‘La Haine’ and ‘Princesses’ are all Urban Stories that
have characters who considered victims of a dominant social and
political ideology. Both films show this in different ways
because they all discuss about different social issues and also are from
two different cultures. The characters in these films reflect this and
often shown as victims of this ideology.
In ‘La Haine’ (1995), the three main characters; Vinz, Saїd and Hubbert are all victims of this ideology. They are all from different ethnic backgrounds and culture and are all living in one big americanised estate on the outskirts of Paris. Their culture and the Americanism creates a lot of diversity between the estate and the centre of Paris. We can see this when Saїd, Vinz and Hubbert all go to Paris. When they first get there, they don't know what to do with themselves as they don't fit in and its not like how their estate is. The policemen in Paris are considered to be 'polite' by Saїd. However back at the estate, thats a different case. The police are more corrupt and are much more violent towards the citizens there. At the end of the film, Vinz becomes victim to the cops as one of them shoots him accidently. Characters in La Haine are also real life victims of abuse, e.g. the character of Adbul.
In 'Princesses' (2005), the characters, Zulema and Caye are both victims of this ideology. Both characters are prostitutes living in Madrid. Caye is very secretive about her job and hides what she does from her family. She also has no father figure which may have help to cause her to go down the road that she did. Zulema is more of a victim than Caye is due to the amount of abuse she gets from men with more authority and the fact that she is an immigrant. Zulema is found multiple times throughout the film by Caye after being abused and raped by the man who is supposed to be sorting out her papers that allow her to stay in the country. The only way for her to get her papers is to doing the opposite of what she wants which causes her to be physically effected. Later on, in the film she finds out that she has HIV and in revenge she makes sure that her abuser gets it. Unlike Caye, Zulema manages to escape and goes home to her family.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Film Catalogue - Completed Edition
Question:
'In relation to Johnny Depp, how does he act as an actor and how does this affect his success?'
'In relation to Johnny Depp, how does he act as an actor and how does this affect his success?'
Films:
Item 1 - 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black
Pearl' (2003)
I chose this film to be my focus film due to the fact this is one of Depp's most famous roles. Depp created the way how the main protagonist, Captain Jack Sparrow, acts and responds to certain events during the plot. His role as Captain Jack Sparrow was purely created himself and has got him the most fame. Jack Sparrow is one of Depp’s more comical roles; he has portrayed this character very well and targets both adults and kids when it comes to Jack’s humorous ways. How he has created this character into what he is, has definitely shown and helped the success of the franchise as well as his own career.
I chose this film to be my focus film due to the fact this is one of Depp's most famous roles. Depp created the way how the main protagonist, Captain Jack Sparrow, acts and responds to certain events during the plot. His role as Captain Jack Sparrow was purely created himself and has got him the most fame. Jack Sparrow is one of Depp’s more comical roles; he has portrayed this character very well and targets both adults and kids when it comes to Jack’s humorous ways. How he has created this character into what he is, has definitely shown and helped the success of the franchise as well as his own career.
Item 2 - 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' (1998)
I chose this item as it is a good example of Depp’s unique acting style. In preparation for this film, Depp went and lived in the basement of the writer of the book, Hunter S. Thompson, and also borrowed his car and drove it around California at the weekends. This prep that he did for this role allowed him to get an understanding for the character he was about to play. Not many actors do this but this film is a good example to use because of how Depp prepares for roles as well as acting them out during production.
I chose this item as it is a good example of Depp’s unique acting style. In preparation for this film, Depp went and lived in the basement of the writer of the book, Hunter S. Thompson, and also borrowed his car and drove it around California at the weekends. This prep that he did for this role allowed him to get an understanding for the character he was about to play. Not many actors do this but this film is a good example to use because of how Depp prepares for roles as well as acting them out during production.
Item 3 - 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (2005)
I chose this film because it is a good example of Johnny’s acting style, his approach to different things whilst acting and also his relationship with Tim Burton. Both Burton and Depp worked together in creating the character that Willy Wonka turned out to be. Burton said that Depp was his top choice for playing Willy Wonka due to their close friendship and also how Johnny acts and has the ability to portray so many different roles that are all unique and different from each other.
I chose this film because it is a good example of Johnny’s acting style, his approach to different things whilst acting and also his relationship with Tim Burton. Both Burton and Depp worked together in creating the character that Willy Wonka turned out to be. Burton said that Depp was his top choice for playing Willy Wonka due to their close friendship and also how Johnny acts and has the ability to portray so many different roles that are all unique and different from each other.
Books:
Item 4 - ‘Burton on Burton’ (Revised Edition, Edited by Mark
Salisbury)
I chose this book as it has a lot of good information on Depp. Even though this book is purely based on Tim Burton discussing his own career, he also discusses his relationship with Johnny and how Depp acts and how he is as a person. This is a good source of information as it gives a person’s view, who happens to be close to him, on Depp. This information gives us an insight to Depp’s acting style and personality.
