Coco Mawson Film Studies Summer Task  

Best Picture – The Parent Trap 1998 

Best Director – Kenny Ortega  

Best Actor – Ryan Gosling 

Best Actress – Emma Watson 

Q. Did you find this hard to complete and why? 

I did not struggle to complete this because I know who my favorites are, and I do not doubt my answers.  

Q. What makes a film ‘good’? 

A film is good when there are a lot of plot twists because then it keeps you interested in the movie because you want to know what is going to happen next. It also makes you really think about the movie and question the scenes prior to the plot twist. The characters in a movie are important because you can get an opinion on them, like which ones you like and dislike. You can also relate to them and connect with them, making you like the actor more, then watching more things the actor is featured in. The actors are important in the film because if the character does not fit the actor or actress then they will appear out of place in the movie. The actors create emotion in the film and creates a relationship with their character, so they really fit the role. If the audience have enough emotion to hate or love the character then they have really filled the purpose of their role. In a film, the director have an immense role in the making of a good film. The directing of this film is really impressive as the twins in this are both the same actor and they had to direct it to seem like they are both in the room at the same time. What I like about the parent trap is that it is clear on how much time they spent editing and the really high tech directing they did to make this movie as realistic as they can. During this film I really noticed that they used a lot of cinematography.  

my favourite film soundtrack is from Sofia Coppolas ‘Marie Antoinette’. the soundtrack of the film juxtaposes the light and pastel aesthetic of the film creating a rebellious streak throughout.

Sound mixing is the process where the raw materials assembled in the sound editing process are combined and balanced into a coherent soundscape

I would give Moonlight a 7/10.

The film had incredible cinematography and use of visuals. A scene that specifically stands out to me is when Chiron’s mother is yelling at him, and the scene has no sound and is slow. The camera cuts between the two of them, showing both of their perspectives. It is from the same height, which is used to exemplify how small Chiron is compared to his mother. This, paired with the shot’s silence, exemplifies that it doesn’t matter what she’s saying, because the part Chiron will remember will always be the way she yelled and the way it made him feel. Throughout Chiron’s childhood, we see many moments from his perspective and size. This scene feels like the culmination of all of these shots.

1. worried
2. hungry
3. confused

In the movie “top gun” and the recent sequel “top gun maverick” I really liked the opening theme known as “top gun anthem”. This was an original piece made for the film in 1986. It was written by Harold Faltermeyer and played by Steve Stevens. I like this soundtrack as it gives a grand, uplifting feel which fits in well for an action movie.

my favourite film soundtrack is the Lego batman movie as it has some unforgettable moments that are really cool.

here is a list of my favourite songs from the movie

1. lets get nuts. (batman solo)
2. man in the mirror
3. one is the loneliest
   • i forget the others

From the movie ‘Demon slayer: Mugen train’ (released Oct 16 Director Haruo Sotozaki) my favourite score used is ‘RENGOKU TO AKAZA NO TATAKAI’ (composed by Go Shiina) which introduces upper moon 3 Akaza.

This is one of my favourites as it completely stands out from any other score in the movie, with the occasional high pitched vocal, which emphasises how Akaza is on a whole new, incomprehensible level, and his entrance was a complete surprise and shock for the audience and characters.

The way it’s used in the scene, it heightens the intensity of the moment, and also drops to allow the scene to take a pause before exploding back into the action.

My favourite film soundtrack is Labyrinth (Jim Henson, 1986). the music was composed by David Bowie and Trevor Jones. The soundtrack was made specifically for the film. This soundtrack appeals to me because it tends to fit the experiences and circumstance of the characters.

My favourite Film Soundtrack would be ‘Beautiful Boy (2018)‘ Directed by Felix Van Groeningen.

‘Beautiful Boy’ tackles the trials and tribulations of father and son connection and the way drugs and addiction can tarnish the relationship. Written by John Lennon, the classic song ‘Beautiful Boy’ appears in the climax of the movie, it pays homage to the name of the movie and allows Steve Carrel, who plays David Sheff (the father), to softly sing the song and allow the song to fade in to a cathartic montage. This is called a ‘Jukebox score’

Additinally, the movie includes the song: ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ by Perry Como. This song acts as a way for the director to tell the story of Nic Sheff relapsing in a fast-paced yet really captivating way. This movie has what we call a ‘Contrapuntive scoring’ as the song is elegant and emotive whereas the topic of drugs and losing your son is traumatic.