Critical literacy Matrix question - Group work

In groups, we had to choose a movie trailer and a PSA (Public Service Announcement), and write a SEXXXY paragraph for each video and describe 1 film aspect which was used in each of the videos. After finishing our paragraphs we were to complete 4 critical literacy questions about our writing. 

SEXXXY Analysis written about "Walk The Line" :

The effects of fading are used deliberately throughout the trailer "Walk The Line" by James Mangold. For example, we see in the trailer scenes of Cash being happy which drastically changes to him looking unwell or angry furthermore under the influence of drugs, as one scene fades into the other. This shows the audience the highs and lows of Cash’s life. The audience feels intrigued by the scenes shown in the trailer and confronting as Cash’s addiction is displayed. The director has done this to depict the struggles and achievements in pieces of which Johnny has dealt with in his journey through the music industry and dealing with addiction. The fading between scenes works well with the music that is playing in the background. "Ring of fire" creates a mix of meaning and emotion which is why it works perfectly. In the trailer, Walk The Line, directed by James Mangold, Johnny Cash can be heard singing the lyrics, "The taste of love is sweet" while Johnny Cash and June Carter are together. This scene fades as Johnny Cash sings "I fell into a ring of fire" and is shown in an enraged state, having a run-in with the police.

SEXXXY Analysis written about PSA "Sisters" 

Facial expressions were used effectively in Meth Project's ad titled "Sisters". This is seen at the beginning of the ad when the sisters approach three middle-aged men. The older sister of the two is in the front and has a neutral expression as if she is used to it, although behind the expressionless look she appears helpless. The young sister's emotions are visible through facial expressions. She appears scared and upset as she stands behind her sister. This shows everyone how being influenced by drugs has effected the sister's lives and the lengths in which the older sister is willing to go to in exchange for drug money. She is willing to exploit her younger sister so she can feed her addiction. And the reaction of which they have upon it. The director's purpose of it was to show the sad reality in the life of a drug addict, in this case with meth. They become slaves to their addiction and will do anything in order to get their fix. The troubles of which they have gone through are shown on their bodies. The aspect of facial expressions worked well with the body language that was put into the ad. Throughout the entire film their bodies remain slim and constricted the entire situation, their bodies then tighten as they all enter the bathroom. 

Critical Literacy Questions asked to both videos: 

What views of the world is this presenting?

In the film "Walk the Line" it shows the backstories of which celebrities go through before getting to the top. It also reveals he gets to the point where he falls from the top and goes down-hill in life along with his career. We see the truth behind Celebrities/singers in their careers and life and how addiction can affect their entire lives and careers. The video "Sisters" shows us the levels of which people go to when under the influence of drugs. It shows us the wreck of which the world is with what these substances are causing. 

Who is really in the text?

In both videos shown are based on real events. "Walk The Line" Is written about a famous country singer whose life had horrible twists and how his life was constrained by the control of drugs such as amphetamine. The video "sister" Is about real-life events that are happening around the world affecting anyone at any age who have been introduced to the substance of Meth and has gotten so lost that it has controlled their lives.

What does the author of this text want us to know?

For "Sisters" video, It gives us a glimpse in the reality of what being influenced by drugs truly does to you and what it causes you to do just to soothe your desires of that feeling of what Meth produces. By the "Walk The Line" trailer, the director wants us to see how far celebrities go before they fall in their life or career and how addiction takes control of everything after introduced to it. Furthermore the "Sisters" PSA and the movie trailer and incredibly the same with what they are presenting to us. 

L1 English - SDL individual work

WALT: Analyse how film aspects show the meaning.
Success Criteria: I can explain why and how tone is used to show meaning in a film.

Expert = 12 red boxes and 1-3 green boxes.

1. How does tone work in a film? Film tone

Questions I must answer: 

What else can we call tone in the film? Brightness 

What are the 3 main elements in tone? Lighting, exposure and art direction

How and why does Coppola use tone in the classic film "The Godfather"? He uses tone in his film when the characters Sunny, Vito and Tom are all in darkness and Michael with his girlfriend outside.  He does this to show the different settings due to the moods which are shown on the scene. When the tone darkened with the Godfather, Sunny, Vito and Tom all in the same room, the change was because in the scene the topic of violence and death was being discussed. On the other hand, when the scene with Micheal and his girlfriend show up, The exposure is brighter and more clear, showing that it is on a happier term and oblivious to the plans of the other's actions. 

