Module D – Texts and the Human Experience Billy Elliot Rubric Summary: How texts represent individual and collectve uman experiences. Human qualites and emotons associated wit or arisin rrom t ese experiences. Evaluate t e ways lan ua e is used to s ape t ese representatons. Given insi t into t e anomalies paradoxes and inconsistences in uman be aviour and motvatons. Consider t e role or storytellin t rou out tme to express and refect partcular lives and cultures. Rubric Concepts/Key Terms: Individual and collectve uman experiences - Individual = identty and conrormity - Collectve = community and conrormity Reciprocal Relatons ips Individual vs society Anomalies paradoxes and inconsistencies in uman be aviour and motvaton - Anomalies = unconventonal non-conrormity outsider - Paradoxes = contradictory - Inconsistencies = variances - Human be aviour = actons - Motvatons = reason desire T e role or storytellin t rou out tme to express and refect partcular lives and cultures - Bildun sroman = comin or a e individual rowt and development. Key Informaton: Genre: Social Drama – Social flm drama is a flm enre t at moves and inspires people to c an e policy practce and individual be aviour. A dramatc sensitve and aut entc treatment or social issues w ic powerrully connects audiences to t e emotons and people t at lie be ind our assumptons stereotypes and prejudices. Bildungsroman (coming of age) – A narratve dealin wit one person's rormatve years or spiritual educaton. Seein t e rowt in a partcular c aracter as t ey encounter adversity overcome t ose c allen es and row to become rulflled. Director: Step en Daldry Release Date: November 2000 Possible Themes: T T T T e stru le wit adversity e searc ror identty e pursuit or dreams e importance or nurturin relatons ips Descripton of Main Characters: Character Billy Elliot Jackie Elliot Tony Elliot Mrs. Wilkinson Michael Cafrey Descripton Billy is t e main prota onist in t e flm w om stru les wit internalised confict and interpersonal c allen es t rou as e races is love ror dance and t e male dominated e emonic minin industry in is small town. He turns to dance to escape t e imminent expectatons and pressures to rollow in t e rootsteps or is rat er and brot er. Jackie stru les reatly wit t e loss or is wire an avin to take care or is ramily on is own. He experiences t is pressure rurt er t rou t e loss or is job at t e mines stru lin to provide ror is ramily t rou t e olidays. Jackie also experiences a similar internalised confict as Billy as e must c oose between ivin up on Billy and is passion and t ereby losin t e possibility or a bond between t em or becomin a scab – a miner w o worked durin t e strike rat er t en protestn wit is co-workers and eldest son Tony. Tony is ruelled by is all t e adversity e as experienced in t is lire. T e loss or is mot er and job causes is c aracter to be urt and an ry at t e world. Ballet teac er w o introduces Billy to t e Royal Ballet Sc ool. Unrulflled in er marria e er usband doesn’t ave a job er dau ter is t e same a e as Billy and e speaks to er about ballet. Accepts Billy rrom t e be innin or t e flm. Introduces Billy to ‘cross-dressin ’ as e learns t at Mic ael as seen is dad do it w ic infuences im. Billy can confde in Mic ael as e isn’t arraid to talk about is passion wit im and e becomes is closest rriend. Film Metalanguage and Cinematc Techniques: Technique Compositonal Juxtapositon Descripton T e ract or two t in s bein seen or placed close to et er wit contrastn efect. Visual Motf & Symbolism A dominant or recurrin idea in an artstc work. T e use or symbols to represent ideas or qualites. Example/Purpose Represents t e confict or t e flm as t ere is contrast between Billy in li t or is surroundin s and t e internal desires e as ror ballet and avin to breakout or t e social standards and ender roles t at e is bein somew at rorced to conrorm to. T e politcal turmoil and Billy’s ‘famboyant’ dance sit in oppositon wit one anot er. Ballet Shoes – Billy’s ballet s oes are a visual motr w ic symbolise is passion ror dance and is pro ression or acceptn imselr w en comparin it to at frst idin t em under is bed to wearin t em around is neck. Caged wire – Billy and is rat er are ofen distant rrom eac ot er in scenes t is placement or c aracters act as a reoccurrin symbolic motr ror t e distance t ey ave and t e lack or nurture in t eir relatons ip. Cubical – W en Mrs Wilkinson tells Billy’s ramily t at e as promisin talent Billy leaves is ome afer t e encounter as e is overw elmed as e reels as t ou e as to decide between t e expectatons is rat er and brot er ave ror im or to purse is passion. T is led im to confne imselr wit a cubical setn w ic symbolises t e pressure