I chose this book as it has a lot of good information on Depp. Even though this book is purely based on Tim Burton discussing his own career, he also discusses his relationship with Johnny and how Depp acts and how he is as a person. This is a good source of information as it gives a person’s view, who happens to be close to him, on Depp. This information gives us an insight to Depp’s acting style and personality.
Item 5 - ‘Johnny Depp: A Kind of Illusion’ (By Denis Meikle)
I chose this book because as it gives a detailed and in depth overview of Depp’s career as whole. Depp has a very varied career path and this book sums up and describes this very well. As well as discussing how Depp is as a person as well as an actor, it also discusses the processes that he goes through when preparing and also acting his next role. This is useful because it helps to uncover why and how Depp became so much of a success.
I chose this book because as it gives a detailed and in depth overview of Depp’s career as whole. Depp has a very varied career path and this book sums up and describes this very well. As well as discussing how Depp is as a person as well as an actor, it also discusses the processes that he goes through when preparing and also acting his next role. This is useful because it helps to uncover why and how Depp became so much of a success.
Item 6 - ‘Twentieth Century: Actor Training’ (Edited by
Alison Hodge)
I chose this book because it has the information I need on Method Acting. Method Acting is a controversial and unique style of acting where one does a lot of preparation work before pursuing in a role. This type of acting is what Depp is most known for. This book allows me to gain more knowledge of this type of acting and also back up my points when discussing Depp’s unique style of acting.
I chose this book because it has the information I need on Method Acting. Method Acting is a controversial and unique style of acting where one does a lot of preparation work before pursuing in a role. This type of acting is what Depp is most known for. This book allows me to gain more knowledge of this type of acting and also back up my points when discussing Depp’s unique style of acting.
Web Articles:
Item 7 - Film4 ‘Johnny Depp on Pirates of the Caribbean: The
Curse of the Black Pearl’
Source: http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/johnny-depp-on-pirates-of-the-caribbean
I chose this item as it discusses Depp’s views towards the first instalment to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’. This article gives us Depp’s on view on the film as well as his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. This backs up points and evidence in relation to Item 1. Depp also compares and contrast this role to other roles in which he has played in films prior to this one.
Source: http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/johnny-depp-on-pirates-of-the-caribbean
I chose this item as it discusses Depp’s views towards the first instalment to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’. This article gives us Depp’s on view on the film as well as his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. This backs up points and evidence in relation to Item 1. Depp also compares and contrast this role to other roles in which he has played in films prior to this one.
Item 8 - The Tim Burton Collective ‘Corpse Bride’s Johnny
Depp is a man of character’ (By Hanh Nguyen)
Source: http://www.timburtoncollective.com/articles/cb5.html
I chose this item because it discusses how Depp can also act well through voice acting in comparison to his usual acting roles. Even though this film is purely animated and only has Depp acting with just his voice, it shows how diverse he is when it comes to acting and also his varied career path that he has chosen. This article also gives Depp’s own view point on the main protagonist, Victor Van Dort, and the film as a whole.
Source: http://www.timburtoncollective.com/articles/cb5.html
I chose this item because it discusses how Depp can also act well through voice acting in comparison to his usual acting roles. Even though this film is purely animated and only has Depp acting with just his voice, it shows how diverse he is when it comes to acting and also his varied career path that he has chosen. This article also gives Depp’s own view point on the main protagonist, Victor Van Dort, and the film as a whole.
Magazine:
Item 9 - Empire Magazine ‘The Strange Faces of Johnny Depp’
Source: http://www.empireonline.com/features/johnnydepp/default.asp?NID=21844
I chose this item because it discusses the many different roles that Depp has portrayed during the course of his acting career. This article gives brief overviews of the 10 most known characters he has portrayed. This helps to summarise what each character is like and how different they are to one another. This relates to Item 11 because of the fact that he keeps these multiple personas within him and can become that character whenever he pleases.
Source: http://www.empireonline.com/features/johnnydepp/default.asp?NID=21844
I chose this item because it discusses the many different roles that Depp has portrayed during the course of his acting career. This article gives brief overviews of the 10 most known characters he has portrayed. This helps to summarise what each character is like and how different they are to one another. This relates to Item 11 because of the fact that he keeps these multiple personas within him and can become that character whenever he pleases.
Item 10 - GQ Magazine ‘The Hunter and the hunted’ (By Robert
Chalmers)
Source: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-12/01/johnny-depp-interview
I chose this item because it discusses Depp’s views and his role in The Rum Diary. This film was based upon one of Hunter S. Thompson’s discarded pieces of work. The article discusses how Depp was close to Thompson and how Depp found the original manuscript for The Rum Diary 15 years prior whilst in preparation for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This shows his relationship with Thompson as well as his prep work for his upcoming roles.
