Show understanding of specified

aspect(s) of studied visual or oral

text(s), using supporting

evidence

4 Credits

AS 90850

LEARNING INTENTION

To identify and describe

key aspects of the text and

analyse how these are

used to create meaning.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

You will be able to analyse

and explain how aspects of a

visual text combine to create

a story, develop characters

and communicate ideas.

DRIVING QUESTION

What can we

learn about

IDENTITY and

OVERCOMING

ADVERSITY in

The Matrix?

DURATION:

4 WEEKS

IN THE 4 WEEKS YOU MUST ORGANISE YOUR

TIME TO COMPLETE: • At least 5 activities/exercises (one from every

area) • At least one essay plan • At least one practice essay

IEP – Individual Education Plan

• Before you get started, come up with your own learning

schedule (IEP)

• Plan out how many activities you aim to achieve each

week/each lesson

(you need to complete 7 EXERCISES in total and X1

ESSAY)

• Allow time in the final week to work on your

practice essay.

Use the template on Ultranet or create your

own.

Post this to your blog before you get started.

• The activities in this project are designed to cater for a

number of learning styles (VARK).

http://vark-learn.com/

• They are also targeting different levels of thinking

according to SOLO TAXONOMY

(Gathering, Processing and Applying).

Choose

activities that suit YOUR LEARNING

STYLE.

Choose

activities

that

engage all

3 levels of

thinking.

V

A

R

K

STARTER EXERCISES

(CHOOSE ONE)

OPTION 1.

GENRE

SCIENCE FICTION (Futuristic Dystopia)

• Research other films of the science fiction

genre.

• Also find other “futuristic dystopian films”

What images do they use in their

promotional material?

What fonts are used?

What colours are used?

CREATE A UNIQUE POSTER

ADVERTISING THE MATRIX. - Your poster must include imagery and

words

that fit with the movie genre and style

OPTION 2. SPECIAL EFFECTS

“The Matrix is one of the most influential films of the sci-fi genre and, with its

release in 1999, it opened a new era in the genre of cinematography. The

story is centered on the notion that what we perceive as „reality‟ is

actually a computer generated interactive world, and raises the question

of what „reality‟ means” (Yeffeth 2003: 52).

a. Research some of the ways The Matrix was a

cutting edge film for its time.

b. Write a short blog post

OR

Create a short audio recording where you

“review” the film, highlighting at least two of the

cutting edge features.

PLOT/NARRATIVE

EXERCISES

(CHOOSE 1)

CREATE A VISUAL FLOW CHART TO SHOW

THE PROGRESSION OF THE NARRATIVE.

OPTION 1.

3 ACT

STRUCTURE

INCLUDE:

1. Exposition (or set up)

2. Inciting incident or Conflict

3. Climax

4. Resolution

5. A visual or verbal

feature for each one

(a film technique or

quote)

OPTION

2.

CREATE YOUR OWN

„HONEST TRAILERS‟

https://www.youtube.com/watc

h?v=XBy-lYxiyyc

https://www.youtube.com/watc

h?v=_hp_xsUg9ws

Honest Trailers summarise the plot of movies in 3 minutes or less.

• They use humour and „sarcasm‟.

• Create your own for “The Matrix”

YOU CAN DO

THIS IN PAIRS.

OPTION

3.

ACT IT OUT…

• Summarise the plot of The

Matrix

OR

• Act out a pivotal moment

from the film.

You can film this and upload to your blog OR

perform it in front of the class… your choice!

CREATE A SHORT DRAMA WHERE YOU EITHER:

YOU CAN

DO THIS IN

PAIRS OR

TWOS.

OPTION 4.

STORY BY MUSIC

Map out at least 6 key moments in The Matrix and

a song that you think ties in to those moments.

E.G

1.Neo in normal world

(looking for something

more) – “Satisfaction” by

The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=3a7cHPy04s8

CLOSE READING

EXERCISES

(CHOOSE 1)

CLOSE READING = taking a scene from

a movie, breaking down the elements

and explaining the effect they create.

ELEMENTS: CAMERA: Shot sizes, angles, movement

SOUND: Dialogue, music, sound effects

MIS EN SCENE: Costume, props, lighting, setting

EDITING: Style of cutting, pace, colour, special effects

Choose one of the following close reading tasks. (Complete individually or in pairs)

1. Your objective is to IDENTIFY the camera, sound, mis en scene and

editing techniques in one scene.

2. ANALYSE the effect the techniques create

3. EXPLAIN why the director used them. What message do they help to

communicate?