How can directors control the feelings of the scenes? They control the feelings of the scene by controlling the brightness. In the movie No country for old men by the Coen Brothers, a scene comes up which is brightly shown, an older man steps out of his car and comes across a man which is dressed dark and mysterious. That scene shows that they play with the contrasting brightness by mixing in with an emotional tone, showing the bright scenery then a dark dressed man shows he didn't belong there and the audience feels that.

2. How does the over-the-shoulder shot work? The over-the-shoulder shot in film

Questions I must answer: 
What is the effect of an over the shoulder shot? To connect two people in a shot while they're having a conversation verbally or through facial expressions.
What film aspect shows a disconnection between characters? A single shot.
How does the director of this scene show the disconnect of the characters? They show it by separating the two people by making the shots singular, only showing one of them instead of joining them both in the same shot.
What eventually totally isolates the female character? The camera is focusing on her while in the background the man is discussing something, then the scene is connected but only by the waiter who appears in the scene pouring wine in a glass but overflowing it. All this action is playing along while the lady is feeling confused and out of place, she then looks around noticing the other waiters around the room have paused. This completely isolates her, showing in a close-up shot.

3. How does film blocking work in film? Film blocking

Questions I must answer:
What are the 3 ways directors use blocking in the film? Space, Shapes, and Lines.
What are the emotions associated with these shapes? Circles feel safer and inclusive, Squares create limited spacing boxing someone in, triangles are sharp and they feel more aggressive but they also have an apex.
What are the 3 basic shapes for film blocking? Circles, Squares, and triangles
What two things can blocking help with? Contrasting and Communicating subtext

4. How does camera movements work in film? Directing camera movement

Questions I must answer:
What are the purposes of the whip pan and the slow pan? Whip pan is the equivalent of quickly turning to see something, It creates a jolt of energy. Slow pan gives us time to take in the scene or landscape.
What is the purpose of the tilt shot? To reveal something to us by suddenly directing our attention.
What does the reverse dolly zoom help show? Help show that a character is having an intense internal experience.
What is the difference between a Steadicam and a dolly shot? They are very similar but a Steadicam is when the camera is stabilized on the camera operator.
What can the hand-held shot help create for the viewer? The sense of fear or tension in a scene.
What should directors ask themselves with their camera movement? Does the audience have something to follow/look at through the scenes or is it just thrown at them without any leads?.
Camera movement should be doing what? Catching the audience's attention and guiding them through the movie giving them something to follow.

5. How is the contrast used in a film? Film making Techniques for Directors (Directing Example

Questions I must answer:
What are the ways directors can contrast in a film? There can be a contrast in tone, art direction/production direction, blocking, camera movement, and color.
What is contrasted in Spike Jonze's ad? At the start, there is a desaturated darkness, nearly absent color, with dark streets with people clothed in darkness, but once the main character comes into contact with the main product. The tone then changes dramatically, she then is wearing lighter colors, it shows what she really is. The lighting shows more, we can see her face clearer. Blocking is then used when she is dancing in a lit-up rainbow tunnel to tell the story of how someone constricted breaks free.
Why did he contrast these things? To grab people's attention as well as show meaning and emotion with the mixture of sadness then once the main product came to view it was happiness.

6. How is the dutch angle used? How to use a Dutch-angle shot

Questions I must answer: 
The Dutch angle does what? To signal that something is unsettling or disorienting.
What is a Dutch angle? A dutch angle shot is a shot that has a noticeable tilt on the cameras x-axis
Who and when created thee dutch angle? German expressionists in the early 1900's
What 3 things do directors need to consider for the dutch angle? Identify the moment, Consider the moment, enhance the moment.
What 4 things can enhance a dutch angle? The degree of your tilt, The camera level of your shot, Focal length of the lens, Depth of field.

7. How do visual motifs work in film? Visual motifs in Film

Questions I must answer:
What is a motif? A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.
Why are they important? They ensure the story is able to operate on more than one level.
What makes a great work of art? Getting different meanings and thoughts from the same film after multiple viewings.

8. How does POV or POT shot work? Point of view

Questions I must answer:
What is a POV shot? Where you can see through the eyes of the characters.
What is a "Point of thought" shot? It is a shot that gives your audience a visual expression of your character's mind.
Why are they important? They help express the emotions of the characters and feel throughout the scene.

