The document provides information and analysis about the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger. It includes background on the film and characters, analysis of key scenes highlighting Captain America's transformation and heroic actions, and prompts for designing new costumes and storyboards. The document examines what makes the film a superhero story and how it establishes Captain America as a brave and self-sacrificing hero through dramatic fight scenes and his willingness to stop a grenade to save others.

1. SUPERHERO CASE
STUDY:
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

2. Background information
 http://marvel-
movies.wikia.com/wiki/Captain_America:_The
_First_Avenger
 There is a „plot synopsis‟ available for your
folders.

3. The comics
Use the internet to find out why these 4 comics are
so important to the films of Captain America. It would
be a good idea to write down a one sentence
summary for each on this sheet.
Captain
America: Man
Out of Time
Captain
America: No
More
Avengers Civil
War
Captain America
Comics Issue 1

4. The films
 Captain America: The First Avenger
(2011)
 The Avengers (2012)
 Captain America: The Winter
Soldier(2014)

5. What makes it a SuperHero
film?
What makes
Captain America a
SuperHero film?

6. Characters
 Steve Rogers
 Captain America
 Red Skull
 Johann Schmidt
 Peggy Carter
 Colonel Chester
 Dr. Abraham Erskine
 Bucky Barnes

7. Characters: Can you match
them up?

8. Character types:
 Hero
 Villain
 Alter Ego
 Politician / bureaucrat
 Love interest
 Helper
 Scientist

9. Character types:
 Hero
 Villain
 Alter Ego
 Politician / bureaucrat
 Love interest
 Helper
 Scientist

10. A review of the film
 Use the guide “how to
write a film review” and
write a review about the
film Captain America:
The First Avenger.
 Make sure that you
include information
about the film (use your
work so far) and explain
your opinion about
whether you liked it or

11. The poster
 Using ideas from here
and what you know
about film
posters, design your own
one-sheet poster for
Captain America.
 This could also be a
useful cover for your
work on Captain
America.

12. The poster
 Using ideas from here
and what you know
about film
posters, design your own
teaser poster for Captain
America.
 Remember the
differences between a
one sheet poster and a
teaser poster before you

13. Merchandise
 Here are some examples
of the kinds of things that
have been created to
promote the film.
 Think of 3 things that you
could design to promote
the film. Think of props in
the film that you could
design to be used or use
the images of the
characters on items to
promote the film.

14. Key scenes:
 Number 1: The transformation scene
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpW4A_lqjk
 In what ways is this a typical transformation scene?
 How is this different to other transformation scenes that
you might have seen? (Think about who is in the
room, what we can see and the camera angles used to
do this)
 How is this similar to other transformation scenes that
you might seen? (Think about the way in which Steve is
turned into a SuperHero. How does the use of sound and
props show that there is a dramatic transformation

15. Key scenes:
 Number 1: The transformation scene
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpW4A_lqjk
 Task: Using no more than 12 shots, design your own
storyboard of the transformation scene.
 Think about what you would do differently to what
we see in the film.
 Try to think of new and original camera angles that
aren‟t used in the film.
 EXTENSION: Think carefully about, and label your
shots with, information about what sound effects

16. Key scenes:
 Number 2: Capt. America as a SuperHero
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdBO3uQcHgI
 This is one of the first scenes we see of Captain America in
uniform and fighting. How does it show that he is now a
SuperHero?
 What specific micro-features are used here to create this
scene in a way that shows Capt. America is now a SuperHero?
(Think of at least 2 micro features and comment on their use.)
 How is this similar to other fighting scenes in other films? What
is done in this scene to show off what Captain America‟s
special skills or powers are? (Think about the props that are
used and how they are used. Consider the way in which
Captain America fights and attacks others-how is this shown
with micro-features?)

17. Key scenes:
 Number 2: Capt. America as a SuperHero
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdBO3uQcHgI
 Task:
 Note how Captain America uses his costume and
props in this scene.
 Design a newer, more modern version of his
costume and props that would be suited for a
modern, realistic battlefield.

18. Key scenes:
 Number 3: The grenade scene
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6qu5fQLHo
 In this scene, Steve shows that he might be weedy
and skinny, but is courageous and brave.
 What is it about his actions that show he is brave?
 Why is this scene important to the film? What do we
as an audience learn about him as a character?
What does this help to tell what might happen later
in the film?
 How is this scene made so that we see Steve as
brave? What micro features are used?

19. Key scenes:
 Number 3: The grenade scene
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6qu5fQLHo
 TASK: Re-write the script for this scene.
 Look at the script for this scene and write it
slightly differently. Make it so that Steve is still
seen as brave, but you could change the events
or the reaction of others to show this.
 Try adding or changing the dialogue to this
scene, but remember to keep the characters
sounding the same.

20. Themes
 Themes are the subjects or ideas in a film or
that come from a film. Themes are NOT the
storyline, but the ideas that come from the
storyline.
 For example: “love concurs all”, “death as a
part of life”, “man vs nature”, “revenge”.
What themes are
present in Captain
America?

21. Style
Superman (1978) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
In terms of style, what are the differences? How would describe
their looks? Why do you think that they are different? Does one
look more realistic than the other? Why might that be?

22. Contents – Year 9 Film Folders
 Storyline
 What makes it a superhero film
 Characters
 Important information grid
 Your review
 Poster
 New costume
 Design a new enemy for Captain America.
Label their powers or abilities and try to
make these clear on the costume.