Media Unit
The Big Picture
In this unit we will:
• Watch the film Inception directed by
Christopher Nolan.
• Analyse 5 key scenes in detail. Looking at
mise-en scene, music and characterisation.
• Learn to write a Critical essay on the film,
looking at mise en scene, camera shots,
characterisation, symbolism and music.
Characters
Christopher Nolan
• Born in Britain, but his mother was American.
• Directed Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
• Is renowned for pushing the limits of filmmaking, particularly using camera angles and
mise-en-scene for dramatic effect.
Characters in Inception
• In an interview Nolan explained that he based
the roles in Inception to that of film making
• Cobb – director
• Arthur – Producer
• Ariadne – production designer
• Eames – actor
• Saito – studio
• Fischer –audience
Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb:
A professional thief who specializes in conning
secrets from his victims by infiltrating their
dreams. Cobb leads a team with the goal of
influencing Robert Fischer's actions via his
dreams.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur:
Cobb's partner who takes "point" during jobs
and is responsible for researching the team's
targets.
Ellen Page as Ariadne:
A graduate student of architecture who is
recruited to construct the various dreamscapes,
which are described as mazes.
Marion Cotillard as Mallorie "Mal" Cobb:
Dom Cobb's projection of his deceased wife and
a frequent presence in his dreams. As the film's
main antagonist, she is a manifestation of his
guilt about the real Mal's suicide. Dom is unable
to control these projections of her, challenging
his abilities as an extractor.
Tom Hardy as Eames:
A sharp-tongued associate of Cobb's. Eames
uses his ability to take the form of others inside
the dream world in order to manipulate Robert
Fischer in his own dreams.
Ken Watanabe as Mr. Saito:
A businessman who employs Cobb for the
team's mission, and insists on joining them
inside.
Dileep Rao as Yusuf:
A chemist who formulates the drugs needed to
sustain the dream states.
Cillian Murphy as Robert Michael Fischer:
The heir to a business empire and the team's
target.
Key Notes for Inception
• Was made in 2010.
• During production the film’s plot was kept
secret. Nolan said, “it is set within the
architecture of the mind.”
• It was originally conceived as a horror film,
but Nolan rewrote it as a heist film, although
“traditionally they are very superficial in
emotional terms”
• Nolan decided to “make sure the emotional
journey of his character was the emotional
driving force of the movie.”
genre
• This makes the film’s genre a difficult thing to
pinpoint.
– It is a combination of science fiction (set in the
future with new technology), heist (a thief
attempts to steal something from a multi-milliondollar corporation), film noir (dark and sensual
plots), action film (hero is involved in battle, car
crashes and explosions) and thriller (suspense is
built).
The 5 Key Scenes
•
•
•
•
•
Mirror Scene
Dreaming in Mombasa
Mal Commits Suicide
Zero Gravity Scene
Final Scene
Mirror Scene
Dreaming in Mombasa
Mal Commits Suicide
Before we watch the clip
Answer the following questions individually:
1. Why do you think Mal kills herself?
2. What effect does this have on Dom?
Physically? Mentally?
3. What genre do you think this scene portrays?
Why?
We will now watch the scene 4 times.
As you are watching the scene I want you to take
notes on the following:
• Mise en scene
• Use of Camera
• Characterisation
• Music
Each time we watch the scene you should focus
on a different aspect (e.g. music) of the scene.
Be prepared to feedback after we watch the
scene
Now we have watched the scene and you have
a deeper understanding of the scene, lets look
at the questions we answered at the start of the
lesson:
1. Why do you think Mal kills herself?
2. What effect does this have on Dom?
Physically? Mentally?
3. What genre do you think this scene portrays?
Why?
Think, Pair, Share
Now that you have a deeper understanding of
the text, you are going to use the think, pair,
share technique to answer your questions.
Think: 3 minutes
Pair: 5 minutes
Share: Be Prepared!
Mal’s Final Speech
You are waiting for a train, a train
that will take you far away, you
know where you hope this train
will take you, you don’t know for
sure, but it doesn’t matter because
you will be together.
Mal’s Final Speech
Discuss in your group in what way does
Mal’s Final Speech further reveal the genre
of this scene?
Be prepared to share your answers.
Zero Gravity Scene
Lets watch the amazing
Zero Gravity Scene!!
Other Zero Gravity Scenes
We are now going to watch zero gravity scenes
from other famous films:
• Matrix
• Apollo 13
As you watch these clips write down the
differences between this and the inception
scene. Which scene is the most effective and
why?
• In groups you are going to answer questions
on the zero gravity scene.
• Each worksheet has questions focussing on
Setting, Camera Shots and Music.
• Answer the question in as much detail as
possible.
• We will play the scene a few times through
the lesson.
PCEDA
Remember our paragraph structure:
Point
Context
Evidence
Detail
Analysis
PCEDA Paragraphs
You now have to write a PCEDA paragraph
including each of the elements you answered
questions on:
• Setting
• Use of Camera Shots
• Music
Peer Assess
You are now going to peer assess one member
of your groups PCEDA paragraph.
Remember to give positive feedback (Stars) and
targets to work on for redrafting (Wishes).
We will use this feedback for redrafting our
paragraphs.
Final Scene
Jigsaw Lesson
Inception Key Scenes
Part One - Jigsaw task
LEARNING GROUPS:
• You will have 12 minutes in your groups to gather
the information.
In Your Groups you need to explain the genre your
scene portrays, have notes on each of the following:
• Mise en scene
• Use of camera,
• Characterisation
• Music
Part Two - Jigsaw task
TEACHING GROUPS:
You will now be organised into ‘teaching groups’ that
include a member from each of the ‘learning groups’
(so that there is someone one who has
knowledge/information from each area.
Each person in the teaching group should share their
information so that everyone in the group has written
notes for each key scene.
Teaching Groups
You will teach the rest of your group about the key
scene you focussed on.
You will have 4 minutes each to teach the rest of
your group about your key scene and the genre it
portrays.
You need to explain each of your points clearly and
be prepared to answer any questions.
These notes will help you write your CEL.
Critical Evaulation
Critical Evaluation Question:
Discuss/explore genre in Christopher Nolan’s
film Inception. (Focus on mise en scene, use of
camera, characterisation and music)
Use the essay plan to help you with the
structure of your essay.