9. How does the insert shot work in a film? Insert shots

Questions I must answer:
What is an insert shot? It focuses on specific detail within a scene.
What is the purpose of an insert shot? To make the audience notice something specific as well as to communicate crucial narrative information. 
What are the 3 main aspects of the insert shot? Composition, color, and timing.
What 3 things help the audience feel about the insert shot? Shot size, shot angle and camera movement.
The composition of the insert shot helps with what in a film? To represent the state of a shot.
Colour in the insert shot helps with what in a film? To draw attention to specific points.
How long you dwell on the insert shot helps show what? To give different senses of urgency or how dramatic a scene can be.

10. How does production design work in the film? Production design

Questions I must answer:
What is the production design? It is the overall visual look of the production.
What makes up production design? Colors and contrast, Wardrobe choices and Empty or full frames.
What are the 3 main things production design can help reveal? Mood, Character, and themes.

11. How does color work in film? Color theory in film

Questions I must answer:
How does color in the film affect people? They elicit emotions (brings them out)
What are the 3 factors in determining color? Hue, saturation, and brightness
Why is the hue in "The Matrix" mostly green? Because the movie takes place in a digital matrix and the color green is associated with code.
Why do some films desaturate? It drains it of the color, giving it a cold, rude or/and gritty sort of look.
What can brightness and a lack of brightness show in a film?  To create a contrast in the film.

12. How do establish shots work in film? Establishing shots

Questions I must answer:
What is an establishing shot? A shot that establishes a scene
Why is it used? For transitioning into a new scene
Why are establishing shot usually the most expensive? Because you see everything that they put in the scene, it is usually a scene that involves more scenery.  

14. What is film criticism? Film criticism is the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of films.

L1 English - Creative writing - Post-Writing

Post Creative Writing Tasks - Adding 6 different R.I.D.S to my creative writing to improve it.

1. The 5 sense: 

What did you feel? I could feel the faces of confusion stare at me as more tears ran down my face.

What did you see? I could see that I arrived at the right place due to my mother's Red Mini in amongst the few cars at the funeral services. 

What did you taste?

What did you hear? Just as I'm about to leave I hear my phone ring

What did you smell? 

2. Replacing words:

1. However, as I believed everything was fine, it all changed instantly once I saw (viewed) the row of which my family was squished up in. 
2. People's (The) whispers grew as I strolled passed my mother without getting a single look from her.
3. The ringing stops so I gather my coat and lock my apartment door. 

3. Inserting words:

1. I could see that I arrived at the right place due to my mother's Red Mini in amongst the few cars at the funeral services. (I eventually changed the sentence around from what it was original "I knew I was at the right place when...")
2. I hesitate to pick it up, So I found myself just standing there staring as it rings. (Again with this one I merged 2 sentences forming this one. "I hesitate to pick it up. I found myself just standing there staring as it rings.)
3. People's whispers grew deeper as I strolled passed my mother without getting a single look from her.

4. Deleting words:

1.  After laying for 2 hours, I decided it's time to get ready and get this over with since my brother would have wanted me to.
2. However, I believed everything was fine, that all changed instantly once I spotted the row of which my family was squished up in. 
3. Putting all the bad memories with my family past me, I sit down at the back of the hall making as little noise as I could. making sure I didn't draw any attention to myself or allow them to know I had arrived. 

5. Onomatopoeia and alliteration:

1. She slowly made her way up the stairs followed by the clicking of her heels.

6. Similes and metaphors

1. Walking past the rows of people, I watch their faces light up with confusion one at a time like as if someones set dominos off in their expressions. 

L1 Home economics - Chop Suey

The task: This period of Home Eco we prepared and cooked Chop Suey. Ingredients we used were Orange Peppers, Beef, spring onion, carrot, onion, soy sauce, Lemon and crushed garlic, frozen corn, and peas as well as vermicelli.

