Media Unit
‘Matilda’
Directed by Danny Devito,
based on the novel by Roald
Dahl
Writing Titles
•
Whenever you write the title of a film, novel, poem
or play, the title should always be written with
inverted commas around it, e.g. ‘Matilda’.
• Write the following three sentences out and decide
which Matilda’s will need inverted commas around
them.
1. Matilda was directed by Danny Devito and based on
the novel written by Roald Dahl.
2. Matilda is a very intelligent child who discovers that
she has special powers.
3. The main characters in Matilda are Miss Trunchbull,
Miss Honey and Matilda.
Answers
1. ‘Matilda’ was directed by Danny Devito and
based on the novel written by Roald Dahl.
2. Matilda is a very intelligent child who discovers
that she has special powers.
3. The main characters in ‘Matilda’ are Miss
Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Matilda.
‘Matilda’ – Our Film
•
‘Matilda’ was directed by
Danny Devito and
includes the following
stars:
–
–
–
Mara Wilson as Matilda
Embeth Davidtz as Miss
Honey
Pam Ferris as Miss
Trunchbull
‘Matilda’ – Our Film
•
•
As we watch and learn about the film we will be looking at the
following cinematic (film) techniques:
–
–
–
Characterisation and representation
Camera Angles
Sound
When you write about a film the language you use is a little bit
different and some of the terms or phrases that you might use
include:
– Scene (a series of sequences strung together, can be lengthy)
– Sequence (a section of a scene)
– Shot (a single frame or image, a still)
– Audience (the people the film is targeting)
Camera
Techniques
•
Camera angles are the positions from
which a film is shot. They are used in
different ways to show characters and
settings in different situations and can
have a variety of effects e.g. to show
someone towering over another person, to
make someone/something smaller etc…
•
Camera shots are the way in which the camera is
used to focus on particular aspects of the setting
or characters. They show the audience scene setting,
how a character feels, what their costume is like etc.
Camera Angles
•
Camera angles are the positions from
which a film is shot. They are used in
different ways to show characters and
settings in different situations and can
have a variety of effects e.g. to show
someone towering over another person, to
make someone/something smaller etc…
•
Camera shots are the way in which the camera is
used to focus on particular aspects of the setting
or characters. They show the audience scene setting,
how a character feels, what their costume is like etc.
Camera
Pairs
• In your pairs, see if you can correctly match the
definitions with the shots or angles.
• Raffle tickets for the first ones to correctly complete
the task! Bonus raffle tickets if you can correctly split
these into the two groups, shots and angles.
• After you have had your work checked, glue the
matching pairs into your jotters.
Shots
•
Extreme Close Up - The camera moves in to show detail on a
character’s face, for example
•
Close Up - The camera moves in to a specific part of a person or
object
•
Long Shot - The camera shows all of a fairly large subject and much
of its surroundings
•
Extra Long Shot - The camera is at its furthest distance from the
subject, and is used to emphasis the background
•
Zoom - The camera moves in close and pulls back from the subject
•
Pan - The camera swings across the scene, showing everyone in the
action and what they are doing
Angles
•
Low-angle Shot - The camera is below its subject, looking up at it.
This would make the subject seem important and powerful
•
High-angle shot - The camera is above its subject, looking down at
it. This would make the subject seem little or insignificant
•
Point-of-view shot - The camera sees what the character sees, to give
that person’s perspective
Sound
•
There are two types of sound:
–
–
•
Sound Track (usually music of some form, instrumental or
songs or narration)
Sound Effects (sounds which are placed onto the film
artificially)
Now that you have had a brief introduction to
cinematic (film) techniques…
Let’s get watching…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Matilda Before School
How did the Wormwoods feel
about the birth of their
daughter, and did you find
their reaction unusual?
List three things that either of
the Wormwood parents did or
said that showed you how they
felt about the birth of their
daughter.
List three things that Matilda
does in her early years that
suggests that she is unusually
gifted.
Why is Matilda not allowed to
go to school?
Answer the following
questions in sentences…
Matilda Before School
Answer the following
questions in sentences…
5. Describe the events that occur that give Matilda the
idea to punish her parents, and explain what she
does as her first form of punishment.
6. What does this tell you about Matilda’s character?
7. What criminal activities was Mr Wormwood
involved with?
8.
What camera angles
were used during
the TV explosion
scene to show how
Matilda felt? Pick at
least two and
explain them.
•
Character in film
We are going to continue watching the film, but we are
going to focus on the ways that characters are represented in
the film.