INSTRUCTIONS:

CLOSE READING

CHART

DIRECTOR’S

COMMENTARY STORYBOARD

POSTER

GO ANIMATE OR

POWTOON

• Create a visual storyboard or poster.

• Cut & paste at least 4 frames from the scene.

• Identify, explain and analyse the film techniques in each frame.

You must discuss at least

6 film techniques

• Create a director‟s

commentary for

your chosen scene.

• Save the scene or

screen grabs of the

scene.

• Record your audio

commentary of the

scene, explaining

why each film

technique was used

and why they were

used.

You must discuss at least

6 film techniques

• Complete a close

reading chart for

your chosen scene. (template on Ultranet)

• Identify, explain and

analyse the use of

film techniques

• Make sure you

explain what it

shows us about

themes or

characters.

You must discuss at least 6

film techniques

• Use an app to

create an

animation that

analyses the effects

of film techniques in

your chosen scene.

• You could use:

Powtoon

OR

GoAnimate

(You may need a PC or Macbook for this)

You must discuss at least 6

film techniques

CLOSE READING EXAMPLE

Use these examples to help you

understand how to identify, explain

and analyse film techniques…

WATCH: The Red Pill or the Blue Pill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjgE8Lw5YaQ

CAMERA

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: Wide Shot – Shows Morpheus with his back to us,

looking out the window. Thunder and lightning out the window.

EXPLAIN: This creates a sense of mystery. We don‟t know who this

man is. The thunder and lightning builds the suspense and creates a

dramatic mood.

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: Mid Over Shoulder Shot and Low Angle

The camera shows Morpheus from behind the chair. It is filming him

slightly below eye level. It shows Morpheus standing straight and

soldier-like.

EXPLAIN: The effect is to make it seem that we are seeing Morpheus

through Neo‟s eyes. Neo‟s understanding of who Morpheus is is still

obscured - he doesn‟t have the full picture and neither do we. The

low angle positions Morpheus as a wise and authoritative figure. The

framing allow sus to view Morpheus standing straight and almost

militant like a soldier. He is the one in command.

CAMERA

(and MIS EN SCENE)

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: Close UP – The shot framing in the scene quickly moves from

wider shots to Close Ups. The Close Up shows Morpheus sitting in the red chair,

looking at Neo.

COSTUME: He is wearing reflective sunglasses and a black trench coat.

EXPLAIN: The close ups again emphasise the importance of Morpheus and

reinforce his identity as someone who has special knowledge. The close up also

reveals that he is wearing unusual mirrored glasses. This builds the sense of

mystery as we wonder who Morpheus is and what is behind those glasses.

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: Wide Shot – This wide shot shows Neo and Morpheus from

the side. They are sitting in identical chairs on opposites sides of a table with a

glass of water in between them (prop).

EXPLAIN: The composition of this shot reinforces the idea that Morpheus and

Neo are from two different worlds at the moment. Morpheus is sitting relaxed

in his chair, but Neo seems out of place. He is tense, leaning forward and

wearing everyday clothes rather than the black militant clothing of Morpheus

and Trinity.

Prop: The glass of water seems significant as it is in the centre of the frame. The

water represents “clarity”. When Neo drinks it with the pills, the world as he

knows it falls away and he “sees” for the first time true reality.

CLOSE READING EXAMPLE

CAMERA

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: EXTREME CLOSE UP of Neo‟s reflection in Morpheus‟ glasses

and off the two pills in Morpheus‟ hands.

EXPLAIN: This shows that Neo is being invited to “see as Morpheus sees”. There

are two pills, two hands, two pictures of Neo in the glasses and two choices. The

repetition of these images and reflections are reinforcing this choice.

SOUND

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: LIGHTING & COLOUR

IDENTIFY/DESCRIBE: DIALOGUE: “You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-

hole goes”

EXPLAIN: Morpheus is giving Neo a choice… to remain in the world he is in (The Matrix) or to have his eyes opened to

true reality. He is referencing Alice in Wonderland and likening the experience to the world Alice found herself in

when she went down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

MIS EN SCENE

The lighting is dark and moody. There is a green tinge or aura to everything.

EXPLAIN: The green lighting or colour creates an uneasy feeling. It indicates that

something is “off” and isn‟t quite right. Green is a symbolic colour in the film, referring to

the green of the computer binary code of the Matrix.