The Process: As we enter the room we do the usual routine of washing our hands with warm soapy water to remove germs, tie our hair up and put our apron on followed by spraying our workspace with anti-bacterial spray to get rid of the bacteria around. We discussed our plan on who has what job and we split and begun. I was in charge of prepping the vegetables, so I went to the trolley with tongs and a plate and collected the carrots, onion, peppers and spring onion. But not all at once or else I would have lost some of the ingredients. I took them back to the table and washed them all with cold water, removing all the bacteria and chemicals which could have been on the vegetables. Placing the vegetables on the correct green board with the green knife, I chopped them up by either cutting them into strips or dicing. I got the sauces and frozen vegetables by taking them back to my table and collecting the correct amount I needed. My teammates were preparing the vermicelli by leaving the noodles in a bowl of water for 15 minutes then draining and leaving out waiting for the beef to be cooked. When my teammate handled the beef she used the red board with the red knife and cut it into long strips keeping it separated from the green board and its content on it. We cooked our meats to the correct temperature (75 degrees or if handling beef till the outside is dark brown.) Adding all the ingredients together with the beef, I took over cooking while the others started the dishes. They washed the dishes with warm water mixed with dish soap to create an unliveable environment that bacteria could not live on. Drying the dishes is a process which removes most of the needs for bacteria, They removed the moisture, food, changed the pH level and changed the temperature of the equipment. As the foods were cooked and our environment was tidy I dished it into our container evenly making sure it was spread flat instead of piled up in on big pile not allowing it to cool.

During yesterday's practical, we ensured that we limited the chance of contamination by.. Separating our boards, Raw meats from vegetables. Washing our vegetables. Making sure no food particles were on our equipment.

Why did I do this: Washing my vegetables. Washing the vegetables was an important part because we had to remove all the chemicals, bacteria and dirt that could have been left on the vegetables which could make us ill.

Why did we do this: Separate our foods. We separated our foods e.g Meats from vegetables keeping them on their own boards not too close to each other so we don't transfer any bacteria from the raw meat which could make us sick. We also made sure after we handled the raw ingredients we washed our hands if we were to be interacting with the vegetables.

Why did we do this: Cooking our foods to the right temperature. We cooked our food to the appropriate temperature (above 75 degrees) to make sure the bacteria have died off.

L1 Home economics - Ham Wraps

Ham Wraps

The task: This practical of Home Economics we made ham wraps. Ingredients we were using were Ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sauces.

The process: The first step was to wash our hands and wiped our table with anti-bacteria spray. We then gathered our ingredients using tongs. After that, We rinsed and separated them into bowls furthermore we begun prepping them as for example, slicing the tomatoes, cutting the ham into strips and grating the cheese. Next, we cleared our table and set out the food neatly and begun on the dishes. Later after that, we were showed how to fold our wraps correctly and was allowed to leave the room.  

Example of high-risk food that was used how do you have to handle to keep safe:

When handling the ham, we ensured everything was treated carefully and we used the appropriate equipment, for example, using the brown board which is for the meat that has been cooked, and the black knife for meats.   

Vegetables - When working with the vegetables, We rinsed them thoroughly and separated it from the meats. And proceeded to cut them on the appropriate board which is the green. 

Explain the health & safety procedures you put in place prior, during & after. Give 2 examples for each:

I ensured that I washed my hands with warm soapy water and checked that my apron was clean and had no marks. By doing this, I am making sure no bacteria are on my hands nor apron because when I washed my hands the soap and hot water killed off the bacteria due to bacteria need differences. Creating an environment that they don't like and cannot live.

During:  

During our session, we applied the correct equipment when we placed and cut our ingredients. For instance, the green board for slicing veggies and the brown board for cutting ham. 

When doing this strategy, we increase or completely take away the chance of cross-contamination with any of the ingredients. We know this because we have been taken close care with the veggies and meat and made sure they haven't crossed each other in any way. That way we know our foods have no bad bacteria that can cause to grow. 

After:

When we were finished with the making of our ham wrap we made sure our dishes were washed correctly with warm soapy water to ensure that all the bacteria were all washed away. 

By doing this process, we are protecting the other students that use the equipment because all the bacteria will have been killed off by the dish wash chemicals and Ph levels not matching the bacteria's need. It also stops contamination when the other group uses the same boards.   

L1 English - The writing process

4 self-directed steps for my learning:

Being ready to learn:

I am ready to learn because my teacher has explained the instructions and tasks I need to complete, and I am learning ready with my own Chromebook.

Set my learning goals:

My goal is to complete and to write 14 creative writing language features. 

Engage in the connectivist learning process:

I am going to need help from my teacher and classmates when I am in need of help.

WALT: complete and write creative writing language features

Success Criteria: I will be able to write my own similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, assonance, onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc. to improve my writing.

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
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8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 

Level 1 Art

This year I will be focussing on Environment and pop art as my kaupapa. I have chosen this theme because it is something I take interest in. The type of drawings (roses) I take interest in represents the theme of the Environment but takes the look of pop art, with the additional art of climate change. The media I will work with are painting and printmaking. The two artists I have selected for 1.1 are Banksy and Roy Lichtenstein. 

From List 2 and 3