e is reelin wit in. His escape to t e cubical is a reoccurrin event as it is one or t e rew places Billy can be Segue (in music and flmm move wit out interrupton rrom one piece or music or scene to anot er. Mise-en-scene T e arran ement or t e scenery props costume etc. on t e sta e or a t eatrical producton or on t e set or a flm. A compositon or elements t at make up a scene and creates an overall impression. Establishing Sequence An establis in s ot is a s ot in flmmakin or television t at sets up t e context ror t e scene a ead desi ned to inrorm t e audience w ere t e acton will be takin place. It s ows t e relatons ip between people and objects and establis es t e scene's eo rap y. A narratve t at be ins Cyclical alone denotn t at e isolates imselr to t ink clearly. He isolates imselr in t e c an e rooms or t e boxin all as e yells at Mrs Wilkinson about t e pressure e is under and says to er “you’re t e same as everybody else always tellin me w at to do” Piano – T e Piano w ic belon ed to Billy’s mot er symbolised all t at t ey p ysically ad lef or er. T e piano also representn Billy’s possible connecton to t e arts as e is ofen seen playin it. W en Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy read t e leter rrom is mum non-die etc piano instrumental plays w en e reads “always be yourselr” Once Billy reac es t e end or is street dancin away rrom is ome and ar uin ramily and Mrs. Wilkinson e its a ated rence. T is t en seamlessly transitons between t e seasons as w en e stands up a ain and t e camera pans Inrront or im it is wintertme and snowin illustratn t e tme w ic as passed as e stru les to make up is mind. Costuming – Billy’s outit in t e openin scene matc t e wallpaper in is room. T e yellow colour or is top is t en contrasted wit t e smo rrom t e mines. Setting – T ere is clear contrast between t e spacious dance rooms and t e cramped messy ome t at Billy lives in. T e ballet takin place in t e sports all establis es ow Billy is out or place just by is locaton. T is is rurt er extended by t e visual motr or t e ca ed wire w ic expresses is entrapment w ic is seen t rou t e flm. Placement – Billy’s involvement in t e remale dominated sport or ballet is juxtaposed by t e irls dressed in t eir tutus and ballet fats and Billy in is boxin ear. Props – T e transiton between t e boxin loves and t e ballet s oes are visual motrs w ic refects t e rowt Billy is experiencin . Lightng – T ere is an abundant use or natural li tn wit in t e ome leavin muc or t e setn dim and sometmes ard to see. W en Billy is seen perrormin at t e conclusion or t e flm in is moment or triump all li ts point to im. Introduced to t e main prota onist and is carerree c ildlike innocence and establis es t e bildun sroman enre. T ere is diegetc music playin rrom t e record player in is ome w ic e be ins to play wit delicacy and care “I was dancin w en I was twelve” symbolic connecton to Billy and foreshadows is ruture success as a ballet dancer in is adult years usin a cyclical narratie. Establis es t e emotonal connecton billy as wit dancin and is appiness. He’s playrul innocence’s serves as an escape and a contrast to e emonic masculinity or t e male dominated minin industry in Dur am. T e flm be ins wit a youn Billy Elliot dancin in is Narratie and ends in t e same or a similar way. Camera Angles T e camera s ot an le i s used to speciry t e locaton w ere t e camera is placed to take a s ot. T e positon or t e camera in relaton to t e subjects can afect t e way t e viewer perceives t e scene. A reacton shot is a s ot w ic cuts away rrom t e main scene in order to s ow t e reacton or a c aracter to it a basic unit or flm rammar. Soundtrack A recordin or t e musical accompaniment or a flm w ic ofen aids in provokin emoton or rurt er establis in a scene. Irony A state or afairs or an event t at seems deliberately contrary to w at one expects and is ofen wryly amusin as a result. A conversaton between two or more people as a reature or a book play or flm. Dialogue bedroom to diegetc music playin rrom is record player. T e flm t en ends wit an adult Billy Elliot bein t e lead dancer in a producton or Swan Lake. Representn is success and t at is inital love and passion or dance as been rulflled. Cross Cutting Reacton Shot – W en Mrs Wilkinson tells Billy’s ramily t at e as promisin talent Billy jumps up onto is dinin room table and t e use or high and low angled frequently cut shots symbolisin t e a itaton and inner turmoil contained wit in im w en is two diferin world collide. It t en cuts between Billy stru lin to scale t e wall blockin is ears and coverin is race to Tony Mrs. Wilkinson and Jackie ar uin . Close up shot (intmate distancem – T e proxemic