Representation has a number of different aspects:
•
–
–
–
–
–
Costume and props (what they are wearing or carrying)
Dialogue (things the character says)
Actions (things that the character does)
Facial expressions
Camera techniques (you should focus on close ups, extreme close
ups, high angle shots and low angle shots)
The Trunchbull
and Crunchem Hall
• In your groups, note down things that show that the Trunchbull is a
baddie. (Hint – you may want to think about the following:
costume, props, quotations, actions, sound and camera techniques)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Crunchem Hall
Answer the following
questions in sentences…
Think about the first time you saw the silhouette of Miss
Trunchbull at the garage with Mr Wormwood. Write a short
paragraph describing your first impression of her. You
should make sure to mention, things that she says, the way
that she speak and her appearance.
Do you think there is a connection between Miss
Trunchbull’s attitude to children and the name of her school
– Crunchem Hall – and if so what might it be?
At Crunchem Hall, why do you think that the camera
doesn’t show the Trunchbull’s face immediately?
What prop does the Trunchbull use to help her seem
terrifying?
Threatening, masculine, intolerant, aggressive, powerful and
intimidating are all words that could be used to describe
Miss Trunchbull. Look up the definitions of these words in
the dictionary and write these down in your jotter.
Assembly with
Boggtrotter…
Answer the following questions in
sentences…
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Trucnhbull seems to be offering Bruce some cake. In
what ways does she still seem quite threatening despite the
apparent nice gesture?
Describe the setting of the assembly hall. Make sure you
mention, lighting, colours, and general atmosphere.
Bruce seems almost ready to give up eating the cake when
his fellow pupils start to support him. Describe how the
atmosphere changes.
The atmosphere suddenly changes again as a result of an
action of the Trunchbull’s - what does she do?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Crunchem Hall
Answer the following
questions in sentences…
Think about the first time you saw the silhouette of Miss
Trunchbull at the garage with Mr Wormwood. Write a short
paragraph describing your first impression of her. You
should make sure to mention, things that she says, the way
that she speak and her appearance.
Do you think there is a connection between Miss
Trunchbull’s attitude to children and the name of her school
– Crunchem Hall – and if so what might it be?
At Crunchem Hall, why do you think that the camera
doesn’t show the Trunchbull’s face immediately?
What prop does the Trunchbull use to help her seem
terrifying?
Threatening, masculine, intolerant, aggressive, powerful and
intimidating are all words that could be used to describe
Miss Trunchbull. Look up the definitions of these words in
the dictionary and write these down in your jotter.
Assembly with
Boggtrotter…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Answer the following questions in
sentences…
The Trucnhbull seems to be offering Bruce some cake. In
what ways does she still seem quite threatening despite the
apparent nice gesture? Think about her facial expressions,
words and actions.
Describe the setting of the assembly hall. Make sure you
mention, lighting, colours, and general atmosphere.
Bruce seems almost ready to give up eating the cake when
his fellow pupils start to support him. Describe how the
atmosphere changes.
The atmosphere suddenly changes again as a result of an
action of the Trunchbull’s - what does she do?
The Trunchbull’s
Office
Watch the following scene. Note down at least three
things that make her office seem like a threatening and
uninviting place.
Trunchbull in class
Answer the following
questions in sentences…
1.
Miss Honey encourages Matilda when she tells her about her
powers, even though she doesn’t believe her. What does this
tell you about her character?
2. Kind, sensitive, timid and brave are all words that could
be used to describe Miss Honey. Pick out three of these and
for each write a short paragraph using the PEE structure,
make the point, use evidence from the film to prove your
point, and explain how the evidence proves your point.
An example is below.
Example:
Miss Honey is kind because she helps Amanda
Thrip take out her pigtails before Miss Trunchbull
gets to class. This shows she is kind because she
helps Amanda to stop her getting into trouble.
Miss Honey and Matilda
Answer the following questions in sentences…
1.
2.
3.
Explain the connection between
Miss Honey and Miss
Trunchbull in as mush detail as
possible. Remember you can
explain their history too.
What treasures did Miss Honey
have to leave behind when she
left her house?
When Matilda and Miss Honey
are outside the Trunchbull’s
house during the day, what does
Matilda discover about the
Trunchbull’s fears?
Inside the Trunchbull’s House
Answer the following questions in sentences…
1. Think about the Trunchbull’s name. What animal
does she remind you of?
2. List four things about her that makes her seem like
an animal. Think about her actions, appearance, and
what she says.
3.
4.
What atmosphere is created by
the lighting and music in these
scenes. How does this make the
audience feel?
What happens when the
Trunchbull jumps down the
stairs, and what does this tell you
about her?
Trunchbull’s House by Day
•
•
1.
2.
In pairs you are going to note down things you notice about
the Trunchbull. One of you should note down key
quotations that she says and the way she speaks, and the
other should focus on her appearance and actions.
Copy the notes from the other person’s jotter.
Make a list of quotations, actions, and aspects of her
appearance that make the Trunchbull seem masculine.
