4. The reason we chose Freedom Writers is because it was
a strong background based film that includes real life
issues such as racial conflict. For example the scene
where one of the students says that “if you were
Latino, Asian, or Black you could get blasted anytime you
walk out your door”.
The student formed themselves into racial groups in the
classroom. It then shows how they find
themselves, come together and respect each over. This
hard hitting film confronts issues that wouldn‟t usually
be seen in the media.
5. The main genre Freedom Writers falls under
is drama.
A drama film usually has a character dealing
with a problem including alcoholism, selling
or taking drugs, racial
prejudice, sexuality, poverty, class
divisions, or some sort of
violence and destruction that put the
characters in conflict with
themselves, others, and even in society.
6. The subgenres included in Freedom Writers are:
School drama
Teen drama
Romance drama
Crime drama
7. The hybrids included in Freedom Writers are:
Biography
Courtroom fiction
Tragedy
8. Stam‟s theory says that genre is not
so easily defined under the „main
genres‟ but can be classified in
other ways such as
budget, ethnicity focus or
performer based.
In relation to this, Freedom writers
can be classified by the ethnicity
focus, this is because the film is
strongly about the race of the
characters and what the
characters have been through.
In addition the social class of C2/D/E
is how freedom writers could be
classified as well.
9.
10. Characters- First time teacher, Mrs Gruwell, is
represented as a white middle class woman who
wants to make a change in these students lives
through making them aware of the outside
world. She could also symbolise the key to
freedom.
This reflects how women have been given
strong roles in modern films, as in the
past films their roles were simply to do the
„household roles‟, but things have
changed for example „Salt‟ played by
Angelina Jolie with strong role as a
actress.
The students stereotypes made them not
believe in themselves, as teachers, such
as the head of department look down on
them. Not giving the students new books
to read and telling Mrs Gruwell to take off
her pearls.
11.
12. Story traits:
Freedom Writers is based on a true story where a first time
teacher played by (Hilary Swank) faces a group of students
who have been named by the government as “un-
teachable, at-risk” teenagers. The movie represents teens
who have all witnessed fights, shootings and murders of
random people as well as their own friends and family.
This film shows how ethnic groups fall into different
categorisation and how negative stereotypes affect them
all.
13. Costume:
Loose and street like
clothing.
The male teenagers wear
hooded tops, which gives a
negative connotation, as
well as baggy jeans and
loose baggy t-shirts.
The girls dressed similar to
the boys due to the people
they associate themselves
with, for example Eva.
Teachers were smartly
dressed.
14. Props:
Weapons, such as knives and guns (which strengthens the negative
views of the individuals).
Classroom props such as tables, chairs and a board etc.
The pictures and cards around the Holocaust museum.
15. SYNTAX
• To get out of the poverty world and to do something with
their lives.
• Fighting against the bosses to accomplish something.
• Friendship. Sticking with the right people.
16. - The lighting in the scene where Eva is on the bus looking is natural lighting
bouncing off her face, makes the scene look dramatic as the lighting creates
shadowing on her face to create a sorrowful atmosphere because of the darker
background. This was a good close up on Eva showing her expression on her face.
- In addition, the “Toast For Change” scene is very bright with all the natural lighting
involved from the outside. It also has quite bright colours in this scene grab. Blue
representing nature, calm, and fresh and yellow representing bright, happiness and
summer.
17. CONVENTIONS
Conventions of genre/sub/hybrid Examples from range of real films
Students disrespecting teachers Kidulthood
Poverty Slumdog Millionaire – The kids grew up
in poverty
Stereotypes of individuals Philadelphia – The man with aids was
stereotyped
Family loyalty Johnson Family vacation - They are
sticking with their family
Sticking with your gangs The Godfather – You need to stick
together.
Racism Hairspray
Challenging relationships She‟s All That
18. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS
Conventions of Examples from your film Comparison to other
genre/sub/hybrid (bullet points and films in the same
screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid?
Racism -Separated in to their The Secrete Life of
racial groups in the Bees.
classroom
-Gangs sticking to their
own race
-When the black boy
gets an insulting picture
passed around the
classroom.
19. ………..
Conventions of Examples from Comparison to
genre/sub/hybrid your film other films in the
(bullet points and same
screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid?
Historical -Learning about Titanic
the Holocaust
-Having dinner with
the survivors
- The talk about
Ann Frank
20. ………..
Conventions of Examples from your film Comparison to other
genre/sub/hybrid (bullet points and films in the same
screen grabs) genre/sub/hybrid?
Crime -A boy gets shot dead in Kidulthood
a corner shop
-in the flashback
Marcus‟s friend
accidentally shots
himself
- Brandy watches her
father beat her mother
22. Details of Target audience Secondary Explanation of why they would be
audience Audience attracted to watch the film
Age 13-19 20-40 Its about education / the star of the film.
Gender Girls Boys The violence within the film may attract them.
Ethnicity Mixture (Blacks, Latinos, White The target audience may be attracted as its about
Asians) their backgrounds. The secondary audience may be
attracted to see how different white people portray
themselves to other.
Social class Lower class/working class Middle class It shows how other classes work.
Social Young boys (gang Chavs The film is about gangs, violence, drugs and life.
group members)
Sexual Straight people Homosexuals To see how they are portrayed in the film.
orientation
Profession/ Students Parent/teenagers It may be something they have been through, also the
Role film may have gave a good message. Also to educate
them.
23. Reasons why people watch the film Explanation
Entertainment - In their holiday they began to make their
changes, for example:
Moving back in with the mum
Throwing the gun away
Telling the truth in court
- They are breaking free from the old
them.
- Making a better person out of
themselves to get out of the
stereotypes.
24. Reasons why people watch the Explanation
film
Personal Identity - The characters are from different
backgrounds
- They all share different norms and
values within their culture
- They tend to look after their own
25. Reasons why people watch the Explanation
film
Integration & social interaction -Started off hating each other and
only interacted with their own people.
-The teacher made them find out
about history.
-Students began to tell their story
and how they felt.
- After finding similarities they had
also how much they had been
through, they started to interact with
each other slowly.
-Personal hand shanks were formed.
-The students then began to feel like
they belonged, especially the first
year of high school with their teacher.