range or t e camera w en dancin provides t e reelin or live and comrort Billy reels w en dancin . Cross Cut – T e cross cut tec nique is used to switc between Billy at ballet class and Tony and Jackie protestn ror t e miners t ese scene avin contrastn emoton and tone. POV Shot – W en Billy enters t e all ror boxin is eyes are immediately drawn to t e ballerinas illustratn is desire to dance and t e distance w ic stands between im and is passion. Tracking Shot – At t e end or t e flm w en adult Billy is about to perrorm a trackin s ot rollows be ind im to build suspense as it is our frst limpse into is transiton and t e fnal step or is journey. T e use or non-diegetc music t rou out t e flm expresses Billy’s emotons and is love or dance and is a central aspect to t e storyline. Usin music and dance as a means or escapism rrom t e lire is brot er and rat er expect im to live and rurt er t e social and ender norms. T e irls in t e s ot are assistn to dra a piano into t e all w ilst wearin tutus. T e irony or t is s ot lies in contrast between t e social expectaton or women and t e assumpton t at ballerinas are delicate is c allen ed by t e irls workin to et er to brin t e piano into t e boy’s environment. “you’re a dis race to t em loves your rat er and t e traditons or t is boxin all” – T e dialo ue indicates Billy’s perrormance in boxin as been poor previously and is coac as become rrustrated wit im. T e social expectaton or Billy’s ad erin to a partcular identty is clear t rou t is dialo ue. It is also evident t at Billy is unable to rulfl t is perceived identty. Essay Plans: Q1: How is determinaton required for success? Discuss in relaton to Billy Elliot. THESIS: T e determinaton to pus rorward and overcome adversity is essental ror t e ac ievement or one’s oals and t ereby success. Success can be measured by t e level or commitment involved and t e results w ic come wit suc eforts. P1 – Pursuit or Dreams: Establis sequence – Introduces t e context to t e audience and reinrorcin t e comin or a e enre (bildun sromanm. Mise en Scene / Juxtapositon – T e setn w ic is establis ed is ei tened by t e arran ement or t e set and rorms a clear tone overall impression ror t e scene. Wit Billy bein juxtaposed to is town t rou costumin and placement. Exceedin is expectatons or t e miners and pursin is dreams. POV Camera S ot – A POV s ot is used w en Billy is in t e boxin all as it illustrates is desire to dance denotn is lon in to be wit t e ballerina’s. P2 – Deryin Gender Stereotypes: Close-Cut S ot (Reactonm / Dialo ue – Billy and is rat er ave a eated ar ument due to Billy’s interest in ballet and skippin boxin . Jackie says t at “boys don’t do ballet” reinrorcin t e connotatons t at surround boys in remale dominated sports. Climax / Reacton S ot – T e ‘dance or defance’ scene in w ic Billy perrorms ror is rat er and conrronts im and t us t e ender roles oldin im back. Symbolism – Billy’s ballet s oes become a visual motr w ic symbolises is passion ror dance and is pro ression or selr-acceptance. Irony – T e ballerina’s assist in brin in in t e piano into t e sports all in t eir tutu’s t ereby c allen in t e expectatons or women. P3 – Ac ievement and Triump : Allusion / Fores adowin – Swan Lake is ofen rererred to t rou out t e flm rores adowin is fnal moment or triump . Trackin S ot – At t e end or t e flm w en adult Billy is about to perrorm a trackin s ot rollows be ind im to build suspense as it is our frst limpse into is transiton and t e fnal step or is journey. Cut S ot – In t e fnal scene Billy leaps into t e air t e camera cuts to Jackie in a moment or awe admirin t e ac ievements or is son as e apricates t e dedicaton Billy put into perrectn is craf. Cyclical Narratve – A cyclical narratve is used to illustrate ow rar Billy ad come and ow is success came rrom is ard work and dedicaton. Q2: How does Billy Elliot invite us to see the world diferently and challenge our assumptons? THESIS: T e anomalies or t e uman experience entces viewers to conrront t eir personal assumptons and c allen es t eir already in rained beliers on ot ers in society. P1 (Context) – Establis in Sequence / Mise en Scene / Soundtrack / Fores adowin – T e openin or t e flm presents Billy as a carerree boy and reinrorces t e Bildun sroman enre. Wit t e son Cosmic Dance by T. Rex places wit in t e scene as die etc music rrom t e record player rores adowin is ruture success. Billy is also in contrast wit is surroundin s or t e minin smo wit is yellow s irt and bedroom walls as costumin establis es t e emotonal connecton Billy as wit dancin and ow it brin s im joy. As t e flm uses music and dance as a means or escapism rrom t e lire is brot er and rat er expect im to live