movie language

Talking about Cast, Genre and Plot

Introduction: Let's chat about movies and your preferences

1. Do you like movies? Where do you usually see movies?

2. How often do you watch movies? At home? In theatres?

3. Where do you find movies to watch at home? Library? Cable? Blockbuster? Netflix?

4. Do you have cable television? Do you use on-demand features?

5. Do you own any movies? Which? Do you repeatedly watch them?

6. Have you figured out a way to see movies for free? How?

7. Can you compare movie houses in your homeland with theatres in the United States?

8. What might annoy you at a movie theatre? Using phones? Babies crying? Other?

9. Do you have a favorite movie theatre? A preferred place to sit?

10. Have you ever seen a celebrity or famous person? Where? Tell us about it

11. What movies have been blockbusters here? In China?

12. Can you think of some tourist sights related to the movie industry?

13. What movies have you seen that took place in Los Angeles? New York? Chicago?

14. Have you ever seen movies being filmed? Where? What was the atmosphere?

15. Have you ever acted in a play or movie? Can you describe your experience?

Actors & Actresses

Exercise - Describing people:

What are these adjectives usually used for to describe. Fit some of them into the table below.

Stereotypes– the fastest way to describe a person

Movies need to tell who the characters are in a fast manner (one look should tell me all about you) so you can follow the story and understand the situation and relations of these people. So movies are full of stereotypes.

These are some stereotypical roles in movies (do you have some more), how are they usually described.

Exercise – The Who is Who

These are the name some famous actors or actresses and describe them with very descriptive adjectives. Can you name a stereotypical role they usually play?

Handsome Comely Plain Overrated Impeccable Boring Extrovert Sophisticated Agile Sinister Multi-talented Beautiful Absurd Versatile Ironic Glamorous Idiotic Woody Allen Marilyn Monroe Roberto Benigni Anthony Hopkins Judy Foster Dustin Hoffman Jim Carey Demi Moore Arnold Schwarzenegger Sophia Loren Bruce Willis Will Smith Meg Ryan Tom Hanks You choose! You choose! You choose

Exercise – Describing people

Think of an actor/actress who is well known. Do not say his/her name. Describe this person to the class, e.g. appearance, characters he/she usually portrays, famous movies he/she is in, outstanding works and rewards etc. Everybody else will try to guess this person's name.

For Example

It's an international superstar from Asia. Movies, this person stars in, are full of action, always very funny and never boring. This person does all those action scenes by oneself. It can be a little dangerous and sometimes this person gets hurt. The Police Story and its sequels were the break-through internationally.

Genre - Vocabulary

Name some movies that belong to these genres. What happens usually in such a movie?

Exercise - Talking About Genres.

1. Which types (genres) of movies do you enjoy most? Why?

2. Can you think of an example of a good movie in five different categories?

3. Can you think of an example of a bad movie in three categories?

4. What makes your favorite films special or memorable?

5. Name a few movies that you disliked. Why did you dislike them?

6. Can you think of some books that have been adapted into movies? Did the adaptations work?

7. Did you have a favorite movie as a child? Teenager?

8. Did you have a favorite star as a child or teenager? Who? Why?

9. Do you know anybody who had a “crush” on a famous actor or actress?

10. Have you ever seen a movie several times? Which? Why?

11. Do you have any favorite actors now? Why? Did they move you in any role?

12. What actors, actresses, or directors would you like to lunch with?

13. Do you have any favorite directors? Why? Which of that director’s films touched you?

14. How do you decide which movie to see? Word of mouth? Ads? Awards? Reviews?

15. Which movies would you suggest a tourist to your country watch? Why?

16. What movies have you seen this year? Which do you recommend?

17. Do you think movies influence society or reflect society? How?

Movie Plots - Giving a synopsis of a movie

?setting (country, location), genre

?time in history, time-frame (2 hr movie tells 30 years of history), time line (what happened in which order)

? a summary of the plot

?Beginning – hero/heroine and their quest, situation of the character, and its need for change ?Rising Action – complications the character faces

?Climax – The high point

?Falling Action – wrap up the story

?Resolution – happy/sad/open end...

?spoilers - some movies have such a surprising ending that telling about it ruins the wish

to see it oneself

a list of the major characters

?their description, relations, friend or foe

Exercise – My favourite Movie

Give a recommendation (2-5min) of your favourite movie. Use as many facts about the movie as you know such as, plot, genre, main actors/actresses, main characters. Watch out for spoilers, make us want to watch it. Describe how this movie makes you feel, in what mood do you like to watch it. Make notes if you wish.

Exercise - Movie Charades (Optional)

2-4 small groups, each group should come up with some dialogue and actions that *could appear in a well-known movie* -- it doesn't have to be, shouldn't be actually, a real scene from the movie, just one that fits the characters, scene, etc. The other teams get points for guessing the movie, or the team gets points if no one guesses -- either way, they have to be tricky, imaginative.

Phrases – To Describe A Person

Vocabulary – Describing types of movies