CLOSE READING EXAMPLE

CLOSE

READING

EXAMPLE

ANALYSE: The director uses these film techniques to introduce us to the characters

and the two different world‟s they are from. It shows us that Morpheus is a

character who is sure of himself and believe he holds the key to truth, whereas Neo

is unsure and is looking for answers. This scene shows us that to find out who you

are you need to be able to take a leap of faith and be willing to break out of your

comfort zone. The blue pill represents Neo‟s comfort zone, but the red pill promises

excitement, but also possibly danger.

For a more detailed analysis of this scene,

check out this TED-Ed link (but be sure not to

plagiarise):

http://ed.ted.com/on/5hM8XaVO#watch

CLOSE READING EXAMPLE

CHARACTER

EXERCISES

(CHOOSE 2)

OPTION 1.

MAGAZINE

PROFILE

Choose two characters to

complete a magazine

style profile piece on.

• Design a two page spread

• Include bullet points about

them

• Include “Quote” (from the

film)

• Include a photo of them –

identify what they are

wearing (costume & make

up) and what “message that

is sending” (i.e. what it shows us

about the character).

MAGAZINE

PROFILE

OPTION 2. RADIO

INTERVIEW

Record a radio interview with at least two

characters from the film.

CHOOSE AN ANGLE: I.E. Are you interviewing them about “The Matrix”?

Are you after a personal angle?

(e.g. „how did you feel when Cypher

betrayed you‟… or “when did you start to

believe you might be „the one‟?)

• Come up with a list of interview questions.

• Pre-script your characters answers so that it accurately

represents who the character is in the film.

You can

work in

pairs or

threes.

OPTION 3. NEWSPAPER

ARTICLE

You are a reporter writing an article on Morpheus

finding “The One”.

• Include quotes from

key characters (e.g.

the Oracle or Cypher)

• Include details about

events and characters

in the film

• The article should be 2

– 3 paragraphs long.

• Include a picture.

Do this

individually.

OPTION

4.

CHARACTER

CHART

Choose two characters can complete the following chart for each one.

Do this

individually.

Character adjectives Visual/verbal feature What does the viewer learn?

Describing words or phrases Costume & makeup About the character or

their motivations

Camera work, sound and

lighting (pick an example)

About human behaviour in

general

Dialogue: About the world around us:

OPTION

5.

OVERCOMING

CHALLENGES

Characters develop and change during the film as they face challenges and conflict. Use a GRAPHIC ORGANISER to show how ONE character faced challenges/conflict in the film. Show how they changed as a result.

Do this

individually.

What did the director want us to learn

about dealing up with challenges?

6 VISUAL/VERBAL TECHNIQUES THAT SUPPORT THIS

What do we

learn about this

character?

3 WAYS THEY COPED WITH THE

CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE THEY OVERCAME CHARACTER

OPTION

6.

COMPARE &

CONTRAST

Do this

individually.

• Compare and contrast TWO characters.

• Explore why the characters might be

different.

PART A: CREATE A VENN DIAGRAM .

(Aim for 5 similarities and 5 differences for each).

PART B: Post your Venn to your blog, along with a short paragraph

about why you think the characters are different and what it shows us.

Character 1: Character 2: Similarities

OPTION

7.

IMPORTANT

RELATIONSHIPS

YOU MAY DO THIS

IN PAIRS.

THIS ACTIVITY IS ABOUT EXPLORING AN

IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP IN THE FILM.

CHOICES:

You can create a poster or audio/video

presentation.

You can create a written presentation.

You can create a website.

The questions you need to answer in this are on the following slide.

NOTE: This activity will help you directly with an essay question.

START OF FILM….

1. Identify an important relationship in the film

2. Describe the relationship (are they friends, family, enemies?)

3. Include a specific example from the film that shows their

relationship (mention two visual/verbal techniques)

MIDDLE OF FILM

1. Describe how the relationship changes throughout the film …

does the power balance change?

2. Is there a conflict in their relationship… and how do they

overcome this (or not)?

3. Do they help each other? If so…how? (provide a film technique

to back you up)

END OF FILM

• Describe their relationship at the end of the film… do they

respect each other? Why/why not?

• Explain what the director wants us to learn from the relationship

• Include a visual/verbal technique.

OPTION

8.

CHARACTER &

SETTING

Do this

individually or in

pairs.

Create a visual poster or a written blog post

that explains the importance of the setting in

The Matrix.

You need to answer the following:

1. Explain the effect that the setting has on the life of the protagonist.

2. Imagine how the setting would affect you. Write a blog post to describe how you would react to the setting.

3. Explain what you think the director wants us to learn about the protagonist by placing him in this setting

THEME

EXERCISES

(CHOOSE 2)

THEME =

• A BROAD IDEA

• A MESSAGE

• A MORAL OF A STORY

The following activities will help you to answer

theme questions about the film in your exam.

