emphasizing this point. This may be taken as a symbol of “the earth weeping” for Mr. Bykovsky.

An interesting symbol of the mines influence is the telephone installed in the Hickam’s house. This is a link from the mine to the house, so that John can be easily contacted in an emergency. The phone itself is big and shiny-black, perhaps an allusion to the importance of the mine in the town and its nature (the phone is black, like the coal the miner’s dig). The telephone is therefore a symbol of the mines influence over John, which is immensely important in the conflict between John and Homer.

In conclusion, an important place in the film October Sky is the entrance to Olga Mine. Joe Johnson, the director, has used levels of light and weather to show the relation of the mine to the films themes of struggle and dreams. These visual features show the influence the mine has over John Hickam, and this is important because it is a factor in the conflict between John and his son, Homer.
418 Merit


Describe an important event at (or near) the beginning of the text.
Explain how verbal and / or visual features were used to show you what was going to happen in the rest of the text.

In the feature film Friday Night Lights directed by Peter Burg. An important event near the beginning of the text is the introduction and differentiation of the characters, mainly Mike Winchel and Boobie Miles. These verbal and visual features helped to show what was going to happen in the rest of the text.

Opening scene for Mike Winchel was driving his car to the Permain Panthers first pre season training he is show to be relaxed, calm and focused as he is talking calmly amongst friends. Opening scene for Boobie Miles was running up over the horizon very glorified and in slow motion. He is being followed by some children wearing his number on their football jerseys. He is listening to the radio on his head phones saying “Boobie is going to do it for us. Boobie is going to bring it home.”

Further introductory scenes for Mike Winchel show that he is much focused and also very modest. A lot of people look up to him but he fails to recognise his full potential he has a lot of added responsibility for looking after his sick mother and that just puts extra strain on his education and football playing. Mike is shown to be a mature well educated 17 year old boy although he says “I don’t feel 17.” He is a well known member of his community, school and football team and this leads us to believe that he will succeed in the rest of the film. Lots of close up film shots of Mike are taken to show his focussed expression. Also to show that he does not let his focus slip. He is always looking around, he is very observant. He has some rowdy friends which long shots are often taken of to show the comparison between the friends. This leads us to believe that Mike Winchell will succeed in a football or other career later in the film.

Further introductory scenes for Boobie Miles show that he is not very focused on anything and is very cocky and boasts full of himself. He thinks very high of himself and often looks down on other people. He has been taken in by his Uncle who is very loving and very encouraging of his nephew. He wants the best for Boobie and he thinks that Boobie is going to give that to him. Boobie is shown to be an immature person and a part from education is not educated at all. He said “I am a straight A student. There is only one subject, football.”

Boobie is shown to be uneducated while struggling to read a university opportunity paper he has been offered. This shows the viewer those Boobies only future lies in football and due to that skill it could be a very bright future. Lots of shots of Boobie topless are used to show that he is a very fit athlete. Also close ups of him boasting, for example “God made black beautiful. God made Boobie beautiful.” Bobbie is compared academically as lower than his friends but sportingly top of his game. This leads us to believe that he could succeed in a sporting future and also do well however an academic future is not an option.

Merit
542 words