Source: http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-12/01/johnny-depp-interview
I chose this item because it discusses Depp’s views and his role in The Rum Diary. This film was based upon one of Hunter S. Thompson’s discarded pieces of work. The article discusses how Depp was close to Thompson and how Depp found the original manuscript for The Rum Diary 15 years prior whilst in preparation for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This shows his relationship with Thompson as well as his prep work for his upcoming roles.
Item 11 - Vanity Fair ‘The Crowded Mind of Johnny Depp’ (By
Patti Smith)
Source: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2011/01/johnny-depp-201101
I chose this item because it discusses Depp’s on views on himself. This is rather different to the other items as Depp is unveiling how he keeps so many different characters within himself and can easily resume back to that role at any given moment. This article describes how much of a character actor he is. It also shows how varied his career as an actor has been over the years and also how unique his acting style is to any other actor. This helps to sum up his success and how his acting has caused this.
Source: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2011/01/johnny-depp-201101
I chose this item because it discusses Depp’s on views on himself. This is rather different to the other items as Depp is unveiling how he keeps so many different characters within himself and can easily resume back to that role at any given moment. This article describes how much of a character actor he is. It also shows how varied his career as an actor has been over the years and also how unique his acting style is to any other actor. This helps to sum up his success and how his acting has caused this.
Interview:
Item 12 - Johnny Depp Interview: Lone Ranger
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z23rrxKD5r4
I chose this as Depp discusses the process him and the team for The Lone Ranger went through when creating Tonto, the character that Depp portrays in the film. He discusses how Tonto had a lot more meaning him than the main protagonist, the Lone Ranger. This shows that he has thought about the meaning behind the character and also research into the culture and background that is based upon the character during the preparation process he goes through. He likes to have his input in creating the character he is going to portray and this is discussed in this interview.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z23rrxKD5r4
I chose this as Depp discusses the process him and the team for The Lone Ranger went through when creating Tonto, the character that Depp portrays in the film. He discusses how Tonto had a lot more meaning him than the main protagonist, the Lone Ranger. This shows that he has thought about the meaning behind the character and also research into the culture and background that is based upon the character during the preparation process he goes through. He likes to have his input in creating the character he is going to portray and this is discussed in this interview.
Item 13 - Johnny Depp on Ellen DeGeneres
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FxtKVvsyiU
I chose this interview as it features Depp talking about his role in one of his latest films, Transcendence. He discusses to Ellen about the meaning behind the film and how it shows that technology is evolving very quickly. This tells us that Depp also thinks of the meaning behind the role or film that he is starring in and reacts to it by portraying his character in relation to this. As well as discussing his role in Transcendence, he also discusses his personal life. This shows that the person he is in reality is different to all of the characters he has played through his career.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FxtKVvsyiU
I chose this interview as it features Depp talking about his role in one of his latest films, Transcendence. He discusses to Ellen about the meaning behind the film and how it shows that technology is evolving very quickly. This tells us that Depp also thinks of the meaning behind the role or film that he is starring in and reacts to it by portraying his character in relation to this. As well as discussing his role in Transcendence, he also discusses his personal life. This shows that the person he is in reality is different to all of the characters he has played through his career.
Documentaries:
Item 14 - Johnny Depp on Bio.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xhTsO-s-g
I chose this documentary as it features some of Depp’s fellow co-stars from some his films talking about Depp himself. For example, Keira Knightly discusses how Depp is a character actor and how he can easily transition from one character to another whilst putting a lot of emotion and warmth behind them characters at the same time. These views from his co-stars gives us more of an insight to whom he really is and can help determine why he has become so successful.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xhTsO-s-g
I chose this documentary as it features some of Depp’s fellow co-stars from some his films talking about Depp himself. For example, Keira Knightly discusses how Depp is a character actor and how he can easily transition from one character to another whilst putting a lot of emotion and warmth behind them characters at the same time. These views from his co-stars gives us more of an insight to whom he really is and can help determine why he has become so successful.
Rejected Items:
·
The Lone Ranger (2013)
I rejected this item because it doesn’t reflect Depp’s success. Even though Depp’s acting style is clearly shown throughout, the film still flopped. One of the factors is that the younger generation don’t appeal to Depp as much as anymore and this could be a reason why this happened.
I rejected this item because it doesn’t reflect Depp’s success. Even though Depp’s acting style is clearly shown throughout, the film still flopped. One of the factors is that the younger generation don’t appeal to Depp as much as anymore and this could be a reason why this happened.
Corpse Bride (2005)
I rejected this item because of the fact that it is an animated film. He is still good at voice acting a character and making them as unique as possible but as it is animated, it didn’t seem to help in his success as much as some of his other films have done.
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