Using either your animal list from earlier on, or your
masculine list, write a short paragraph using the PEE
structure that you learnt previously for the Miss Honey
character.
Trunchbull’s Comeuppance
1.
Kind, sensitive, timid and brave are all words that could
be used to describe Miss Honey. Pick out three of these and
for each write a short paragraph using the PEE structure,
make the point, use evidence from the film to prove your
point, and explain how the evidence proves your point.
An example is below.
Example:
•
Miss Honey is kind because she helps Amanda
Thrip take out her pigtails before Miss Trunchbull
gets to class. This shows she is kind because she
helps Amanda to stop her getting into trouble.
Describe three ways that a scary atmosphere is created at the
end of the film during the classroom scene when Matilda
makes the chalk write a message. In your answer you should
comment on three of the following: lighting, sound, facial
expressions, and actions. Use the PEE structure
Trunchbull’s Comeuppance
1.
Describe three ways that a scary atmosphere is created
at the end of the film during the classroom scene
when Matilda makes the chalk write a message. In
your answer you should comment on three of the
following: lighting, sound, facial expressions, and
actions.
2. Think about Matilda’s character throughout the film.
Make a list of five words that you could use to
describe her.
Loyal, brave, rebellious, intelligent, just, independent
3. Using two words from your own list, and two words
from the list above, write out four short PEE
paragraphs about Matilda. Remember, make a point,
use evidence from the film, and explain what the
evidence shows.
Scene Focus
• We are now going to focus on three
scenes:
– Miss Honey’s visit to the Trunchbull
about Matilda
– The Trunchbull’s house during the day
– The Trunchbull’s haunting
• For each of these scenes we will be
focussing on the key characters, the
camera angles and shots that are used,
and the sound.
Miss Honey visits the Trunchbull
1. As the camera approaches Miss Trunchbull’s office, whose
perspective is the audience seeing?
2. The first Close-Up shot focuses on Miss Honey’s hand?
What does this shot tell you about the way that she is
feeling?
3. How is Miss Honey made to look vulnerable and childlike
in this extract?
4. The camera moves around the room slowly and then
suddenly speeds up. Why does it do this, and what effect
does it create?
5. List five things that you see in the study that reflect the
Trunchbull’s personality.
6. How does Miss Trunchbull’s study reflect her personality?
(Hint - think about the atmosphere in the study)
Trunchbull’s House at Night
Answer the following questions in sentences…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the setting on the night that
Matilda goes to the Trunchbull’s house.
Think about the weather, the lighting,
and the atmosphere in general.
List four things that Matilda does to
scare and unsettle the Trunchbull.
What camera angles are used to show
that strange things are happening?
How does the Trunchbull feel while this
is all happening, and why is it so easy to
scare her?
Make a list of quotations, actions, and
aspects of her appearance that make the
Trunchbull seem scared and weak.
PEE
• The words that you use during the P (point)
section should not be repeated during the final
E (explanation) section. You must use a
different word.
PEE: point, evidence, explanation
• Complete a three PEE points to describe the
Trunchbull’s character (remember, you can use
your notes, and you may want to think about her
costume, facial expressions, actions and
quotations)
• Complete two PEE points explaining how the
Trunchbull’s office and the things in it, convince
the audience that she is scary (remember you
can use your notes, think about the props in her
office and what they suggest about her)
PEE: point, evidence, explanation
• Complete a two PEE points to describing way that the
Trunchbull makes other characters feel (remember, you
can use your notes, you could choose a pupil, or Miss
Honey, you will need to use evidence to show how they
are feeling: facial expressions, camera techniques,
actions)
• Complete three PEE points explaining how the
atmosphere becomes tense when the Trunchbull chases
Miss Honey and Matilda around the house (remember
you can use your notes, think about the lighting, the
sound, the camera techniques the Trunchbull’s actions)
‘Matilda’ Essay – points to remember…
1.
Remember that whenever you are referring to the title of a film you
should use inverted commas, e.g. ‘Matilda’.
2.
Introduction must mention the title of the film, its director, its key
stars, and refer to the essay question.
3.
Remember that a PEE section has three parts: you make a point, you
use evidence to support the point, and you explain what the evidence
shows.
4.
Remember that if you use any quotations, these must have inverted
commas around them.
5.
You must always check your work over. You should look for spelling
and punctuation mistakes, and you should make sure that all your
sentences make sense.
‘Matilda’ Essay
How is the theme of good triumphing over
bad revealed in Danny Devito’s the film
‘Matilda’? In your answer you should refer to
character, setting, camera techniques and
sound.
• You should each have a copy of the essay plan.
This is a step by step plan that will tell you how
best to answer this essay question.
• You will all also have plenty of notes in your
jotters. If you followed the instructions and
wrote your answers in sentences, then some of
the essay will already be done for you.