Themes may be about life, society or human nature.

OPTION 1. YOUTUBE

BRAINSTORM

• Aim for at least three themes

• For each theme, find a Youtube clip for the relevant

section of the film where the theme is shown (or note

down the time code the movie on Clickview).

• Post this activity on your blog with

an explanation of how this clip

demonstrates the theme.

In pairs, brainstorm a list of

possible themes in The Matrix.

OPTION 2. COLLAGE OR

POSTER

• Create a poster portraying two themes. Split

your poster into sections, each section will be

for each theme.

• Include characters, dialogue or film techniques

in the relevant section.

OPTION 3.

THEME MUSIC

1. Write down three themes from “The Matrix”.

2. Find one quote for each theme.

3. Find one song for each theme/quote

Put it all together into an interactive

blog post.

(i.e hyperlinks to the song on

Youtube).

OPTION 4. CHARACTERS

& THEMES

1. In pairs, choose 2 themes and list the characters that are

linked to each theme.

You could use a chart like the one on the following page…

2. Explain why you linked each

character to the theme.

3. Include a visual/verbal

feature for each.

4. Explain what you think the

director wants us to learn

about these characters by

using this theme.

THEMES CHARACTERS VISUAL/VERBAL

FEATURES FROM

FILM

WHAT DID THE

DIRECTOR WANT US

TO LEARN?

1.

2.

OPTION 5. THEME SCENE

• Use Go Animate or create your own drama that explores

a “real life” application for your chosen theme.

FOR EXAMPLE:

• If you are exploring “the search of identity”, your scene

could be about a teenager learning to believe in

themselves as they prepare to enter a talent competition.

CREATE A DIGITAL ANIMATION OR ACT OUT A SKIT

THAT EXPLORES ONE KEY THEME FROM THE FILM.

-> Write a brief explanation of how your drama or animation relates

to the theme in The Matrix. What does the director want us to

understand about the theme? What social issues may be related

to the theme? (health, power, violence, use of technology)

OPTION 6. SYMBOLS

A symbol is a person, place,

or thing comes to represent an

abstract idea or concept - it is

anything that stands for

something beyond itself.

• Create a Pinterest board for symbols. • Choose 3 and explain what each one‟s significance is,

where it is seen in the text and which theme and character it is linked to.

• Explain why the director included each symbol. What

does he want the viewer to learn or think about?

ESSAY

QUESTIONS

Choose at least ONE essay question to answer as a practice essay.

Submit this by the end of Week 4.

There is a reminder of essay structure on the

following page for you.

Example essay plans and essay exemplars

are available on Ultranet

Essay Questions

1. Describe at least ONE character or individual you enjoyed reading about in the text. Explain why the character or individual helped you understand an idea in the text.

2. Describe at least ONE important idea the director / creator developed throughout the text(s).

Explain how this idea helped you to understand an important message for teenagers, supporting your points with visual and / or oral language features.

3. Describe at least ONE important aspect of setting in the text. Explain why an

aspect of setting helped you understand a key idea in the text. Note: Setting could include time and /or place.

4. Describe at least ONE language feature that was used to help you understand an important idea in the text. Explain why the language feature helped you understand key ideas in the text. Note: Language features could include imagery, style, vocabulary, or symbolism.

5. Describe at least ONE event at or near the end of the text that was important. Explain why the event helped you understand a key idea in the text.

6. Describe ONE important conflict in the text. Explain how this conflict helped you understand one or more characters or individuals in the text(s), supporting your points with visual and / or oral language features.

ESSAY PLAN

It is important to plan your essay to make sure you answer

both parts of the question, use the right structure and

include enough points and examples to achieve.

Remember the Hamburger Structure: Intro P1 P2 P3

Conclusion

And every paragraph needs to follow the P.E.E.L structure.

Points, Example, Explain, Link to what we learn/director‟s

intention.

NOTE: you can write more than 5 paragraphs

– especially for “excellence”

Example Essay

Plan Template

INTRO

Paragraph 1 & Point 1

P –

E –

E –

L –

INTRO – There are three key film techniques that help me to understand the

theme of…Culture Clash.

Paragraph 2 & Point 2

P –

E –

E –

L –

INTRO – There are three key film techniques that help me to understand the

theme of…Culture Clash.

Paragraph 3 & Point 3

P –

E –

E –

L –

CONCLUSION