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Lesson 4

We will watch the final segment of Blackfish, complete our Understanding a Movie Tools, and choose a movie to view independently so that we can compare it with Blackfish in terms of realism, storytelling style, and filmmakers’ choices.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I compare and contrast different films, recognizing the distinct storytelling choices made by different filmmakers?

  • Can I analyze a movie independently?

Texts

Core

  • Multimedia
    • Blackfish, Gabriella Cowperthwaite, Magnolia Pictures, 2013

Optional

  • Digital Access
    • “‘Hidden Figures’ Is a Subtle and Powerful Work of Counter-History,” Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 2016

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: View – Write

We will watch the final 15 minutes of Blackfish, noting how the movie’s storyline is resolved, and our final responses to the film.

View the ending of Blackfish, taking notes on your Video Note-Taking Tool about key details in the resolution of the movie’s story and your response.

Activity 2: Write – Discuss

We will complete our Understanding a Movie Tools for Blackfish.

With a partner or in a small group, review the Summarizing the Movie section of your Understanding a Movie Tool. Discuss what you think are the essential conflict and central theme.

Write a logline for the movie that sums up its story.

Review the Analyzing the Movie section of your Understanding a Movie Tool. Discuss what you have noted about the movie’s use of visual and audio techniques (camerawork, sound, music) and how it has portrayed and developed its characters. Individually, complete the Style and Message sections of the tool, forming and writing claims about the movie’s overall style and central message.

Compare and discuss your claims with your partner, group, or other students in the class.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

As a class, we will examine the section 2 diagnostic task and the Resources for recommended movies for independent viewing. We will discuss the task of comparing one of these movies to Blackfish, and how these movies might be similar to, or different from, the documentary we have watched. We will each identify possible movies for independent viewing.

Access, read, and annotate the Section 2 Diagnostic Checklist, paying attention to the expectations of the task, which involves comparing an independently viewed movie to Blackfish. Ask clarifying questions about what the task expects you to do.

Your teacher will provide you with a list of recommended resources to choose a feature film for independent viewing.

Browse the resources online. Choose several movie titles to consider watching independently.

You will watch this movie outside of class, complete an Understanding a Movie Tool, then compare it with Blackfish for the Section Diagnostic.

On your own, in class or at home, find out more about the possible movies you have selected, discuss your choices with other students and your family, and select the movie you will view.