and rurt er t e social and ender norms. P2 – Social Constructons and Stereotypes: Compositonal Juxtapositon – Billy’s passion and internal desire to dance is juxtaposed wit t e politcal turmoil or t e miner crisis. Dialo ue – “You’re a dis race to t em loves your rat er and t e traditons or t is boxin all” –> T e dialo ue indicates t at Billy’s poor perrormance in boxin means e isn’t ad erin to t e societal expectatons placed upon im. Irony – T e ballerina’s assist in brin in in t e piano into t e sports all in t eir tutu’s t ereby c allen in t e expectatons or women. P3 – Pursuit and Acceptance: Allusion / Fores adowin – Swan Lake is ofen rererred to t rou out t e flm rores adowin is fnal moment or triump . Trackin S ot – At t e end or t e flm w en adult Billy is about to perrorm a trackin s ot rollows be ind im to build suspense as it is our frst limpse into is transiton and t e fnal step or is journey. Cut S ot – In t e fnal scene Billy leaps into t e air t e camera cuts to Jackie in a moment or awe admirin t e ac ievements or is son as e apricates t e dedicaton Billy put into perrectn is craf. Cyclical Narratve – A cyclical narratve is used to illustrate ow rar Billy ad come and ow is success came rrom is ard work and dedicaton. Q3: Analyse how the flm Billy Elliot allow for signifcant and meaningful connecton to be drawn from the story. (Rough translaton of trial questonn THESIS: T e in erent need to experience meanin rul connectons in one’s lire w et er t at be to people places or beliers are t e rundamental aspects or a rulflled uman experience. T rou developin closely knit connectons wit ot ers or uncoverin t e beliers w ic draw you rorward in lire will allow ror your most aut entc selr to be put rort in t e world. P1 (Context) – Establis in Sequence / Mise en Scene / Soundtrack / Fores adowin – T e openin or t e flm presents Billy as a carerree boy and reinrorces t e Bildun sroman enre. Wit t e son Cosmic Dance by T. Rex places wit in t e scene as die etc music rrom t e record player rores adowin is ruture success. Billy is also in contrast wit is surroundin s or t e minin smo wit is yellow s irt and bedroom walls as costumin establis es t e emotonal connecton Billy as wit dancin and ow it brin s im joy. As t e flm uses music and dance as a means or escapism rrom t e lire is brot er and rat er expect im to live and rurt er t e social and ender norms. P2 – Dysrunctonal ramily Visual Motr (Ca ed wirem – Billy and is rat er are ofen distant rrom eac ot er in scenes t is placement or c aracters act as a reoccurrin symbolic motr ror t e distance t ey ave and t e lack or nurture in t eir relatons ip. Close-Cut S ot (Reactonm / Dialo ue – Billy and is rat er ave a eated ar ument due to Billy’s interest in ballet and skippin boxin . Jackie says t at “boys don’t do ballet” reinrorcin t e connotatons t at surround boys in remale dominated sports. Monta e – T e monta e or scenes compiled or Billy’ success in ballet as e ac ieves is pirouete and is told to “prepare” is juxtaposed wit t e turmoil experienced by is ramily at t e miner’s strike. T ese scenes are compiled to et er to ampliry t e tense state t ey’re in and t e determinaton t ey s are. P3 – An uis due to unacceptance Cross Cutn Reacton S ot – W en Mrs Wilkinson tells Billy’s ramily t at e as promisin talent Billy jumps up onto is dinin room table and t e use or i and low an led rrequently cut s ots symbolisin t e a itaton and inner turmoil contained wit in im w en is two diferin world collide. It t en cuts between Billy stru lin to scale t e wall blockin is ears and coverin is race to Tony Mrs. Wilkinson and Jackie ar uin . Visual Motr (Cubicalm – Overw elmed by is need to c oose e confnes imselr in a cubical symbolisin t e pressure e is under and t e reelin s or entrapment. T e cubical also represents a place or privacy as e can t ink clearer alone. C aracterisaton – Billy becomes to row rrustrated wit t e people around im. In t e journey to fnd imselr e is infuenced by t e people around im bein told w at to do and w o to be. P4 – Pursuit or Dreams Allusion / Fores adowin – Swan Lake is ofen rererred to t rou out t e flm rores adowin is fnal moment or triump . Trackin S ot – At t e end or t e flm w en adult Billy is about to perrorm a trackin s ot rollows be ind im to build suspense as it is our frst limpse into is transiton and t e fnal step or is journey. Cut S ot – In t e fnal scene Billy leaps into t e air t e camera cuts to Jackie in a moment or awe admirin t e ac ievements or is son as e apricates t e dedicaton Billy put into perrectn is craf. Cyclical Narratve – A cyclical narratve is used to illustrate ow rar Billy ad come and ow is success came rrom is ard work and dedicaton.